A Lifetime of Public/Private Service

With over 33 years of dedicated government service, Steven Baird has consistently championed innovation, fiscal responsibility and customer service. While at Sacramento International Airport, Baird was the first IT professional to bring in a County owned network that all airlines used to ticket and process passengers. This approach saved the airlines thousands of dollars in dispatching repair crews while enabling the County Airport System to save over $100 million dollars by reducing the number of gates constructed in the new terminal. As a member of both the Sacramento County Retirement Board and Deferred Compensation Board, Baird voted on investment strategies and selected finance managers to oversee the funds. As a Division Chief of Information Technology, he was responsible for the Customer Service (311, IT Help Desk, Airport IT, Probation), Applications (Enterprise Resource Planning [ERP], software development, website development) and Infrastructure (networks, servers, cyber security) divisions with a budget of over $28 million during his tenure at the department. While with Washington County, AR as the Director of Technology, his staff worked to upgrade hardware, improve cyber defenses and prepare for redundant operations. In addition to these duties, Baird worked with a team to retool the compensation system into a performance based Step program as well as enabling county employees the ability to access the Arkansas Diamond deferred compensation plan.

As a private citizen, Baird worked with a team dedicated to bringing about true representative government through the State of Jefferson movement. Baird was the principal financial analyst as well as the web developer for the group. Baird spent many hours in various county board rooms (the equivalent of our Quorum Courts) presenting the financial outlook for the proposed state. The goal was to get out from under a 500,000 to one level of representation in the lower house of the CA legislature to one nearer the Arkansas levels of 30,000 to one. The group advocated for the ability to look your representative in the eye and have a meaningful dialog or else replace that person in the next election.

Driven by a deep belief in fiscal responsibility and transparent representative governance, Baird’s journey reflects a genuine desire to strengthen our community and protect the values that matter most to our community. As a proven leader, Baird remains devoted to advancing conservative solutions that ensure a prosperous future for all.

Background and Basics

Steve Baird is a husband of 37 years with two children and three grandchildren (and counting!) His educational background centers around technology and finance having earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Idaho and an MBA in Financial Management from National University. His public career has been split into three main categories: customer service, aviation and technology. Steve was also elected to the Sacramento County Retirement Board as well as served many years on the Deferred Compensation Board. His last position in active public service was as the Director of Information Technology for Washington County based in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Steve currently drives a pumper truck for the Grassy Knob Volunteer Fire Department in Western Carroll County.

Resume Highlights:

Director of Information Technology, Washington County, AR

Information Technology Division Chief, Sacramento County, CA

Deputy Director of Infrastructure Support and Services Delivery, Sacramento International Airport (SMF), CA

Programmer, Aerojet Solid Propulsion Company (Aerojet Rocketdyne)

Service:

Managing Director of the Sacramento County Open Children’s Charity Golf Tournament ($300K over seven years)

Treasurer 501(c)3 – Cain’s Crossing which was a Renaissance Faire supporting children’s education ($110K over seven years)

Treasurer 501(c)3 – Diamond Rose Academie D’Armes fencing guild

Treasurer 501(c)3 and youth soccer referee – Auburn Youth Soccer Club

Beaver Lake Pirate Poker Run – Grassy Knob Fire Auxiliary ($47K for fire department radios in two years)

Grassy Knob Volunteer Fire Department firefighter