Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Rep. Michael "Mike" Caruso (R-Delray Beach) to serve as the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller on Monday. Rep. Caruso will take over for Joseph Abruzzo, who resigned to become Palm Beach County administrator.
Rep. Caruso, a strong ally of the governor, has served in the Florida House of Representatives since 2018.
"It's been an honor of my life to serve the people of Florida," Caruso said in a release. "I am deeply thankful to my constituents for their trust, my colleagues for their partnership, and most especially Governor DeSantis for the opportunity to continue serving the citizens of Palm Beach County in this important capacity."
According to the release, Caruso will oversee safeguarding public records, manage court documents, and supervise county finances in his new role.
Caruso also detailed several key priorities for his administration, including protecting citizens from guardianship and real property fraud, modernizing vendor payment systems, maintaining conservative and sound investment strategies for Palm Beach County's reserves, and ensuring full compliance with state audits in partnership with Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia.
"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."
"The Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller is crucial, serving as the county's official record keeper, financial guardian, and court document custodian - ensuring accountability in the judicial system and county government operations," Caruso added.
Caruso was the lone House Republican to vote against an original version of the "Trump Act" during Florida's special legislative session in January, a bill largely disfavored by Gov. Ron DeSantis at the time that Caruso called a weak pro-amnesty bill and disingenuously titled.
Following his vote, Caruso was removed as chair of the House Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee by Speaker Danny "Daniel" Perez (R-Miami), a move believed to be in retaliation for his decision.
