Dave Aronberg

Dave Aronberg
State Attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida
In office
2012 - Present
Preceded by Peter Antonacci
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 27th district
In office
2002 - 2010
Personal details
Born (1971-05-04) May 4, 1971
Miami, Florida
Political party Democratic
Residence West Palm Beach, Florida
Alma mater Harvard College
Harvard Law School
Profession Attorney

Dave Aronberg (born May 4, 1971) is the State Attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida and a former member of the Florida Senate. He was elected to the Senate in 2002, as its youngest member and served for eight years. He is a Democrat.[1]

Prior to serving in the Senate, Aronberg worked as a lawyer in both the public and private sectors. He was serving as the Florida Attorney General’s “Drug Czar” in 2012 when he announced his candidacy for Palm Beach County State Attorney.[2] He was first elected to the office in November 2012 and re-elected without opposition on May 6, 2016.[3][4]

Early life and career

Aronberg was born in Miami. He attended North Miami Senior High School, and graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Government in 1993. He then attended Harvard Law School, where he received a Juris Doctor degree with honors in 1996.

After graduation, Aronberg worked for three years in the litigation department of the law firm, Steel Hector & Davis LLP, in Miami and West Palm Beach.[5]

Holocaust Victims Insurance Relief

Aronberg took a leave of absence from the law firm for three months in 1998 to work for U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, who at the time was serving as Florida’s Insurance Commissioner.[5] Nelson and Aronberg worked together to investigate European insurance companies that refused to honor World War II era policies sold to victims of the Holocaust.[1] Working with members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the investigation led to the establishment of the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims (ICHEIC) and the enactment of Florida's Holocaust Victims Assistance Act to ensure that insurance claims of Holocaust victims were expeditiously identified and properly paid, compensated, or returned.[6][7]

Florida Assistant Attorney General - Economic Crimes

Aronberg worked as an Assistant Attorney General in the Economic Crimes Division of the Florida Attorney General's Office on two separate occasions. In 2000, President Bill Clinton selected Aronberg to be a White House Fellow. After the Fellowship was completed in September 2001, Aronberg returned to the Economic Crimes Division.[8]

Prescription Drug Companies

In 2001, Aronberg led an investigation into the marketing practices of Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of the prescription drug OxyContin.[9]

Phone-Scam Psychic "Miss Cleo"

Aronberg received national attention for his investigation of late-night television celebrity, “Miss Cleo,” and the Psychic Readers Network for deceptive marketing practices. In addition to a large settlement with the State of Florida, the company was ultimately fined $5 million by the Federal Trade Commission and forced to cancel $500 million in customer bills.[10][11]

White House Fellowship

In 2000, Aronberg was selected to be one of 15 White House Fellows from across the country. In this non-partisan position, he served in two presidential administrations as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury Department for international money laundering, including the laundering of terrorist assets.[12]

He was part of a U.S. delegation to an international summit on money laundering at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2001.[13]

Florida Senate

Aronberg was elected to the Florida Senate in 2002 as its youngest member.[1] He served as the Chair of the Military Affairs and Domestic Security Committee, and also chaired the Everglades Restoration Committee, where he advocated for additional state and federal funds to protect and restore the “River of Grass.”

Domestic Security

As Chairman of the Florida Senate’s Military Affairs and Domestic Security Committee, Aronberg led a rewrite of Florida's port security law to better protect Floridians from terrorist threats. Aronberg’s 2009 bill, signed into law by Florida Governor Charlie Crist at a bill signing ceremony at Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, matched Florida security law to the federal requirements.[14] The bill received unanimous support from labor unions and maritime businesses, leading the Associated Industries of Florida’s Maritime Council to name Aronberg as “Legislator of the Year” for his work to improve port security while expanding Florida’s global position as a leading exporter.[15]

Public Safety & Criminal Justice

Opiate Abuse

When Aronberg was elected to the Florida Senate in 2002, he followed up on his investigation of Purdue Pharma by calling attention to the growing opioid crisis. In 2010, the Florida legislature enacted legislation co-sponsored by Aronberg to regulate the pain clinic industry and to limit the dispensing of narcotics such as oxycodone.[16]

Anti-Looting

In 2007, he was successful in passing an anti-looting law that increased penalties for specific thefts and burglaries committed after the Governor has declared a state of emergency.[17][18]

Gang Violence

During 2007 and 2008, Aronberg pushed the Legislature to pass tough anti-gang legislation. The language in Aronberg's proposal, which was enacted into law in 2008, increased penalties for habitual offenders convicted of gang-related crimes and stiffened sanctions for witness tampering and harassment. The legislation also banned gang members from possessing bulletproof vests during the commission of a crime.[19]

Sexual Violence

Aronberg sponsored a bill to eliminate the statute of limitations for child victims of sexual abuse. His bill, SB 870, passed both the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Crist. [20] The Florida Coalition Against Sexual Violence named Aronberg its “Legislator of Year” of 2010.[21]

Consumer Protection & Privacy Rights

Regulating the Credit Counseling Industry

In 2004, Aronberg sponsored Florida’s Credit Counseling Services Bill (SB 2682), which limited the fees credit counseling and debt repair companies could charge consumers.[22]

Video Voyeurism

In 2004, Aronberg proposed a bill to make video voyeurism a crime in Florida, which included the taking as well as the dissemination of the images.[23]

Florida Attorney General Candidacy

In 2010, Aronberg made a bid for the office of Attorney General of Florida.[24][25] Aronberg was unsuccessful in the primary.[26]

Prescription Drug Trafficking

In early 2011, based on Aronberg’s work on opiate abuse, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi reached across party lines to appoint Aronberg to be Special Prosecutor for Prescription Drug Trafficking.[27]

Palm Beach County State Attorney

In January 2012, Aronberg announced his candidacy for Palm Beach County State Attorney.[28] Aronberg won the office with 58% of the vote in the November 6, 2012 election and was re-elected without opposition on May 6, 2016.[29]

As State Attorney, Aronberg leads a team of 120 prosecutors and 220 professional staff in five offices throughout Palm Beach County.[30]

In 2016, Aronberg was elected as an officer of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) and subsequently re-elected in 2017.[31] In November 2016, Aronberg traveled to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base as a representative of the NDAA to observe the prosecution of accused Al-Qaida terrorist Abdul al Hadi al Iraqi.[32] In 2016, Florida Bar President Bill Schifino appointed Aronberg to the Florida Bar Board of Governors to represent government lawyers throughout the State. In 2017, Aronberg was reappointed for a second term by Florida Bar President Michael Higer.[33]

Task Forces

In early 2016, Aronberg launched a task force to protect seniors from scams.[34]

Sober Homes Task Force

Aronberg’s most notable task force is his Sober Homes Task Force, which has helped to clean up the fraud and abuse in the drug recovery industry in Palm Beach County.[35] His Task Force has received national attention for its work to combat the opioid epidemic, including a feature story on Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly on June 25, 2017.[36] The Task Force, which now features three separate groups totaling around 75 people, was funded with a special appropriation from the Florida Legislature.[37]

Human Trafficking Task Force

In 2017, Aronberg formed a Human Trafficking Task Force with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and federal officials. The Florida Attorney General appointed Aronberg to the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking to represent all state prosecutors.[38][39]

Animal Welfare

Aronberg, who adopted his basset hound, Cookie, from Big Dog Ranch Rescue in 2011, personally prosecuted a felony animal cruelty case for his first trial as State Attorney.[40]

In recognition of his efforts to fight animal cruelty, Aronberg received the national Wings Award by the Pegasus Foundation for his contributions to animal welfare.[41]

First-Time DUI Offender Program

In 2013, Aronberg launched a unique first-time DUI offender program that is the only one of its kind endorsed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Since the program’s inception, more than 2,100 defendants have entered the program and very few have committed a DUI again.[42][43][44][45]

The most well-known defendant to enter Aronberg's program was golfer Tiger Woods, whose 2017 DUI case made international news.[46]

Corey Lewandowski Case

Aronberg gained national media attention during the 2016 Presidential Election when he announced he would not move forward with a battery charge against Corey Lewandowski, Donald Trump's campaign manager. Jupiter Police had charged Lewandowski with misdemeanor battery after former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields alleged that he grabbed her after a Trump press conference on March 8 at Trump International Golf Club.[47]

Personal life

In May 2015, Aronberg married Lynn Martin, a former Miami Dolphins cheerleader and now public relations professional, on St. Pete Beach. They divorced in August 2017.[48][49][50]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Former Sen. Aronberg Brings Varied Experience". Gotowncrier.com. 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  2. ↑ "Dave Aronberg". YouTube. 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  3. ↑ "Four more years for Dave Aronberg as candidate qualifying deadline passes | Post On Politics". Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  4. ↑ Brett Clarkson. "A new state attorney for Palm Beach County, Election 2012". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  5. 1 2 http://www.sa15.state.fl.us/stateattorney/OurOffice/indexSAbio.htm
  6. ↑ "Holocaust Restitution Claims". www.myfloridacfo.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  7. ↑ "Holocaust Era Insurance Claims". www.naic.org. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  8. ↑ "Aronberg says he's running for state attorney general". www.naplesnews.com. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  9. ↑ Glenn Singer (2001-11-06). "Florida Begins Investigation". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  10. ↑ "'Miss Cleo' didn't see $5M fine in her future". Religionnewsblog.com. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  11. ↑ ConsumerAffairs (2002-11-14). "Miss Cleo Settles for $500 Million". Consumeraffairs.com. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  12. ↑ "About the Fellowship | The White House". Whitehouse.gov. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  13. ↑ "Honoring State Senator Dave Aronberg". Capitol Words. Archived from the original on 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  14. ↑ "Governor Crist Signs Bill to Streamline Port Security Requirements | The Jacksonville Observer". www.jaxobserver.com. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  15. ↑ "AIF" (PDF).
  16. ↑ "Broward's Blog: Sen. Dave Aronberg's Pill Mill Bill Goes to Governor". Broward's Blog. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  17. ↑ "Florida Attorney General - Volume 3, Issue 18". www.myfloridalegal.com. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  18. ↑ "New anti-looting law increases penalties". tribunedigital-sunsentinel. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  19. ↑ "Florida Gang Bill Targets Homegrown Terror, Internet". Federal Jack. 2008-01-25. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
  20. ↑ "Florida House of Representatives - SB 870 - Statutes of Limitation for Sexual Battery [SPSC]". www.myfloridahouse.gov. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  21. ↑ "Home | Florida Council Against Sexual Violence". www.fcasv.org. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  22. ↑ "CS/CS/SB 2682 - Credit Counseling Services". Florida House of Representatives. July 1, 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  23. ↑ DAVIS, RACHEL. "Nifty gadget or voyeurism tool? Lawmakers confront technology | Jacksonville.com". jacksonville.com. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
  24. ↑ http://www.tampabay.com/news/democratic-florida-attorney-general-candidate-profiles/1113150
  25. ↑ http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/democrats-bright-stars-aronberg-gelber-getting-hea/nL8rY/
  26. ↑ http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-08-24/news/fl-attorney-general-election-20100824_1_holly-benson-politics-federal-prosecutor
  27. ↑ Kamph, Stefan (2011-01-11). "Dave Aronberg, Pam Bondi's New Pick to Fight Pill Mills, Has His Work Cut Out for Him - Broward/Palm Beach - News - The Daily Pulp". Blogs.browardpalmbeach.com. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  28. ↑ Sanz, Alex (2012-01-19). "Dave Aronberg announcing his bid for Palm Beach County state attorney". Wptv.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  29. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
  30. ↑ "Aronberg Touts Many Successes As New Term Starts | Town-Crier Newspaper". gotowncrier.com. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  31. ↑ "Dave Re-elected as an Officer of the National District Attorney's Association" (PDF).
  32. ↑ Travis, Scott. "Palm Beach County state attorney to witness Guantanamo trial". Sun-Sentinel.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  33. ↑ "Attorneys Gary Lesser, Dave Aronberg Reappointed To Florida Bar Positions | Town-Crier Newspaper". gotowncrier.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
  34. ↑ Writer, By John Pacenti - Palm Beach Post Staff. "Palm Beach County state attorney takes on elder fraud". www.mypalmbeachpost.com. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  35. ↑ "Progress in Cleaning up the Drug Rehab Industry" (PDF).
  36. ↑ "Fatal overdoses, fraud plague Florida's booming drug treatment industry". NBC News. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  37. ↑ "Sober Homes". www.sa15.state.fl.us. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  38. ↑ "NEW: State Attorney Aronberg joins state human-trafficking council". palmbeachpost. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  39. ↑ "Aronberg credits task force with rise in human trafficking arrests". palmbeachpost. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  40. ↑ "Aronberg debuts as PBC felony prosecutor in dog abuse case". mypalmbeachpost. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  41. ↑ "Animal advocates promote change". TCPalm. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
  42. ↑ "DUI First Offender Program" (PDF).
  43. ↑ Figueredo, Lynda. "County offers unique DUI Diversion Program for first-time offenders". WPEC. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  44. ↑ Freeman, Marc. "First-time DUI offender monitoring program in Palm Beach County not for everyone". Sun-Sentinel.com. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  45. ↑ "What is the program Tiger Woods is entering for first-time DUI offenders?". mypalmbeachpost. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  46. ↑ "Prosecutors reveal new details of Tiger Woods's DUI court appearance, plea deal". Golf.com. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
  47. ↑ "Trump's Campaign Manager Won't Be Prosecuted". NBC News. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  48. ↑ "Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg's wife files for divorce". 2017-03-01. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  49. ↑ "Report: Dave Aronberg's wife files for divorce". 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  50. ↑ "Former Miami Dolphins cheerleader consciously uncouples from husband of two years". 2017-03-08. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.