Eustis gun shop owner and veteran statehouse politician won election with 95% of vote
Carey Baker of Eustis, shown here, is getting a head start as the appraiser-elect for Lake County with his appointment Monday.TAVARES -- Though he is the Lake County property appraiser-elect, veteran politician Carey Baker was given the go-ahead today to jump right into the post by Gov. Rick Scott.
Baker, 49, of Eustis, a gun shop owner and first sergeant in the Army National Guard, served in the Florida House from 2000-'04 and then Florida Senate the next six years. In November 2008, then-Sen. Baker announced he was running for Florida commissioner of agriculture and consumer services, but he eventually dropped out of the race.
Baker, recognized "Senator of the Year" in 2009 by the Florida Association of Property Appraisers, said he believes the "transition will be smooth" because he knows the personnel and is familiar with the operation of the office.
Ed Haill had been Lake County appraiser from his election in 1976 until his death in August. Baker fills the vacancy created by the death of Ed Havill in August at the age of 71 of an apparent heart attack while mowing his lawn. Havill was transported to Florida Hospital Waterman where he died a short time later.
Just days before his death, Baker had defeated the longtime incumbent Havill in the Republican primary. Baker then went on to win the post in the Nov. 6 general election with 95% of the votes over a write-in candidate. The governor's appointment comes six weeks ahead of when Baker was to assume the office of appraiser on Jan. 6.