Dave Aronberg earns third term as Palm Beach’s State Attorney

With no one qualifying as a candidate to run against him by Friday’s deadline, State Attorney Dave Aronberg on Friday earned a third term in Florida’s 15th Judicial Circuit, serving Palm Beach County.

Aronberg, a Democrat, was first elected in JC 15 in 2012 after serving eight years in the Florida Senate and then becoming Florida’s special prosecutor within the Florida Attorney General’s office to oversee efforts to shut down Florida’s pill mills and the state’s prescription drug trafficking crisis.

He won the 2012 State Attorney’s election by 20 points, then was reelected in 2016 without opposition.

“I am extremely grateful for the vote of confidence by the people of Palm Beach County. Since my first election in 2012, we have brought together a top-notch team of prosecutors to the State Attorney’s office to protect the safety of our residents and stand up for victims of crime,” Arronberg said in a news release.

“Families have a right to live without the threat of gangs and rogue sober homes operating in their community. Residents have a right to enjoy their lives without scam artists and defrauders preying on their finances,” he continued. “Taxpayers have a right to expect government employees and officials will act in their best interest and not for personal gain. Crime affects all of us and as your State Attorney, I will continue to focus on keeping our community safe and putting justice first.”

Arronberg also celebrated his reelection on Twitter.

I was just re-elected today without opposition to a third term as State Attorney for Palm Beach County. Extremely grateful for all the support and excited to continue the progress we’ve made in public safety. THANK YOU! #FlaPol #Sayfie pic.twitter.com/n3YWO135A2

— Dave Aronberg (@aronberg) April 24, 2020

He has remained active in combatting the opioid epidemic during his time in office, including through the creation of a task force going after sham sober homes. Aronberg’s office says the group was an important factor in Palm Beach County’s approximate 40 percent decrease in opioid overdose deaths from 2017 to 2018.

Arronberg has also served as an assistant attorney general and a White House fellow in the U.S. Department of the Treasury, over two presidential administrations.

Also winning another term without opposition is JC 15 Democratic Public Defender Carey Haughwout.