Moore, Araskog unopposed at Tuesday caucus for Palm Beach mayor and council seats

Town Council members Julie Araskog and Danielle Moore were nominated unopposed during the town's 109th caucus Tuesday evening, which all but assures their win for a third council term and mayor's seat, respectively, ahead of the March 9 elections.

Candace Rojas and former Landmarks Preservation Commission Chairman Edward "Ted" Cooney, will face off in the race for a Town Council Group 1 seat in the general election.

Sixty-one people were present on the virtual caucus Zoom call, with Mayor Gail Coniglio opening the event.

After recognizing all members of the council for their work, she turned the proceedings over to Caucus Chair Sue Patterson.

RELATED: Council member Danielle Moore makes bid for Palm Beach mayor's seat

The event began with the nominations of Rojas and Cooney for the council seat Moore currently holds. 

Rojas, a new resident, was nominated by Cindy Tindell and seconded by Debra Tomarin and Dan Franzese. She is the founder and CEO of Coastal Concierge Home and Yacht Management, according to her Facebook page.

Rojas thanked the residents who backed her candidacy. 

"I believe my experience as a mother, small business owner and in civics organizations will help me make a positive contribution to this town," she said.

Cooney was nominated by Mary Brittain Damgard and seconded by Bram Majtlis and Jack Cooney, his brother.

Damgard spoke of Cooney's achievements on the Landmarks Commission, and as an Architectural Commission alternate, a position Cooney has held for the past 10 months.

"He has a familiarity with town hall that will serve him well for council," Damgard said.

Majtlis said Cooney's love for the town "is apparent each time you talk to him." He added that at only 35, Cooney was an "old soul" that has allowed him to connect with the town.

RELATED: Palm Beach Mayor Gail Coniglio will not seek re-election

 The council first appointed Cooney to the landmarks board in 2010. The following year, commissioners elected him chairman for the first of eight times. He served until February, when town rules made him ineligible to serve another consecutive term.

Cooney said he was grateful for the nomination and that it would be a "privilege" to be elected to the council.

RELATED: Landmarks board bids farewell to Cooney

Araskog was nominated for a third term by Margaret Moore, and it was seconded by Martin Klein, former council member Robert Wildrick and Dr. Ellen Howe.

Klein praised Araskog's fiscal responsibility when tackling the annual budget, as well as her contribution on issues  such as public safety.

One of Araskog's qualities is that she was diligent and looked at things from a "different standpoint" than most people, Wildrick said.

"Julie loves the town, and also loves all the people here," he said.

Howe spoke of Araskog's compassion and her experience as "the only lawyer on the council."

"Julie's joy comes from helping others.... We can that trust her actions on the council are in our best interest," she said.

Araskog, who is a member of the Florida Bar, was nominated by Wildrick in 2017. She defeated Klein, the former chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, in the Feb. 7 election that year.

In March 2019, Araskog defeated challenger René Silvin, chairman of the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

"I'm so humbled and so honored to my nominators for the beautiful things you said, and I hope to continue to serve you," she said.

Moore's nomination for mayor was unopposed during the caucus, and backed by  by former council President Michael Pucillo with Alfred P. Aldridge III and Carla Termini Cove seconding.

Pucillo said Moore understood the town "better than anybody."

"She (Moore) is smart and knows the issues. Simply put, she is in service of this town because she cares," he said.

A lifelong resident, Moore earned a bachelor’s degree from Duke University. She was first elected to the council in 2015 and was re-elected unopposed in 2017 and 2019.

In December, when Coniglio announced she would not be seeking re-election, Moore announced  she would be running for mayor.

Moore thanked Coniglio for her many years of service as mayor.

"These are big boots to fill, but I'll do my very best," she said.

As a formality, each candidate must acquire 25 signatures within the next 24 hours from registered voters in town, and turned in to the town clerk no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday.