Palm Beach County voters will decide whether to keep longtime Democrat Sheriff in office Ric Bradshawor replace him with a Republican Michael Meterhe had previously served as Bradshaw’s second-in-command.

Both are 76 years old and have more than 50 years of law enforcement experience.

Bradshaw served five terms as Sheriff. He was first elected to office in 2004 and became the county’s longest-serving Sheriff ever, overseeing six departments, 4,300 employees and nearly 1,500 volunteers.

Bradshaw, who previously worked for the West Palm Beach Police Department, started as a road patrol officer and became Chief of Police in 1996.

He served on the Executive Board of the FBI’s Joint Task Force and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

In 2014, Bradshaw established the Department’s Conduct Division Targeted Violence Unit, which investigates and manages cases of potential terrorism or targeted violence.

He organized task forces and introduced the use of body cameras to the agency to “dismantle gangs, dismantle illegal pill mills, hunt down cyberstalkers, and put human traffickers in jail.”

Bradshaw also invested $13 million in funds seized from criminals to support local community programs for children, seniors and underserved communities.

Confirmed by Riviera Beach Police Cmdr. Alex FreemanThe retired police captain he defeated in the Democratic Primary. Lauro DíazHe lost to Gauger in the Republican primary.

Democrat Boynton Beach Sen. Lori Berman He endorsed Bradshaw, as did Democratic Representatives. Kelly Skidmore Boca Raton and David Silvers Shores of Lake Clarke.

Gauger challenges Bradshaw after serving as Chief Deputy of the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) for 16 years.

Like Bradshaw, he worked in a variety of law enforcement roles throughout his decades-long career before his retirement in 2021, where he received the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Award of Merit.

Gauger promised to reform the Sheriff’s budget by cutting “lavish spending” on office space and ending “million-dollar bonuses” and “$100,000 luxury vehicles for executives.”

He has pledged to reestablish several agency departments, including the Graffiti Unit, Aggressive Driving Unit and Animal Cruelty Prevention Unit. He also advocated for the return of Eagle Academy, a boot camp program for at-risk youth, and Drug Farm, a therapeutic recovery program for nonviolent, drug-addicted offenders.

Gauger accused Bradshaw of eliminating the units despite the Sheriff’s warning. budget of approximately 1 billion dollars. He continued to criticize his former boss for purchasing four new helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft.

The meter was: Approved by the Palm Beach County Fraternal Order of Police — a remarkable nod, his campaign said, considering it’s rare for a sitting Sheriff to fail to gain the support of his deputies.

It also carries endorsements Palm Beach Post And South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Bradshaw dominated Gauger financially. The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections website shows he had raised about $871,000 through mid-October, compared to Gauger’s $234,000.

It is noteworthy that both candidates received money from convicted criminals. Bradshaw accepted the donation Lewis Stahlwho was sentenced to 30 months in prison To avoid federal income taxes. Gauger initially received a donation Lewis KasmanA former associate of a New York mobster John GottiHowever returned the money.

Bradshaw spent nearly $600,000 in total, three times more than Gauger.

Bradshaw and Gauger, once business partners, became embroiled in political entanglements ahead of the General Election. Gauger blamed Bradshaw for inadequate security measures. second assassination attempt related to Donald Trump near the former President’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Bradshaw responded by saying the criticism was evidence that Gauger was “ignorant” of the Sheriff’s responsibilities.

During the Sheriff’s Primary Election, a political committee that has donated to Bradshaw for the past two decades He accused Gauger of lying about his service In the US Army during the Vietnam War. Gauger called this a “stain.”

General Election is on November 5th.

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Michael Costeines reporting.

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