August 5, 2024 • 12 mins
Frankel faces one opponent in a Democrat primary for public defender, but with no Republicans or third-party candidates running this race is open to all Palm Beach County voters.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, Joel Malcolm for wj ando dot com. My election
(00:03):
spotlight is on the race for Palm Beach County Public Defender,
and this is something that doesn't happen often because I
believe it's the first time in well a couple of decades.
So we'll get some more information on that from one
of two candidates in this race. And this is a
Democrat primary. However, there's no Republican running in this race,
(00:26):
so this is essentially it. Adam Frankel, former Delray Beach
City Commissioner, thank you for joining me. I'm correct on
most of what I just said.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I believe you're correct on all of it. Thanks for
having me.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Wow, it's a first for everything, right, Well, I appreciate it. Yeah,
all right, So this is something Carry Howitt is the
current public defender and she has served since what two
thousand and one, that's correct, and she is just deciding,
I guess, to not run again and just just retire
(00:59):
and enjoy life for a change, because that's a long
run and I don't feel like there have even been
many challengers over the years.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
That would be absolutely correct. I was hired by then
Public Defender Richard Jornby in January of nineteen ninety nine
to serve as an assistant public defender in his office.
He was challenged by Carrie Howitt in two thousand and
she won the election, so she took over. And my
belief is January two thousand and one and just and.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
We're going to focus on you and everything in a second.
I just I'm just curious, what are what are your
thoughts or are there any general thoughts as far as
why you know nobody had challenged her all those years.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Sure well, it's one of those elections where I think
they're kind of off the radar unless you are an
attorney or you work in the judicial system. And Carrie
has done a great job. She has led our office
and we're one of the top public defenders offices in
all of Florida. And I think of the job well
done that she did for us here in Palm Beach County.
(02:04):
I don't think she was challenged.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Let me get you to give us some background on you.
I know, again I mentioned that you're a former Delray
Beach City commissioner. You could talk a little more about that.
And you're also obviously an attorney, So tell us more
about you.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Sure well, as I stated, I was hired by the
Public Defender's Office in nineteen ninety nine. I did that
until two thousand and one. I've had twenty plus years
of political and community service here in Palm Beach County.
I served first as a Delray Beach City Commissioner from
two thousand and nine through twenty fifteen. In twenty eighteen,
(02:44):
I was recruited to run again to bring back some
stability here to the city of Delray Beach, so I
did it for another six years. So I did twelve years,
or a total of five terms. And addition, my experience
would include being selected by our State Attorney, David Ehrenberg
to serve on his Sober House Task Force. I was
selected by our mayor, current Mayor Maria Sachs to serve
(03:08):
on the Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council. And I
have just been very active working on campaigns in Palm
Beach County and working with the community for over twenty
years and.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Working with the state Attorney and obviously outgoing. As you
mentioned another person that's deciding not to not to run
for re election this time, and he served for quite
a few years as a state Attorney and prior to
that a state rep for Palm Beach County here, but
the solber Homes task Force. I remember covering that and
speaking to Dave frequently at about that. That came on
(03:46):
the back of the pill mill situation, which I know
he was also I believe helping out with as well.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
But what.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Kind of things you did you pick up while working
with the current state attorney on that task force that
you could use in the current you know, in your
your hopeful job of public defender.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Sure well, I think you remember that Delray Beach was
referred to as the super house capital of the world.
We had big problem, that's correct. So we were having
kids dying on the streets. It was just a huge
problem here, not only in Derry, but of all of
Palm Beach County. So what Dave did was assemble some
(04:30):
community leaders, some law enforcement and just to get together
to be able to send to Tallahassee recommendations on how
to weed out those rogue operators and get rid of
just the really bad actors. And if you fast forward
to today, you just see what a success it was
and what a services was for Dave to assemble this
group of professionals.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
This is a question you maybe you get. You know,
you're you're coming from a you have your personal law
for and I don't know, you want to share what
kind of cases you've been taking, and you know, as
for the.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Most part, sure, I mean, after leaving the Public Defender's Office,
I established my own solo practice, which I have had
here in Palm Beach County since two thousand and one.
I've had a variety of criminal cases as well as
civil cases. I have cases as far south as Miami
Dade and I have a current case right now in
Orange County, Orlando, So a white variety, and that was
(05:31):
one of the things being in private practice really allowed
me to do, is to pick and choose the cases
that I really wanted to focus on. And that's what
I've been doing for about twenty plus years now.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
When it comes to the criminal cases, are you mostly
or are you frequently defending defending people accused of crimes
who can't afford their own attorney, or are you know?
Are you are you on the other side of things?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
No, I mean I take on cases on the people.
In some cases I do pro bono if I believe
in their cause and champion. I will continue to do that.
And that's why I wanted to go back to the
Public Defender's Office. I truly believe that everyone deserves quality,
great legal representation, and I think that I would be
(06:18):
the one, not only having experienced inside and outside the office,
as well as the networks and relationships I've made here
in Palm Beach County for over twenty years, I think
I can take that back to the office and be
able to bring it forward to the twenty first century.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Yeah, and what do you tell people? And again, I
was going to get back to this question. You know,
there are people I'm sure that you know would question,
you know, why does this person deserve defense? You know that,
you know I could think of just off the top
of my head, because we just had the story about
the Marjorie Stoeman Douglas twelve hundred building last week was
(06:56):
completely finished, the demolition. Yet Nicholas Cruz serving a life
term someone someone like that, why did they deserve a defense?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Sure, under our constitution, everyone deserves a defense. While everything
that occurred at that high school was horrific, there were
some other things that were introduced by the defense attorneys
that was in the Public Defender's office in Broward County.
That saved that gentleman's life. Whether you agree or disagree
with that, that's that's subject to debate, of course. But
(07:28):
under the Constitution, everyone deserves a great legal defense, and
he was afforded that. I believe.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
How do you feel about, uh, you know, working with
the prosecutors and the judge as a public defender, coming
up with, you know, programs that you know your clients
could take part in as opposed to just spending time
(07:57):
in jail.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Sure. I mean, I've been the only candidate in this
race that has proposed a juvenile mental health court. In
the United States, we have over five hundred juvenile mental
health courts in the state of Florida, and in Palm
Beach County there are none. This is not a red
issue or a blue issue. They have juvenile mental health
(08:19):
courts in Texas, they have them in California. We need
them here in Palm Beach County, I believe. And what
I would like to do is, whoever the next state
Attorney is, whoever or he may be, let's get together
and make that a priority for the beginning of next year.
I also think that not only just the judicial staff
as well as the State Attorney and the Public Defender's office.
(08:42):
We have a common goal. We want to stop the
revolving door. We don't want people committed crimes. So I
think if the Public Defender's Office had more community outrage,
if they had more relationships with law enforcement in the
State Attorney's office, we could work together to ensure more
safety for the resident here in Palmage County.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
How would what are you calling a juvenile mental I'm sorry,
I'm getting the name mixed up.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Sure, Juvenile mental health court.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Juvenal mental health that's how would that work?
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Like?
Speaker 1 (09:14):
How give me an example of how that works? Sure?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
In other states they have a specific court in juvenile court.
In juvenile court, they have a specific judge that here
is mental health issues that we can get counselors, we
can get professionals to go in and help those Because
someone may have committed a crime, but it may be
due to mental health, it may be due to substance abuse.
(09:40):
People sometimes need help that If we can get that
for them and they can keep on the straight and narrow,
charges could be reduced, charges could be dismissed. I'm about
helping people, not you know, defending them on whether they
should go to jail jail or not. I think we
could use this opportunity, like they've done in other states,
(10:00):
to help young people who may have made a mistake
because of mental health issues, to have assistance with any
issues they have and be able to move on and
have a great life.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
All right, And I'm going to ask you. You know
you were facing an opponent, Dan Eisinger, who you know
is serving currently as the chief assistant there under the
outgoing public defender. What makes you the best candidate in
this race?
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Sure, this is not an election for who is the
best in court attorney. My opponent has done a fine
work in the Public Defender's office for twenty years. But
I bring something of a difference. I have worked both
inside and outside the office. Each year, I've gone up
to Palm Beach County days with the elected officials here
(10:53):
and was able to lobby for monies for programs in
the city of Delray Beach as a city. I attended
the Florida Lega Cities in the Palm Beach County Leaga
Cities meetings, which are elected officials throughout the state or
Palm Beach County. I have built relationships in order to
get money, funding, and things done for this office. I
(11:15):
think the role of a public defender is to set policy.
That's what I did for twelve years as a Delray
Beach City commissioner. So I believe that I am a
more well rounded candidate and that's why I think people
should vote for me.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
All Right, anything else for I wrap up.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Now. The only thing I would share with you is
if you look like at some of our other constitutional
officers did come from the outside and done an amazing job.
If you look at Wendy Link, Supervisor of Election, she's
done a great, great job in that office. Joe Bruzzo,
he had no experience as a clerk of court. Look
(11:55):
what he's done for here a residence here in Palm
Beach County. Dave Erinburr, he never worked in the State
Attorney's office. Yep, he's a gun for the past ten
plus years. Spectacular job. So I think not only as
I'm coming from the outside and bringing ideas from the outside,
but I also have that inside experience from being an
assistant public defender, I think I would be an asset
(12:17):
to the position, and I hope people will consider me.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
For their vote, all right, and now I'm going to
finish where I started to mention that this is a
Democrat primary, but there are no Republicans running, and that
means that regardless of your party, this is going to
be on your ballot in Palm Beach County again. Adam Frankel,
candidate for Public Defender in Palm Beach County. Thank you
(12:40):
for joining me.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Hey, Joel Malcolm for wj ando dot com. My election
(00:03):
spotlight is on the race for Palm Beach County Public Defender,
and this is something that doesn't happen often because I
believe it's the first time in well a couple of decades.
So we'll get some more information on that from one
of two candidates in this race. And this is a
Democrat primary. However, there's no Republican running in this race,
(00:26):
so this is essentially it. Adam Frankel, former Delray Beach
City Commissioner, thank you for joining me. I'm correct on
most of what I just said.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
I believe you're correct on all of it. Thanks for
having me.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Wow, it's a first for everything, right, Well, I appreciate it. Yeah,
all right, So this is something Carry Howitt is the
current public defender and she has served since what two
thousand and one, that's correct, and she is just deciding,
I guess, to not run again and just just retire
(00:59):
and enjoy life for a change, because that's a long
run and I don't feel like there have even been
many challengers over the years.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
That would be absolutely correct. I was hired by then
Public Defender Richard Jornby in January of nineteen ninety nine
to serve as an assistant public defender in his office.
He was challenged by Carrie Howitt in two thousand and
she won the election, so she took over. And my
belief is January two thousand and one and just and.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
We're going to focus on you and everything in a second.
I just I'm just curious, what are what are your
thoughts or are there any general thoughts as far as
why you know nobody had challenged her all those years.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Sure well, it's one of those elections where I think
they're kind of off the radar unless you are an
attorney or you work in the judicial system. And Carrie
has done a great job. She has led our office
and we're one of the top public defenders offices in
all of Florida. And I think of the job well
done that she did for us here in Palm Beach County.
(02:04):
I don't think she was challenged.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Let me get you to give us some background on you.
I know, again I mentioned that you're a former Delray
Beach City commissioner. You could talk a little more about that.
And you're also obviously an attorney, So tell us more
about you.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Sure well, as I stated, I was hired by the
Public Defender's Office in nineteen ninety nine. I did that
until two thousand and one. I've had twenty plus years
of political and community service here in Palm Beach County.
I served first as a Delray Beach City Commissioner from
two thousand and nine through twenty fifteen. In twenty eighteen,
(02:44):
I was recruited to run again to bring back some
stability here to the city of Delray Beach, so I
did it for another six years. So I did twelve years,
or a total of five terms. And addition, my experience
would include being selected by our State Attorney, David Ehrenberg
to serve on his Sober House Task Force. I was
selected by our mayor, current Mayor Maria Sachs to serve
(03:08):
on the Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council. And I
have just been very active working on campaigns in Palm
Beach County and working with the community for over twenty
years and.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Working with the state Attorney and obviously outgoing. As you
mentioned another person that's deciding not to not to run
for re election this time, and he served for quite
a few years as a state Attorney and prior to
that a state rep for Palm Beach County here, but
the solber Homes task Force. I remember covering that and
speaking to Dave frequently at about that. That came on
(03:46):
the back of the pill mill situation, which I know
he was also I believe helping out with as well.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
But what.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Kind of things you did you pick up while working
with the current state attorney on that task force that
you could use in the current you know, in your
your hopeful job of public defender.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Sure well, I think you remember that Delray Beach was
referred to as the super house capital of the world.
We had big problem, that's correct. So we were having
kids dying on the streets. It was just a huge
problem here, not only in Derry, but of all of
Palm Beach County. So what Dave did was assemble some
(04:30):
community leaders, some law enforcement and just to get together
to be able to send to Tallahassee recommendations on how
to weed out those rogue operators and get rid of
just the really bad actors. And if you fast forward
to today, you just see what a success it was
and what a services was for Dave to assemble this
group of professionals.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
This is a question you maybe you get. You know,
you're you're coming from a you have your personal law
for and I don't know, you want to share what
kind of cases you've been taking, and you know, as
for the.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Most part, sure, I mean, after leaving the Public Defender's Office,
I established my own solo practice, which I have had
here in Palm Beach County since two thousand and one.
I've had a variety of criminal cases as well as
civil cases. I have cases as far south as Miami
Dade and I have a current case right now in
Orange County, Orlando, So a white variety, and that was
(05:31):
one of the things being in private practice really allowed
me to do, is to pick and choose the cases
that I really wanted to focus on. And that's what
I've been doing for about twenty plus years now.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
When it comes to the criminal cases, are you mostly
or are you frequently defending defending people accused of crimes
who can't afford their own attorney, or are you know?
Are you are you on the other side of things?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
No, I mean I take on cases on the people.
In some cases I do pro bono if I believe
in their cause and champion. I will continue to do that.
And that's why I wanted to go back to the
Public Defender's Office. I truly believe that everyone deserves quality,
great legal representation, and I think that I would be
(06:18):
the one, not only having experienced inside and outside the office,
as well as the networks and relationships I've made here
in Palm Beach County for over twenty years, I think
I can take that back to the office and be
able to bring it forward to the twenty first century.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Yeah, and what do you tell people? And again, I
was going to get back to this question. You know,
there are people I'm sure that you know would question,
you know, why does this person deserve defense? You know that,
you know I could think of just off the top
of my head, because we just had the story about
the Marjorie Stoeman Douglas twelve hundred building last week was
(06:56):
completely finished, the demolition. Yet Nicholas Cruz serving a life
term someone someone like that, why did they deserve a defense?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Sure, under our constitution, everyone deserves a defense. While everything
that occurred at that high school was horrific, there were
some other things that were introduced by the defense attorneys
that was in the Public Defender's office in Broward County.
That saved that gentleman's life. Whether you agree or disagree
with that, that's that's subject to debate, of course. But
(07:28):
under the Constitution, everyone deserves a great legal defense, and
he was afforded that. I believe.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
How do you feel about, uh, you know, working with
the prosecutors and the judge as a public defender, coming
up with, you know, programs that you know your clients
could take part in as opposed to just spending time
(07:57):
in jail.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Sure. I mean, I've been the only candidate in this
race that has proposed a juvenile mental health court. In
the United States, we have over five hundred juvenile mental
health courts in the state of Florida, and in Palm
Beach County there are none. This is not a red
issue or a blue issue. They have juvenile mental health
(08:19):
courts in Texas, they have them in California. We need
them here in Palm Beach County, I believe. And what
I would like to do is, whoever the next state
Attorney is, whoever or he may be, let's get together
and make that a priority for the beginning of next year.
I also think that not only just the judicial staff
as well as the State Attorney and the Public Defender's office.
(08:42):
We have a common goal. We want to stop the
revolving door. We don't want people committed crimes. So I
think if the Public Defender's Office had more community outrage,
if they had more relationships with law enforcement in the
State Attorney's office, we could work together to ensure more
safety for the resident here in Palmage County.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
How would what are you calling a juvenile mental I'm sorry,
I'm getting the name mixed up.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Sure, Juvenile mental health court.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Juvenal mental health that's how would that work?
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Like?
Speaker 1 (09:14):
How give me an example of how that works? Sure?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
In other states they have a specific court in juvenile court.
In juvenile court, they have a specific judge that here
is mental health issues that we can get counselors, we
can get professionals to go in and help those Because
someone may have committed a crime, but it may be
due to mental health, it may be due to substance abuse.
(09:40):
People sometimes need help that If we can get that
for them and they can keep on the straight and narrow,
charges could be reduced, charges could be dismissed. I'm about
helping people, not you know, defending them on whether they
should go to jail jail or not. I think we
could use this opportunity, like they've done in other states,
(10:00):
to help young people who may have made a mistake
because of mental health issues, to have assistance with any
issues they have and be able to move on and
have a great life.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
All right, And I'm going to ask you. You know
you were facing an opponent, Dan Eisinger, who you know
is serving currently as the chief assistant there under the
outgoing public defender. What makes you the best candidate in
this race?
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Sure, this is not an election for who is the
best in court attorney. My opponent has done a fine
work in the Public Defender's office for twenty years. But
I bring something of a difference. I have worked both
inside and outside the office. Each year, I've gone up
to Palm Beach County days with the elected officials here
(10:53):
and was able to lobby for monies for programs in
the city of Delray Beach as a city. I attended
the Florida Lega Cities in the Palm Beach County Leaga
Cities meetings, which are elected officials throughout the state or
Palm Beach County. I have built relationships in order to
get money, funding, and things done for this office. I
(11:15):
think the role of a public defender is to set policy.
That's what I did for twelve years as a Delray
Beach City commissioner. So I believe that I am a
more well rounded candidate and that's why I think people
should vote for me.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
All Right, anything else for I wrap up.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Now. The only thing I would share with you is
if you look like at some of our other constitutional
officers did come from the outside and done an amazing job.
If you look at Wendy Link, Supervisor of Election, she's
done a great, great job in that office. Joe Bruzzo,
he had no experience as a clerk of court. Look
(11:55):
what he's done for here a residence here in Palm
Beach County. Dave Erinburr, he never worked in the State
Attorney's office. Yep, he's a gun for the past ten
plus years. Spectacular job. So I think not only as
I'm coming from the outside and bringing ideas from the outside,
but I also have that inside experience from being an
assistant public defender, I think I would be an asset
(12:17):
to the position, and I hope people will consider me.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
For their vote, all right, and now I'm going to
finish where I started to mention that this is a
Democrat primary, but there are no Republicans running, and that
means that regardless of your party, this is going to
be on your ballot in Palm Beach County again. Adam Frankel,
candidate for Public Defender in Palm Beach County. Thank you
(12:40):
for joining me.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
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