Gary Bradford, the Pasco County Commissioner representing District 4, died on April 21, of leukemia. He was 65 years old.
He was elected in November of 2022 to serve a four-year term and announced his diagnosis publicly on Facebook in May 2023.
County Administrator Mike Carballa announced Bradford’s demise through an email he sent to county employees on April 22.
“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of Commissioner Gary Bradford. Commissioner Bradford has served our county with dedication and passion since 2022,” Carballa wrote. “As a testament to his strength and spirit, Commissioner Bradford never missed an opportunity to attend important events and meetings representing Pasco County, even while enduring cancer treatment. His loss leaves a significant void in our organization and in our community.”
A special election will be held during Pasco County’s primary election on Aug. 20 and during the county’s general election on Nov. 5 to fill the remaining two years of Bradford’s term that would have expired in 2026, said Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley.
Bradford first sought the District 4 seat in the Aug. 18, 2020 primary. He was one of four candidates running to fill the remaining two years of the seat vacated when Mike Wells was elected as Pasco County property appraiser without opposition in June 2020.
District 4 is located in western and central Pasco County. Commissioners must reside in the district they represent although they are elected countywide.
Christina Fitzpatrick won that seat in 2020 but was ousted by Bradford when he ran against her again in 2022.
He became vice chairman of the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners during its December 2023 reorganizational meeting in New Port Richey. Ronald Oakley, who represents District 1 in east Pasco, was named chairman at the same meeting.
“I’m shocked and saddened to hear the news of Commissioner Bradford’s passing,” Oakley said. “My heart goes out to his family. He always had unwavering support for our law enforcement, firefighters, employees and citizens of Pasco County. I appreciate his unwavering support for doing what’s right for the citizens of Pasco County. His passing is a great loss.”
“Remember, we are not promised tomorrow,” Oakley said during the opening of the county commissioners meeting on April 23 in New Port Richey. He encouraged listeners to tell their loved ones daily “you love them.”
“I had the wonderful honor to serve with Commission Vice Chairman Gary Bradford,” said Commissioner Seth Weightman who represents District 2. “Gary and his family fought a difficult battle and endured a tragic loss. He will be sorely missed. I’m thankful for his lifetime of dedicated service to the law enforcement community and to the people of Pasco County. Our prayers are with his family during this challenging time.”
Weightman and Bradford were both elected on Nov. 8, 2022, and they both took their oaths of office on Nov. 22. “It’s kind of like a brotherly bond to be sworn in together,” Weightman said during the BOCC’s meeting.
“The passing of Commissioner Gary Bradford is a profound loss felt deeply by all who knew him,” Commissioner Kathyrn Starkey, who represents District 3, said. “A man of dignity, Gary embodied the values of hard work and lived life with a vibrant spirit that touched everyone around him. I know that being elected a Pasco County commissioner was a dream job for him. During his term, he served with passion and made a lasting impact.”
Starkey added that she thought it was “really tragic” Bradford had not been able to serve his full four-year term of serving the people of Pasco County.
“It was easy to be in a room with Commissioner Bradford because he always made you feel welcome,” Commissioner Jack Mariano, who represents District 5, said. “Our community must take time to grieve with his family, honor his memory and celebrate his zest for life.
“Gary was a great man. He just had that passion — he wanted to serve,” Mariano said, adding, “The way he did it from the get-go, he elevated our staff people. He wanted to make a difference and he did make a difference every step of the way.”
“Commissioner Bradford was always a public servant — from his days in law enforcement to this chapter of his career as a commissioner,” Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said. “It was an honor to work with him for the past two years.”
Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles said, “Even after he was diagnosed, he came over to the clerk’s office and wanted to know what the clerk’s office did.”
Prior to becoming a county commissioner Bradford had retired from the Tampa Police Department after 25 years and then worked for 15 years as a lobbyist for the Florida Police Benevolent Association.
He was a conservative who heavily favored issues related to public safety.
Bradford had participated in several BOCC meetings virtually since being diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He had posted on Facebook that he was “upbeat and positive, working with Florida’s most renowned facility, H.L. Moffitt Cancer Center.”
The form of leukemia he had was “the most common form of blood cancer among adults and it’s highly survivable, with an 85.5% average recovery rate,” Bradford had posted on his Facebook page.
“I will be focused on my treatment and convalescing from home for the next several weeks,” Bradford wrote.
It was posted on Facebook in March that Bradford had “been released to a private rehabilitation health care facility for physical therapy and healing.”
Unfortunately, although his attitude was so positive and upbeat, Bradford succumbed to the disease he had been battling for nearly a year.
Bradford reportedly died at home with his loving family and friends by his side. His wife, Debbie Bradford; son, Daniel Bradford; and daughters, Melissa Lembo and Jessica Anaya, survive him.
Pasco County will request authorization from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office to fly flags at half-staff in honor of Commissioner Bradford after the family announced funeral arrangements, Public Information Officer Sarah Andeara said.
NOTE: Since publication of The Laker story, the service for Commissioner Bradford has been scheduled for April 30 at 10:30 a.m., at Generations Christian Church, 1540 Little Road in Trinity.
Published May 1, 2024
