BARBARA FORD-COATES
SARASOTA COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR

Barbara Ford-Coates joined the Tax Collector's office in 1975. She was first elected to the top position in 1984. In 1988 and 1992 she was re-elected with the highest vote count of any candidate (local, state or federal) on the Sarasota County ballot. She was re-elected in 1996, 2000 and 2004 without opposition.

A native of Virginia, Mrs. Ford-Coates has lived in Sarasota County since 1972.  She holds a bachelor's degree in American History from the College of William and Mary and is the only elected official in Sarasota County who has earned the national designation of Certified Public Manager through Florida State University.

Mrs. Ford-Coates is a past president of the Florida Tax Collectors Association and the National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers & Finance Officers whom she currently represents on the National Association of Counties Board of Directors. She was honored as the 2008 Outstanding County Tax Collector in America.

She has also received the Sarasota County League of Women Voters' award for public service and the "She Knows Where She’s Going" award from Girls Incorporated.  In the past she has served as Treasurer of the League of Women Voters and currently is the leader of Daisy Troop 254.

She was appointed by the late Governor Lawton Chiles to the 1998 Florida Constitution Revision Commission where she received the Chairman's Award for her successful efforts to provide information to the public about the revisions on the 1998 ballot.  In 2000, the American Jewish Committee named her as one of 12 national women leaders who were sent to Israel to participate in an educational seminar.

Married to Brian Ford-Coates since 1972, their extended family includes seven daughters, three sons-in-law, and nine beautiful grandchildren.