Boca gets first glimpse of state attorney hopefuls

Published June 13th, 2008

By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR

Barry Krischer, state attorney for the 15th Circuit, will close the book on a 16-year career as the county’s top prosecutor at the end of the year.

And while most politicians around the state have another week to declare candidacy for public office, the time has already passed to turn in papers for the State Attorney’s seat.

Three people have done it – two from Krischer’s Democratic party, another a Republican who likely won’t see any serious political action until after the Aug. 26 Democratic primary.

Boca Raton got its first look at the two Democrats seeking the office.  Both are prosecutors with considerable experience in the courtroom. 

But Michael McAuliffe, who announced his candidacy at a rally April 28, assembled a crowd of some 100 supporters – and that roster included Krischer as well as Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.

Campaign Manager

McAuliffe’s campaign manager is Mike Edmondson, Krischer’s spokesman and campaign manager of Bradshaw’s 2004 campaign. (Edmondson is on leave from his state job to lead McAuliffe’s drive.)

Appearing Tuesday at a West Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce candidate breakfast were McAuliffe and Paula Russell, the other Democrat for State Attorney.

She is frank about touting her many years of experience in the prosecution field. Russell told the Boca Raton News she feels “very strongly” that anyone who takes the job of State Attorney “should have experience.”

Russell noted that she has been an assistant State Attorney since 1986, also served as chief of several felony divisions, chief of the first appearance division, deputy chief of the juvenile division and has dealt with organized crime and official corruption and crime against children.

“I have practiced before close to 50 current and/or retired judges,” she said.

A Boca Raton resident, she received as associate’s degree in criminal justice from Broward Community College, a bachelor of arts in criminal justice from Florida Atlantic University and a law degree from Nova Southeast University.

Over the years, she said, she has accumulated knowledge of “the strengths and weaknesses of the office.”  She said she hopes this “wealth of knowledge” propels her into the State Attorney’s chair.

Private Practice

McAuliffe is currently in private practice in West Palm Beach, where he lives. He has been a prosecutor, a partner in a national law firm, a law school professor, an assistant U.S. attorney and a founding partner of a boutique law firm.

He earned his BBA with honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 1985 and his doctor of from William & Mary Law School in 1989.

While the candidate works in West Palm Beach, he has been endorsed by Boca Raton City Councilman and Deputy Mayor Peter Baronoff, District 5 County Commissioner Burt Aaronson and Commission Chairwoman Addie Greene, among others.

The winner of the Aug. 26 will face Republican Joseph A. Tringali in the November general election. Tringali is an attorney, author, consultant and lecturer. 

He has served as a mayor, a councilman, yacht club commodore, and squadron commander in both the United States Power Squadrons and Civil Air Patrol.