Joseph Abruzzo is the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Palm Beach County, and proudly serves as the county’s protector of public records and taxpayer money. He was elected in November 2020, and sworn into office on January 5, 2021.

As Clerk, he leads a team of nearly 650 employees who serve more than 1.5 million Palm Beach County residents, and oversees an annual operating budget of $70.5 million. As the Comptroller for Palm Beach County, he is responsible for ensuring the proper investment and legal use of billions of dollars in taxpayer money.

His office supports Palm Beach County government and the 15th Judicial Circuit in his roles as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Auditor, Clerk of the Circuit Court, County Recorder and Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners.

Prior to his election as Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Clerk Abruzzo served in Florida Legislature for a decade, serving in both the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. 

In the Senate, Clerk Abruzzo was appointed by the Senate President to serve as the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee Chairman, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission Nominating Council, the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Finance and Tax, the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Commerce and Tourism, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Conservation, and by the Senate Minority Leader as the Minority Whip of the Florida Senate. 

In the Florida House, Clerk Abruzzo served as the Democratic Ranking Member on the Ways and Means Committee, the PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee, and the Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee. He was also appointed by the House Minority Leader to serve as the Minority Whip of the Florida House.

Clerk Abruzzo authored and led the passage of 50 bills that were signed into law, including the Florida Silver Alert, the Florida Grandparents Bill of Rights, Nicole’s Law, the Yellow Dot Traffic Safety Program, and the termination of parental rights for rapists.

Clerk Abruzzo proudly served in the United States Coast Guard Reserves as a Port Security Specialist from 2005 to 2013 and is the recipient of numerous awards, medals and outstanding performance citations. 

Clerk Abruzzo is a graduate of Lynn University and a Certified Florida Clerk and Comptroller (CFCC). He has one son, Joseph Abruzzo II.