Moore, Araskog, Cooney unopposed at Tuesday's election caucus for mayor, Town Council seats

Mayor Danielle Moore and incumbent Town Council members Julie Araskog and Ted Cooney were nominated unopposed during the town's 111th caucus Tuesday evening, all but assuring their win for new council terms ahead of the March 14 municipal elections.

Moore announced her re-election bid last month, while Cooney and Araskog had earlier filed paperwork to seek their second and fourth terms, respectively, on the council.

Town Council members in Palm Beach serve two-year terms. There are no term limits.

Tuesday's caucus was held in December for the second straight year after the council agreed unanimously last May to move the town caucus and qualifying date from the first Tuesday and Wednesday in January to the first Tuesday and Wednesday in December for all future elections.

The move followed a request from the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections that all municipalities in the county change their qualifying periods so that they end at least 60 to 70 days prior to the municipal election date.

This change would provide the Supervisor of Elections enough time to create and mail ballots to overseas voters, according to town documents.

Related:Season preview: Palm Beach to address water quality, public safety, code review

Municipal elections are held annually on the second Tuesday in March.

About 50 people attended the hour-long caucus, which began at 6 p.m. Retired judge Deborah Pucillo presided over the gathering as caucus chairperson, with Mark Zeidman, husband of council member Maggie Zeidman, serving as caucus secretary.

The event began with introductory remarks from Moore, followed by the nomination of caucus officers and town council members.

Moore was nominated as mayor by Palm Beach Civic Association Vice Chairman and former Town Council president Michael Pucillo and seconded by Citizens' Association of Palm Beach Vice Chair Skip Aldridge and Carla Cove.

Pucillo spoke of Moore's accomplishments as mayor and her quick response to the discovery of a dangerous toxin in the town's water supply last year.

"Eighteen months ago, Dani was called on to deal with a very difficult situation," Pucillo said. "Late on a Friday night, the City of West Palm Beach gave us notice that there was a serious bacterial problem with our water supply. The announcement was made late on a Friday, and early Saturday morning Dani was on the phone with Paul Brazil, the director of Public Works, trying to find out what the problem was.

"She promptly got a letter out to the mayor of West Palm Beach in addition to raising questions about the method that we learned of this. She really broke down what happened and why. She followed up and put in place a solution."

Araskog was nominated for the Group 1 seat by Peggy Moore and seconded by former Underground Utilities Task Force member Susan Gary and former Recreation Advisory Commission member Dr. Ellen Howe.

Moore spoke of Araskog's commitment to her family, friends and residents of the town.

"Having been a great friend of Julie's mother and father for a long time — that's how I got to know Julie — I can speak to her character," Moore said. "She is a fine person and one you would want to represent you in any way, any time, anywhere. If I had one special word to choose to describe Julie, I would say it's purpose. Julie has a purpose. She feels like her purpose for being here is to serve our town and its residents."

Cooney was nominated for the Group 2 seat by his father, Dr. John Cooney, and seconded by Lawrence Kaplan and former Mayor Gail Coniglio.

John Cooney, a retired anesthesiologist, highlighted his son's commitment to public service. Ted Cooney, a Palm Beach native, served for 11 years on the town's Landmarks and Architectural commissions before being elected to the council in 2021.

"He has a passion for public service," Cooney said of his son. "In spite of his youthful age, he has served the town in various capacities for over a dozen years. He is studious, he reads, he listens, he listens to his constituents on both sides of issues, he listens to the experts that give their opinions, and then he comes to a considered opinion."

All three candidates were instructed to contact Deputy Town Clerk Pat Gayle-Gordon on Wednesday to complete the qualifying process.

The council will hold a special meeting at 9:30 a.m. Friday to declare the results of the town caucus, pass a resolution, and approve a proclamation from the mayor declaring those candidates who were nominated Tuesday to be reelected to new terms on the council.

There would be no municipal election next year if all three candidates remain unopposed, Gayle-Gordon said.

Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach mayor, two Council members unopposed at election caucus