Mike Caruso, a certified public accountant who served seven years in the Florida House of Representatives, was sworn in Tuesday, Aug. 19 as the new Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller.
“It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Florida,” Caruso said. “I am deeply thankful to my constituents for their trust, my colleagues for their partnership, and most especially Gov. Ron DeSantis for the opportunity to continue serving the citizens of Palm Beach County in this important capacity.”
Caruso was sworn in by 15th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Glenn Kelley via Zoom at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19. He started his first day as clerk by administering the oath of deputy clerk to more than 200 employees, so they can act on his behalf as deputy clerks on court and county transactions that require a clerk signature.
Caruso was appointed by DeSantis to replace Joseph Abruzzo, who is now serving as Palm Beach County administrator.
In his new role, Caruso will serve as Palm Beach County’s public trustee, responsible for safeguarding public records and taxpayer money. The clerk’s position is established by the Florida Constitution as an independent officer, directly elected by and accountable to the people of Palm Beach County.
“It’s great to be home, having spent the last seven years in Tallahassee,” Caruso said during the Tuesday, Aug. 19 Palm Beach County Commission meeting. “I’m very excited and honored to take the seat of Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller of Palm Beach County.”
Caruso noted that his experience as a CPA and forensic auditor made him uniquely qualified to serve as clerk. He brings significant private sector experience to his new role, working as a CPA in accounting firms including KPMG and Grant Thornton International, before opening his own accounting firm, Caruso & Caruso.
His expertise as a forensic accountant has been called upon as an expert witness in multiple local and national court cases. As a legislator, Caruso built a reputation as a principled and results-driven lawmaker.
As clerk, his priorities include: modernizing vendor payment systems; protecting citizens from guardianship and real property fraud; maintaining conservative and sound investment strategies for the county’s investment portfolio; advocating for a unified searchable database among 20 judicial circuits and 67 counties to allow streamlined access to the public across the state; and ensuring full compliance with audits.
“I look forward to bringing the same dedication, integrity and results-driven approach I’ve shown in the legislature to the Clerk’s Office,” Caruso said. “Palm Beach County deserves the most transparent, efficient and fraud-free system of public service.”
Caruso is the proud father of seven children, a champion barefoot water skier, a tennis enthusiast, and enjoys spending time at the beach with his wife and dogs.
