Antonacci to lead Office of Election Crimes and Security
Division of Administrative Hearings Director and Chief Judge Pete Antonacci has been named Florida’s top elections cop.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on July 6 named Antonacci to head the “Office of Election Crimes and Security,” a newly created agency under the Secretary of State.
“Peter Antonacci has dedicated his career to serving the state of Florida,” DeSantis said in a statement. “I am confident he will lead the Office of Elections Crimes and Security with integrity and ensure that Florida elections are the most secure in the nation.”
DeSantis and a divided Cabinet voted to appoint Antonacci to his current post on December 15, 2020. During the last legislative session, Antonacci successfully pushed for pay raises for judges of compensation claims and administrative law judges.
Antonacci has served governors in both parties, earning the nickname, “Mr. Fix It.” The veteran government lawyer has served variously as deputy attorney general, statewide prosecutor, and general counsel to former Gov. Rick Scott.
Scott appointed Antonacci executive director of the South Florida Water Management District in 2015 when the previous executive director resigned abruptly. DeSantis appointed Antonacci to serve as Palm Beach County elections supervisor in 2018, after removing the incumbent over a series of botched recounts.
An FSU Law grad and Administrative Law Section member, Antonacci was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1979.
When he was appointed to lead the Division of Administrative Hearings, Antonacci vowed that the division would be a model of efficiency, and jokingly referred to his long and varied career.
“I’m old, I’m really old,” he said. “But I enjoy public service, as you can see….”