Nighswander to run for Sarasota County Hospital Board

SARASOTA — Democrat Vicki Lynn Nighswander is running for Central District Seat 1 on the Sarasota County Hospital Board.

Republican incumbent Sarah Lodge and Tanya Parus are running for the same spot, along with write-in Barbara Miller Vaughn.

Nighswander said she is running as she because of a number of concerns.

She is concerned about health care and about the hospital board having people without the proper experience.

Nighswander said she has a good grasp on science and she is not into untested types of strategies.

She has decades of medical and environmental experience. Nighswander has worked in environmental health and an HIV program and clinic in Michigan.

She said she has an extensive background in serving community needs in comprehensive health care issues.

That experience, as well as transparency, is missing, Nighswander said.

She makes decisions with data, she said.

And as for transparency, she said when referencing something like a study at a meeting, there should be a name and source attributed and cited.

She has "concerns" when the phrase "medical freedom" is touted.

She referenced a candidate who recently said the government should not get involved in medical proceedings.

“For someone that has worked around disease and such, I’m frankly happy government can get involved. You do not want disease to spread everywhere," Nighswander said.

She does, however, believe the political issues being widely discussed are besides the point.

Although she is a Democrat, she said she will not let her beliefs infiltrate her job.

“It’s such a political hot potato these days," she said. “My whole career was in community public health. You’re not there to look into someone’s politics, but their health and how to improve it. That’s the philosophy I take with me."

She said it would be beneficial for people to educate themselves about things, possibly even taking classes, but is focused on the improvement of the hospital board.

Her mission statement is to "continue to provide excellent health care to our community in the most efficient manner, geared toward our community’s health."

Sarasota County’s primary election is Aug. 20. The general election is Nov. 3.