Background
Abruzzo, Joseph was born on August 14, 1980 in Illinois, United States.
Abruzzo, Joseph was born on August 14, 1980 in Illinois, United States.
Joseph Abruzzo graduated from Lynn University with a degree in international communications in 2003, and joined the United States Coast Guard Reserve later that year, where he worked as a port security specialist.
In 2006, he ran for the Florida House of Representatives from the 86th District, but he lost to Maria Sachs in the Democratic primary. Abruzzo ran for the House again in 2008, but instead, in the 85th District. He was unopposed in the primary, and, in the general election, defeated the Republican nominee, Howard K. Coates, Junior., an attorney.
Abruzzo was narrowly re-elected in 2010, defeating Tami L. Donnally.
In 2012, Abruzzo ran for the from the newly created 25th District. In a race that was targeted by the Republican Party of Florida as a potential pick-up opportunity, Abruzzo faced off against Melanie Peterson, an agricultural activist and horse broker.The Palm Beach Post, largely due to his opposition to Governor Rick Scott"s proposal to eliminate the corporate income tax, endorsed Abruzzo over Peterson, and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, citing his "independent streak" and his record of "working with Republicans as a moderate Democrat," endorsed Abruzzo as well.
Abruzzo sponsored legislation that would allow "a not-for-profit insurance company, like Florida Blue, to become a so-called "mutual insurance holding company,"" which "would allow the company to own other not-for-profit insurers and corporations in Florida, which is not allowed under current law," and the legislation passed unanimously through the without debate. He also authored legislation with State Representative Dave Kerner that would "sever the parental rights of a rapist if a child is conceived as a result of the attack," as, in some cases, rapists could sue for custody of children that were the products of the rapes that they committed.
Additionally, Abruzzo worked with State Representative Joe Saunders to propose the Competitive Workforce Acting, which would "update the state"s Civil Rights Acting of 1992 to include protections against discrimination for reasons of sexual orientation and gender identity," which a University of Florida poll suggested that 73 percent of the 608 Floridians in the sampling supported.
He joined forces with State Representative Irving Slosberg to author legislation that would create a "yellow dot program," whereby drivers of cars would put a photograph of themselves and "identifying information, along with any relevant medical records" into the glovebox of their car, and would affix a "circular, yellow decal" on their cars so that, in the case of a car accident, first responders would know to look in the glovebox for the information, which could prove helpful in treating the driver, if injured. However, Abruzzo opposed controversial legislation referred to as the "parent trigger bill," whereby parents could "demand sweeping changes at struggling public schools, including having the school converted into a charter school," and the legislation ultimately failed.
Member Boca Raton Education Advisory Board, 2002—2003, Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs Hearing Board, since 2008. Former member Palm Beach County Sports Commission. Trustee Palms West Chamber of Commerce.
Steering committee member Congressman John Conyers Universal Health Care Conference. Legislation committee member Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee. Member of Lynn University Alumni Association, Voters Coalition, United South County Democratic Club, Mid County Democratic Club, Lake Worth West Democratic Club, Greater Boynton Democratic Club.