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    • Ric Bradshaw wins sixth term as sheriff
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    Ric Bradshaw wins sixth term as sheriff

    Harry Posted on

    PBSO is the nation’s largest law enforcement agency, employing more than 4,000 people with a budget of $952 million.

    (This story has been updated with new information.)

    Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, a Democrat, won a record sixth term by defeating his onetime top lieutenant, Republican Michael Gauger, by nearly 16 percentage points in a hotly contested election. .

    With 95% of precincts reporting, Bradshaw garnered nearly 413,000 votes to Gauger’s 299,000. The 16-point lead is much less than the 30-point-plus win Bradshaw achieved in previous elections. Four years ago, he garnered 65 percent of the votes cast.

    “There are landslides and crushes,” Bradshaw said during the victory party. “It was a love.”

    Gauger told The Post he knew it would be an uphill battle to unseat Bradshaw. No other sheriff in the state has the largest war chest that Bradshaw has been able to build over the years. He raised more than $1 million, five times what Gauger raised.

    The controversial campaign turned increasingly negative, with Gauger claiming that Bradshaw was not healthy enough to serve as sheriff. Bradshaw suffered a serious heart condition in 2022 that required two surgeries. Gauger nicknamed him “tick-tock” Ric. But Bradshaw says he has made a full recovery. Gauger also accused Bradshaw of financial mismanagement.

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    Negative ads attacking Gauger accused him of lying about serving in Vietnam as a soldier in the U.S. Army. He was also accused of being too liberal to partner with Planned Parenthood when he was Bradshaw’s top aide. The Police Benevolent Association (PBA), a strong supporter of Bradshaw, has endorsed Bradshaw’s GOP primary opponent. Gauger claimed this was part of an effort to prevent Bradshaw from gaining GOP approval so he would face a weaker opponent.

    Bradshaw said the election results speak for themselves. “The public approves of what we are doing and the vote totals show that,” he said. “No other candidate won by 16 points in the districtwide race.”

    Bradshaw, 76, said Gauger, 76, did not call to congratulate him but added: “I don’t care.”

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    Bradshaw was first elected to the position in 2004 and is the county’s longest-serving sheriff, overseeing 4,300 employees and nearly 1,500 volunteers. Before becoming sheriff, Bradshaw was the police chief in West Palm Beach.

    Gauger served as a colonel, major, and captain in PBSO before becoming Bradshaw’s top aide, during which time he worked with and under Bradshaw. The men worked side by side for 16 years.

    Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office It is the largest police agency in the state. It operates the prison system and provides police protection for the unincorporated areas of the county as well as the various municipalities that contract with it. Its budget is more than 950 million dollars.

    Gauger said he retired after a 50-year career in law enforcement because he was concerned about the way Bradshaw was running the agency.

    Gauger was criticized for walking away with a $743,000 payout. He admitted this was wrong and when he was told the amount he thought it was a mistake. He said he didn’t want to accept but was told he had to. The attack ads criticized him for taking the payment without explaining that he had no choice, he told The Post.

    Mike Diamond is a journalist. Palm Beach PostPart of the USA TODAY Florida Network. Covers issues affecting Palm Beach County government and homeowners associations. You can reach him at: [email protected]. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.

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