Don Gaetz
Donald Jay Gaetz
U.S.A.
Personal Background
Don Gaetz graduated from Concordia College with degrees in religion and political science and earned a Master of Public Administration from Troy State University. He relocated to Florida in 1978, where he worked as a hospital administrator and successfully lobbied for the creation of hospice care programs. Gaetz founded VITAS Healthcare Corporation in 1983, which he later sold for nearly half a billion dollars. Despite facing a Medicare fraud lawsuit that was settled in 2018, he denied any involvement in the alleged wrongdoing.
Political Ideas
Don Gaetz champions a unique blend of free-market principles with a focus on regional economic challenges, advocating for tax policies that attract businesses while simultaneously pushing for measures to reduce Florida’s high living costs. His strategic approach to healthcare, marked by his founding of VITAS Healthcare Corporation and subsequent legal entanglements, underscores a calculated effort to balance profit motives with public service. Don Gaetz's rhetoric often juxtaposes his business acumen with a populist concern for affordability, creating a compelling yet complex political identity.