Carey Baker

Carey Baker is a gun shop owner, active First Sergeant in the Florida Army National Guard, and former Republican State Senator from Florida. He served as a State Senator from the 20th Senate District starting in 2004. Before serving as Florida State Senator, Baker served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 to 2004. In November 2008, Senator Baker announced his candidacy to be Florida’s next Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services but later dropped out of the race. In 2012, he was elected to the position of Property Appraiser for Lake County, Florida.

Early life

Carey Baker was born in Eustis, Florida. He graduated from Tavares High School in Lake County. After high school, he attended Lake–Sumter State College.

When Baker was 18 years old, he joined the family business, the A.W. Peterson Gun Shop. The A.W. Peterson Gun Shop is the oldest gun shop in the United States, and has been owned and operated by the Baker family for over 50 years. In addition to joining the family business at 18, Baker also joined the Army National Guard. He is still an active member, having served over 28 years and having attained the rank of First Sergeant.

In 2003, while a Member of the Florida House of Representatives, Baker was deployed to combat missions in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was the first state or federal elected official to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom while in office. His colleagues tied a yellow ribbon around Baker’s chair which remained in place until his safe return.

Political career

Baker was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2000. Baker was reelected to the House in 2002. In 2004, Baker won a special election for the 20th district seat in the Florida Senate. He was re-elected to full terms in 2006 and 2008.

The 20th Senate district includes parts of Marion, Sumter, Lake, Volusia and Seminole counties. In 2012, he defeated long-time incumbent Ed Havill for the position of Property Appraiser of Lake County, Florida.

Committee membership

Chairman of General Government Appropriations, Policy and Steering Committee on Social Responsibility Policy and Steering Committee on Ways and Means. Agriculture, Ethics and Elections, Judiciary and Transportation, Select Committee on Florida's Inland Waters.

Freedom bills

This past session, Senator Baker was the Senate Sponsor of the Florida Health Care Freedom Act (which will be on the 2012 ballot as a possible constitutional amendment), the Florida Firearms Freedom Act and the 10th Amendment Resolution. These bills are Senator Baker’s response to encroaching federal influence in state policy. More information can be found at www.flfreedom.org.

Commissioner of Agriculture race

In November 2008, Senator Baker announced his candidacy for Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. However, citing a lack of funds, he dropped out in February 2010 and decided not to run for his seat again.

Campaign finances

Since 2000, Baker’s largest campaign contributors have represented the finance, insurance and real estate, lawyers and lobbying and health industries.^[1] He has received a cumulative more than $145,000 from the finance insurance and real estate industry, more than $80,000 from the lawyers and lobbying industry, and more than $78,000 from the health industry.

External links

• Official Campaign Website
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Carey Baker (FL) profile
• Follow the Money - Carey Baker
  • 2006 2004 2002 2000 campaign contributions

References