Carey Baker spent formative years in Eustis, where he joined the family business at a young age. He holds an educational background from Tavares High School and Lake–Sumter Community College. Baker's extensive military career includes over three decades in the Florida Army National Guard, culminating in the rank of First Sergeant, with deployments in Iraq and training missions in Eastern Europe. Transitioning to public service, he served in both the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida State Senate, where he introduced and passed several significant bills. Baker's tenure as Lake County Property Appraiser focused on enhancing office transparency and taxpayer services.

Carey Baker's political identity is marked by a blend of traditional conservatism with surprising progressive touches, particularly in education and public safety. His legislative initiatives, such as expanding private school vouchers for military families and advocating for a sales tax holiday on hurricane preparedness items, showcase an unexpected alignment with community-focused policies. Despite his conservative stance on mandatory health insurance laws, Baker's commitment to modernizing local government and enhancing transparency as Lake County Property Appraiser hints at an ideologically agile approach.