UPDATE: It didn’t happen. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis just appointed Republican colleague Mike Caruso. Here is the official announcement:
Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Mike Caruso as the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. This appointment is effective August 19, 2025.
Mike Caruso
Caruso is a Representative in the Florida House of Representatives, serving District 89 from 2018-2022 and District 87 since 2022. He previously served as the Owner of Caruso & Caruso, Inc., a Certified Public Accounting Firm specializing in forensic accounting. Active in his community, Caruso has served as a member of the Delray Beach Police Advisory Board, the West Atlantic Redevelopment Coalition, and the Delray Beach Parking Management Advisory Board. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from George Washington University.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Longtime Palm Beach County Clerk of Courts Joseph Abruzzo moves to his new County Administrator job on Tuesday. Temporarily filling the Clerk’s job: Shannon Ramsey-Chessman. Here’s the official announcement:
>> Shannon Ramsey-Chessman has been named Clerk Ad Interim for Palm Beach County, under an administrative order issued Wednesday by Chief Judge Glenn Kelley of the 15th Judicial Circuit.
Ramsey-Chessman has served as Chief Deputy Clerk, Chief of Staff and Chief Information Officer for the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm Beach County, since January 2021. She previously served as the office’s Chief Operating Officer, Chief Operating Officer of Finance, Director of Finance Services and Manager of Budget and Financial Analysis.
Her 28 years of public sector experience also includes working with Palm Beach County’s Office of Financial Management and Budget, the 15th Judicial Circuit, and the Martin County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.
Ramsey-Chessman served as president for the Florida Government Finance Officers Association from June 2021 to June 2022 and previously served on the organization’s leadership team as Secretary/Treasurer.
She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Government Finance Officer (CGFO) with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Florida Atlantic University. Ramsey-Chessman’s appointment is effective August 19, 2025. Under Florida Statute 28.09, the Chief Judge appoints a Clerk Ad Interim to serve once there is a vacancy for Clerk.
Under the administrative order issued Wednesday, Ramsey-Chessman will serve until an appointment is made by Governor Ron DeSantis, or until the outcome of a special or general election in 2026.
The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of the term vacated by Clerk Joseph Abruzzo, whose last day as Clerk is August 18, 2025. He was appointed in June to become the next County Administrator for Palm Beach County. <<
