Name: Alexcia Cox
Date, place of birth: October 26, 1979, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Campaign website: AlexciaCox.com
Occupation: Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney
Education:
Bachelor of Arts, cum laude – University of Central Florida (2002)
Juris Doctor, cum laude – Florida State University College of Law (2005)
Work history, past 15 years, starting with the most recent.
Office of the State Attorney (15th Judicial Circuit), 2011 – Present
Olds, Stephens & Harper, P.A. 2009 – 2011
Office of the State Attorney (15th Judicial Circuit), 2005 – 2009
Why are you running for this office, and what makes you the best candidate?
As a Palm Beach County native, child of union members and graduate of our local public schools, I am proudly running to serve as our next State Attorney. Serving on State Attorney Dave Aronberg’s executive leadership team as Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney has fueled me with the passion, leadership, and experience to serve our community as its chief law enforcement officer. Early in my career, I understood the impact our decisions as prosecutors have on a person’s life and how those decisions impact the community. Therefore, I am proudly running for State Attorney to uphold justice and administer the law, and to do so effectively while honoring the trust given to me by the voters.
When elected, I will make history as the first woman and first black State Attorney in Palm Beach County. I love the work I do, and I am not running to just make history but to make a difference in Palm Beach County, a place I have always called home. When given the high honor to serve on State Attorney Dave Aronberg’s executive leadership team, it was a humbling moment to do more work for our community. I am running for State Attorney because my many years of experience as a prosecutor and leader in the State Attorney’s Office, coupled with the countless hours I have spent volunteering and serving in various leadership roles around our community, have collectively prepared me to serve as our next State Attorney.
Have you ever been arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime, received a withheld adjudication, or had a matter sealed or expunged? If yes, explain.
No
Have you been a plaintiff or defendant in a civil action, including bankruptcy or foreclosure, or had a restraining order issued against you? If so, explain.
Yes. My HOA and I had a disagreement on fees assessed, and we settled the matter. It was a minor civil issue and was resolved quickly.
Elected state attorneys in Tampa and Orlando were suspended from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis based on prosecutorial discretion. Do you agree that he has the power to overrule local prosecutors’ discretion? Explain.
No. I am proudly running for State Attorney to uphold justice and administer the law. To do so effectively and to honor the trust given by the voters, we must always be free from political pressure. So, my sole focus will always be to honor the oath of office I take and live true to the trust placed in me by the voters. Truthfully, this is what sets us apart from brutal dictators and oppressive regimes in Latin America and across the world.
Salaries for assistant state attorneys remain low despite recent raises and turnover averages 20 percent. How would you address chronic turnover?
My work as State Attorney will be to advocate for greater funding commitments for our prosecutors as we continue to address retention challenges due to lower salaries. As a prosecutor for nearly two decades and a single mom, I can tell you this is a real challenge, and we must think outside the box. With the already growing support of our local government leaders, I intend to leverage those relationships and bring our leaders together to put forward plans to tackle housing as an incentive because this is within our local jurisdiction and there is much we can do here. If we can at least find paths to provide more cost-effective housing we are taking aim at the high cost of living in South Florida and providing tools for our office to retain and attract talent.
Was the 2020 presidential election conducted freely and fairly? Please elaborate.
Yes, the results of the 2020 presidential election were officially certified on January 7, 2021.
