Curtis Calabrese answers critical questions about Palm Beach County for The Sun Sentinel.
Name: Curtis Calabrese, PhD
Campaign website: CurtisCalabrese.com
Date, place of birth: May 28, 1990, Boca Raton, Florida
Education:
Doctor of Philosophy – The University of New South Wales, Sydney
Master of Science Aeronautics – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Bachelor of Science Systems Engineering – United States Naval Academy
Occupation:
757 & 767 Captain, United Airlines
Director of Operations, Altivion Aviation
List your work history for the past 15 years in reverse chronological order.
2021 – Present
757 & 767 Captain, United Airlines
Company Representative, Event Review Committee, United Airlines
2023 – Present
Director of Operations, Altivion Aviation
2021 – 2022
Assistant Director of Operations, Air 7
2021 – 2021
Director of Safety, Lead Captain Lineage 1000, 24/7 Jet
2021 – Present
Adjunct Professor, ERAU & UNSW
2017 – 2021
Aerospace Engineering Duty Office, United States Navy Reserve
2017 – 2021
Aviation Safety Inspector, Federal Aviation Administration
2012 – 2017
P-3C & P-8A Pilot, Legal Officer, Department Head, United States Navy
Why are you running for this office?
I was born and raised in Palm Beach County, and this community has always been home. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, I served our country as a Navy pilot and have spent my career in aviation, safety, leadership and public service. I am running because I want Palm Beach County to remain a place where our children can afford to live, families can move around without sitting in endless traffic, and residents can trust their local government.
My professional career has taught me that good decisions require facts, accountability and the willingness to speak up when something is wrong. I want to bring that same approach to the County Commission: responsible growth, disciplined spending, transparent government and a commitment to putting residents ahead of special interests.
What are the three most important issues facing your commission district?
The three most important issues are responsible growth, affordability and public trust.
First, we must address overdevelopment and the traffic and infrastructure problems that come with it. Growth should not be approved faster than our roads, drainage systems and public services can support it.
Second, Palm Beach County is becoming increasingly unaffordable. Housing costs, insurance, taxes and everyday expenses are making it difficult for working families, young people and retirees to remain here.
Third, we need greater transparency and accountability in county government. Residents should know how their money is being spent, who is influencing major decisions and why development projects are being approved. These issues are connected. Good government means planning for the long term rather than simply approving the next project or spending the next tax dollar.
What is your philosophy on development in the Ag Reserve, and do you support or oppose changing the rules to allow more mixed-use development there?
I oppose changing the rules simply to allow more intensive mixed-use development in the Agricultural Reserve. The Ag Reserve was created to preserve agriculture, open space, environmental resources and the character of western Palm Beach County. It should not gradually become another suburban development corridor. I support reasonable uses that help agriculture remain economically viable and improvements that serve existing residents. However, increasing density or substantially expanding commercial and mixed-use development defeats the purpose of preserving the area.
Palm Beach County has many places where development can occur within the existing urban footprint and where roads, utilities and public services already exist. Our first priority should be directing growth toward those areas rather than continuously moving the development line west.
State officials have harshly criticized county spending. What is your response to the claim by CFO Blaise Ingoglia that the county has overspent by hundreds of millions of dollars?
I take the CFO’s criticism seriously, but I do not believe it is accurate to automatically classify every dollar of spending above a population-and-inflation formula as waste.
At the same time, the growth of county government deserves scrutiny. Taxpayers should not be asked for more money simply because property values have increased and additional revenue is available.
The answer is neither to dismiss the CFO’s concerns nor blindly accept his number. We should examine the actual expenditures, identify genuine waste and return savings to taxpayers whenever possible while protecting public safety, infrastructure and other essential services.
Do you support or oppose Amendment 3, the property tax amendment, and what should the county do to offset potential losses if the amendment passes?
I support meaningful property-tax relief, but I oppose Amendment 3 as written.
Homeowners need relief, but changing the Constitution in a way that dramatically reduces local government revenue without establishing a responsible replacement mechanism could create serious unintended consequences. It could place pressure on counties and cities to cut essential services, increase other taxes and fees, or shift costs elsewhere.
If Amendment 3 passes, Palm Beach County must treat it as an opportunity to fundamentally examine how county government operates. I would prioritize public safety, infrastructure and essential services while reducing nonessential spending, administrative overhead, unnecessary consulting contracts and vacant positions.
I would also pursue greater use of competitive contracting, shared services, grants, public-private partnerships and technology to reduce costs. Taxpayers deserve both lower taxes and competent government. Those goals should not be mutually exclusive.
Do you support or oppose creation of a separate tax district known as a municipal service taxing unit or MSTU for the sheriff’s office, and why?
I support creating the framework for a law-enforcement MSTU, provided it is structured fairly and transparently. Residents of municipalities already pay for their municipal police departments or for contracts with the Sheriff’s Office. A separate MSTU could make the cost of services in unincorporated areas more transparent, while ensuring services that benefit the entire county continue to be funded countywide. However, I would not support using an MSTU as a backdoor tax increase. Before any rate is imposed, there must be an independent analysis clearly separating countywide expenses from services provided specifically to unincorporated areas. The goal should be fairness and transparency, not simply creating another source of revenue.
Do you support or oppose the Project Tango data center and why?
I oppose Project Tango.
My concern is putting a project of this scale immediately adjacent to established neighborhoods and near an elementary school. Residents raised legitimate concerns about noise, power consumption, water use, infrastructure and compatibility with the surrounding community. There were also legitimate concerns about the transparency surrounding the project and its ultimate operator. Economic development should improve a community rather than force an existing community to accommodate an incompatible use.
Provide an assessment of Joseph Abruzzo’s performance as county administrator, with specifics as to why you do or do not feel he was the best applicant for the job.
Joseph Abruzzo brings valuable financial experience and extensive knowledge of Palm Beach County government to the position. I also give him credit for proposing significant spending reductions in the FY2027 budget while working to preserve essential services. Every candidate brings different strengths to a position. In Mr. Abruzzo’s case, his legislative experience and service as Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller provide him with a strong understanding of county finances, government operations and the legislative process.
Ultimately, I will judge Mr. Abruzzo the same way I would judge any county administrator: by results. That means fiscal discipline, employee accountability, efficient permitting, transparent procurement, responsive customer service and measurable improvements in county operations.
I believe the County Commission’s role is to provide strong oversight while giving the administrator the opportunity to lead. I will work constructively with Mr. Abruzzo while holding his administration accountable for delivering efficient, transparent and responsive government.
Do you agree or disagree that special interests have too much influence over county government decisions? Please elaborate.
Yes. I believe there is an imbalance between the access available to ordinary residents and the access available to well-funded developers, lobbyists and other special interests. That does not mean every development approval or county contract is improper. It does mean we should recognize that residents often enter the process with significantly fewer resources and less access than organizations that regularly employ attorneys, consultants and lobbyists. I support stronger disclosure requirements, greater transparency regarding meetings between decision-makers and interested parties, easily searchable campaign-finance information and clearer explanations of major commission decisions.
Palm Beach County government employs 28 paid lobbyists in the Legislature at a cost of several hundred thousand dollars, yet the governor vetoed many local appropriations projects in 2026. Is this an effective use of tax dollars, and why?
Palm Beach County needs effective representation in Tallahassee and Washington. State legislation, appropriations and regulatory decisions can have enormous financial consequences for the county, so eliminating professional advocacy entirely would be shortsighted. However, taxpayers should not simply assume that employing 28 lobbyists is necessary or cost-effective. I would review every lobbying contract, eliminate duplication and establish measurable performance standards. The county should publicly report what each firm costs, what issues it was retained to address and what results were achieved. I support a smaller, focused and accountable lobbying operation based on measurable results rather than maintaining contracts simply because that is how the county has historically operated.
Have you been arrested, charged or convicted of a crime, received a withheld adjudication or had a matter sealed or expunged? If yes, please 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, please explain.
Yes, in 2021, I filed a small claim against my mortgage company.
In 2026, I filed a small-claim against former tenants who breached their lease and caused significant damage to the property.