Mayor Danielle Moore and Town Council members Julie Araskog and Ted Cooney were nominated without opposition at Tuesday’s Town Caucus to serve additional terms in their respective seats.
The lack of opposition means there will be no town election on March 11. Moore, Araskog, and Cooney will be sworn to new two-year terms in April, when their current terms expire.
More than 60 people gathered in the public meeting chambers at Town Hall for the 113th annual caucus, a traditionally genteel affair modeled on town meetings in New England. It lasted for 52 minutes.
Candidates must be nominated, and their nominations seconded twice, by registered town voters at the caucus before they can seek elective office.
A Midtown resident and longtime philanthropist, Moore has been mayor since 2021, when she was nominated for office without opposition at that year’s caucus. She won a second term without opposition in 2023.
Moore was nominated by former council president Margaret Zeidman and her nomination seconded by Alfred “Skip” Aldridge and Carla Cove. (Aldridge has been a Palm Beach Civic Association director since 2018).
Zeidman, who retired from the council in April, said the panel was often influenced by Moore’s wisdom and pragmatic approach to the challenges it faced.
“Dani takes her obligations seriously and she’s taken seriously by others,” Zeidman said. “Her reputation as gracious and dignified is, however, balanced her by her direct, no-nonsense approach to issues.”
Before becoming mayor, Moore served six years on the council. She is a former chairwoman of the Recreation Advisory Commission and former member of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Moore is president of the Mary Alice Fortin Foundation and the Barker Welfare Foundation.
Araskog is a North End resident, attorney and former guardian ad litem who was elected to the council in 2017 and re-elected in 2019 after winning races against Martin Klein and Rene Silvin, respectively. She was unopposed for additional terms in 2021 and 2023.
Araskog was nominated for the Group 1 council seat by Michael Small and her nomination was seconded by Denise Hanley and Ellen Howe.
Small, who is a former chairman of the Architectural Commission, said the town is fortunate to have a council member with Araskog’s experience and skills.
“She is an educated and trained attorney and brings that qualification and component to the deliberations of the council,” he said. “She fights for us. If she says ‘no,’ she believes it is in our best interest as residents.”
Araskog chairs the council’s Ordinances, Rules and Standards Committee and is a member of its Public Safety Committee.
Cooney is a Midtown resident and a realtor with Douglas Elliman who joined the council after defeating Catherine Rojas in the 2021 town election. He was unopposed for a second term in 2023.
Cooney was nominated for the Group 2 council seat by his brother, John “Jack” Franklin Cooney, Jr. His nomination was seconded by Brittain Damgard and William Gilbane.
John Cooney said his family has called Palm Beach home for more than 70 years, dating back to when their grandparents moved to the island in the 1950s.
“Ted is smart and sensible,” John Cooney said. “He puts in the work, and he really serves as a bridge across generations in this town, in a role he has done with real class [and] maturity. He represents a voice … for a growing cohort of us raising young families in this town.”
Cooney is a former chairman of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, where he served for 10 years until 2020. He also served on the Architectural Commission.
Cooney chairs the council’s Public Safety Committee and is a member of its Public Works Committee.
Nicki McDonald and Lawrence Kaplan were this year’s honorary caucus chairperson and secretary, respectively. (McDonald has been a Civic Association director since 2019).
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