Joseph Abruzzo
| Joseph Abruzzo | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the Florida Senate from the 85th district |
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Assumed office November 20, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Ellyn Setnor Bogdanoff |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 85th district |
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In office November 18, 2008 – November 20, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Shelley Vana |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Rooney, Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
August 14, 1980 Brooksville, Florida |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Lynn University (B.A.) |
| Profession | Port security specialist |
| Religion | Catholicism |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
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| Service/branch |
 United States Coast Guard
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| Years of service | 2005-2013 |
| Unit | United States Coast Guard Reserve |
Joseph Abruzzo (born August 14, 1980) is a Democratic politician who currently serves as a member of the Florida Senate, representing the 25th District, which includes Palm Beach Gardens and Wellington in western and northern Palm Beach County. Prior to his election to the Senate, Abruzzo served in the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 85th District from 2008 to 2012.
Abruzzo attended Lynn University, where he served as President of the Student Government Association and was appointed by the Boca Raton City Council to the Boca Raton Education Advisory Board. He graduated with a degree in international communications in 2003, and joined the United States Coast Guard Reserve later that year, where he worked as a port security specialist.
In 2005, State Representative Anne M. Gannon announced that she would run for the Florida Senate rather than seek re-election in 2006. Abruzzo ran to succeed her in the 86th District, which included Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, and Delray Beach in eastern Palm Beach County. However, when Gannon suspended her Senate campaign to instead seek re-election, Abruzzo switched races, instead opting to challenge Republican Palm Beach County Commissioner Mary McCarty. However, when Gannon again announced that she would not seek re-election to run for Palm Beach County Tax Collector, Abruzzo dropped out of the race against McCarty to run to succeed Gannon, noting, "I have been interested in serving in the legislature from day one." Abruzzo's last-minute decision not to run against McCarty allowed her to win re-election unopposed, causing Palm Beach County Democratic Chairman Wahid Mahmood to criticize Abruzzo and question his party loyalty. Abruzzo faced Maria Sachs, Mark Alan Siegel, and Harriet Lerman in the Democratic primary, and despite a close campaign, ultimately lost to Sachs, receiving 26% of the vote to her 34%.
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