Election 2024: Voters to elect new Palm Beach County state attorney for first time in years
WEST PALM BEACH — With fewer than 30 minutes until the polls close, Palm Beach County voters are poised to elect a new state attorney for the first time in more than a decade.
Contenders include Democrat Alexcia Cox, a longtime prosecutor endorsed by the current state attorney; Republican Sam Stern, a private attorney who comes from a line of prosecutors and public servants; and Adam Farkas, an independent candidate with experienceprosecuting defendants and defending them.
Each hopes to replace three-term incumbent Dave Aronberg, who announced last year that he would not seek reelection . The victor of the Nov. 5 general election will take Aronberg's place at the State Attorney's Office in January, earning a salary of $218,939 to lead about 115 prosecutors and 180 support staff members.
Broward County 2024 General Election Results
2024 Florida General Election Results
Am I registered to vote in Florida? How to check
What's at stake in the Palm Beach County state attorney race?
The outcome of this year's election has the potential to shape the justice system for many years to come. In Florida, there are no term limits for state attorneys. That means November's winner can serve an unlimited number of four-year terms, as long as they continue to win reelection.
In Palm Beach County, that's more than a hypothetical. David Bludworth, elected in 1972, served as the community's top prosecutor for 21 years. His successor, Barry Krischer, served for 16 years after that. Aronberg served for 11 years before endorsing Cox, one of his chief assistant state attorneys, to take his place.
The State Attorney's Office prosecutes thousands of cases a year, ranging from murders to trespassing. Its top prosecutor can help decide which cases to pursue and which to drop, when to seek the death penalty and when to recommend diversion programs instead of prison sentences.
Here's what to know about the candidates vying for the spot.
Abortion and Amendment 4: Five things to know about Florida's Election Day question
Alexcia Cox, longtime prosecutor endorsed by incumbent
Age and residence:
Current job: Deputy chief assistant state attorney at the State Attorney's Office in Palm Beach County.
Top campaign priorities: Cox plans to create an Elder Crimes Unit focused on combatting cybercrime. In an effort to improve employee retention, she also plans to establish housing incentives for prosecutors, advocate for higher wages from the state and introduce health and wellness initiatives for employees.
Political background: None.
Education: Cox earned her law degree at Florida State University College of Law.
Endorsements: Cox is endorsed by more than 50 elected officials, including State Attorney Dave Aronberg; Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw; Congressional members Lois Frankel and Jared Moskowitz; and state senators Tina Polsky, Lori Berman and Bobby Powell.
Sam Stern, private attorney backed by Trump billionaires
Age and residence:
Current job: Attorney at Stern, Kilcullen & Rufolo LLC, a New Jersey law firm with an office in Palm Beach Gardens.
Top campaign priorities: Stern, who has experience teaching trial advocacy at the University of Miami's law school, said he hopes to recruit the best talent and provide the best training for prosecutors. He also plans to create a task force dedicated to prosecuting felons in possession of firearms.
Political background: None.
Education: Stern earned his bachelor's degree at Hobart & William Smith Colleges and his law degree at Fordham University School of Law.
Endorsements: Stern has been endorsed by Michael Caruso (State Rep. District 87), Rick Roth (State Rep. District 94), Peggy Gossett-Seidman (State Rep. District 91), Sara Baxter (Palm Beach County Commissioner District 6), and Gregg Lerman and Craig Williams, two veteran prosecutors who lost to Cox in the Democratic primary race for state attorney.
Adam Farkas, independent candidate who served brief stint in state attorney's office
Age and residence:
Current job: Partner at the law firm Farkas & Crowley, P.A.
Top campaign priorities: Farkas hopes to reduce the incarceration rate by ending incarceration for minor probation violations and expanding the use of treatment and pretrial diversion programs for defendants. He also plans to assess and address racial disparities in sentencing and lobby state officials for better pay for prosecutors.
Political background: None.
Education: Farkas earned his bachelor's degree from Indiana University and his law degree from Nova Southeastern University.
Endorsements: Farkas has listed no endorsements. He said that, as a no-party candidate, he has "not participated in the endorsement game as partisan candidates."
