August 20, 2024. Can I send a calendar invite through a blog? Circling back on that later…

November 2024 is a major moment for American politics, from municipalities to all the way up to the tip top of the White House. It is looking like we’ll have another Biden vs Trump ticket…but that is for another blog post person to break down. I want nothing to do with that.

But I am FASCINATED by the Hospital Board race, and you should be too. Here are three things that blow my mind, and hopefully engage you enough to show up to the primaries.

But first, what is the Hospital Board?

The Hospital Board oversees the “financial, quality and management oversight of the Sarasota Memorial Hospital community health care system – which treats 1.5 million people per year and employs 9,000 people”. It’s a public hospital, so…public election.

Typically, this is not an exciting situation. But since COVID-19, we have had many people take a heightened interest in health care and ensuring their personal perspective is represented.

Here is a list of current board members, and for fun, a copy of their job description.

Like I said…typically not an exciting situation. No offense board members – thank you for doing what you do so that we don’t have to. It was a non-negotiable for me to have my two babies at SMH… and I still refuse to live more than 10 minutes away from it because I feel so strongly about the quality of your care. I am a SMH BOD Super Fan. But I am glad you are overseeing it and I am not.

So despite the professional and high level service that (when done well) leads to a “not-exciting-situation”…this election is not that. So in an effort to inspire you to see this for the moment it is…I present to you the Top 3 Things That Blow My Mind (c): Hospital Board edition –

1. The Hospital Board election is PARTISAN! Why, why, why would someone’s political affiliation be important in their ability to run a non-profit? While we could easily spin off into a discussion about open and closed primaries, let’s just leave on this note: The Hospital Board is a CLOSED PRIMARY where we are choosing what Ds and Rs and probably some Ls will run against each other.
2. There is a group of people who are running together on the platform of MeDiCaL FrEeDoM, one of which is the sister of former (and pardoned) national security advisor, Michael Flynn.
3. The League of Women voters will be holding a Hospital Board Candidate Forum July 11th from 5:30-7pm at the Jacaranda Library, followed by a Candidate Meet & Greet for those attending in person.  Register after June 14th, which is the final day for candidates to file their intention to run. This is not mind-blowing in itself, but I’m just saying…I’m down for a watch party. With wine.

In time, I will share information on each seat since there are so many people running – so stay tuned for the who’s and the wtf’s of the Hospital Board primary.

Since it’s closed, it is important that your voter registration is up-to-date. From the indefatigable Ron Turner, SOE:

Register to Vote / Change Party Affiliation
The deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation for the Primary Election is Monday, July 22. Learn more by visiting our Register to Vote or Update Voter Information pages.