Nearly 200,000 voters across Palm Beach County, an estimated 22 percent of registered voters, took part in the primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 20, which finalized the races that will appear on the Tuesday, Nov. 5 general election ballot.
Voters weighed-in on an array of countywide races, highlighted by a closely watched set of primaries for Palm Beach County Sheriff, in which incumbent Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, a Democrat, faced both a primary challenge, and a challenge from two seeking the Republican party’s nomination.
In the Democratic primary, incumbent Bradshaw defeated challenger Alex Freeman, a career law enforcement officer who retired as a major from the Riviera Beach Police Department. Bradshaw took 57,875 votes (60.79 percent) to Freeman’s 37,327 votes (39.21 percent), according to unofficial results from the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office. Freeman has run unsuccessfully against Bradshaw twice before, in 2020 and 2016.
In the Republican primary, former Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Michael Gauger, a former Bradshaw ally turned political opponent, defeated retired PBSO Capt. Lauro Diaz, who was Bradshaw’s 2020 general election opponent. Gauger took 34,893 votes (53.53 percent) to Diaz’s 30,291 votes (46.47 percent), according to unofficial results.
Bradshaw was happy with his showing in the primary and believes that he is in a strong position to win the general election in November to secure himself a sixth term.
“I’m grateful for the strong victory and vote of confidence I received in the primary election,” he said. “Residents know I’ve had their back to keep them safe, and they have had mine, re-electing me to continue serving as sheriff.”
He said he will focus on his record during the general election campaign.
“I look forward to sharing more about the safety initiatives I’m leading to ensure public safety remains priority No. 1,” Bradshaw said. “Across the nation, our sheriff’s office remains a public safety leader on issues dealing with homeland security, mental health, violent and gang-related crimes, and the use of technology to increase efficiency and keep us safe.”
Bradshaw reiterated his belief that he is the best candidate for the job.
“Serving as sheriff requires leadership that is stable, effective and decisive,” he said. “Every day, I make decisions based on what is best to keep people safe, and I don’t let politics influence my decisions. I’m confident that on Nov. 5, voters will agree that when it comes to who is the most prepared choice to serve as sheriff, experience counts, and they will re-elect me.”
Gauger, a 30-year Wellington resident, said that his primary was a bit closer than he expected, but blamed that on outside political consultants who “released all kinds of horrendous and inaccurate allegations about me.”
“I think that caused it to be closer than had been anticipated. However, we prevailed, and I have an opportunity to move forward,” Gauger said. “I will focus on my history of service, not only in the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, but to all the civic organizations that I belong to, and what I have done to build a better quality of life for so many neighborhoods across this county.”
In the leadup to the general election, Gauger said that he will stay focused and “tell the truth on his record of service.”
“I plan to challenge the budget and take a very close look at the expenditures and where the money has been spent,” he said. “Having been there for so long, I know where money has been spent frivolously, like the Class A office space for a minimum number of people, that has cost upward of $55,000 a month to maintain.”
Should he be elected, Gauger said that he will run a more transparent agency than Bradshaw.
“I will not hide things in internal affairs, so the public does not have the opportunity to see the outcome of investigations,” he said. “For the employees, I promise fair and equitable treatment across the board.”
Public Defender — With Palm Beach County Public Defender Carey Haughwout retiring after 24 years in office, voters were asked to choose her replacement in a universal primary election between Daniel Eisinger, a Royal Palm Beach resident who is currently the No. 2 person in Haughwout’s office, and former Delray Beach City Commissioner Adam Frankel, an attorney who worked at the agency early in his career.
The winner was Eisinger, who took 92,870 votes (55.84 percent) to Frankel’s 73,433 votes (44.16 percent), according to unofficial results.
Since no other candidates qualified for the ballot, Eisinger won the position and will take office in January.
“I am awfully thankful to our supporters and the voters for seeing how important the Office of the Public Defender is in Palm Beach County,” Eisinger said. “Our lawyers and staff are relieved, as am I, that we will be able to continue the great work that we do, and we have done under Carey Haughwout’s leadership.”
He characterized the election as “a referendum of sorts on what kind of office we would be moving forward.”
“I am thankful that the voters want us to continue to advocate for our indigent clients in the way that we have done for so many years,” Eisinger said.
State Attorney — Voters from both political parties weighed-in on the race to replace Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg, who is stepping down after three terms.
In the Democratic primary, candidate Alexcia Cox, currently deputy chief assistant state attorney in Aronberg’s office, was the clear favorite, defeating Gregg Lerman and Craig Williams. Cox took 60,900 votes (64.32 percent), while Lerman took 17,387 votes (18.36 percent) and Williams took 16,392 votes (17.31 percent), according to unofficial results.
In the Republican primary, Sam Stern, a former prosecutor currently with a law office in Palm Beach Gardens, easily defeated Boca Raton attorney Forrest Freedman. Stern took 40,341 votes (62.82 percent) to Freedman’s 23,873 votes (37.18 percent), according to unofficial results.
Cox and Stern will advance to the general election ballot, which will also include independent candidate Adam Farkas.
County Court Race — Also on the primary election ballot, voters chose between three candidates seeking a vacant seat on the Palm Beach County Court, replacing Judge Ted Booras, who is retiring.
Vying for the seat in the non-partisan race were attorneys Lourdes Casanova, Douglas Leifert and Jean Marie Middleton. The top two vote-getters were Casanova and Middleton, who will advance to the general election ballot in November.
Casanova topped the balloting with 66,994 votes (37.92 percent), while Middleton took 59,827 votes (33.86 percent), according to unofficial results. Leifert garnered 49,869 votes (28.22 percent) and was eliminated.
Port of Palm Beach — In the Democratic primary for Port of Palm Beach Group 2, incumbent Commissioner Varisa Lall Dass easily dispatched challengers Kelly Fleury and Jeffery Jackson.
Dass took 14,654 votes (49.40 percent) to 9,045 votes (30.49 percent) for Jackson and 5,967 votes (20.11 percent) for Fleury, according to unofficial results.
Dass will now advance to the general election ballot, where she faces a challenge from Republican candidate Ted Sarandis.
Also in November is the race for Port of Palm Beach Group 3, where incumbent Commissioner Jean Enright, a Democrat, faces a challenge from Republican candidate Roderick Clarke.
In Port of Palm Beach Group 1, incumbent Commissioner Wayne Richards was re-elected without opposition when filing closed in June.
County Ballot Question — On Tuesday’s ballot, voters were asked to choose whether to renew Palm Beach County’s ability to give certain economic development tax breaks to employers for creating or retaining jobs. In County Question 1, titled “Economic Development Property Tax Exemptions to New Businesses and Expansions of Existing Businesses,” voters agreed to continue the Economic Ad Valorem Tax Exemption Program. A total of 101,320 people (62.10 percent) voted YES, while 61,832 people (37.90 percent) voted NO, according to unofficial results.
Fall Countywide Races — Looking toward the fall, several races for countywide constitutional officers that did not have primary elections will appear on the November ballot.
In the race for Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, incumbent Wendy Sartory Link, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican candidate Jeff Buongiorno.
In the race for Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller, incumbent Joseph Abruzzo, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican candidate Samuel Thompson.
Palm Beach Tax Collector Anne Gannon and Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks were re-elected without opposition when filing closed in June.
