Sarasota Hospital Board, Seat 1: Russ Battiata

Why do you want to serve on the hospital board? We need someone on the Public Hospital Board who believes healthcare is a right and not a privilege. I also believe Sarasota residents should have natural medicine options for pain management and other conditions. I believe that opioids are being over-prescribed currently. I also believe that the current board is not truly representative of our community.

What qualifies you to oversee the Sarasota Memorial Health Care system? I have been in the medical field going on 25 years. I have run clinics and trained Nurses, among others in the medical field. Currently, I run an acupuncture clinic & college.

If elected, what do you believe should be the top priority of the board during your term? Developing and expanding all natural medicine options such as acupuncture, massage therapy, herbal medicine, etc.

Given that the system is adding a hospital in Venice, do you think continued expansion is necessary to handle the growth in South Sarasota County? Yes. North Port needs a hospital right away. It's the biggest city in the county and the new hospital in Venice is still too far.

What is your position on what other communities are doing — selling and privatizing the hospital system and using the proceeds in a community foundation? SMH must stay public and operate accordingly. I will not support anything to the contrary.