Araskog Remains on Town Council

In Tuesday’s election, current Town Councilwoman Julie Araskog defeated challenger René Silvin for the Group 2 Town Council seat, as first reported by the Palm Beach Daily News.

Araskog received 60.64 percent of the vote, or a total of 1,618 votes. Meanwhile, Silvin received 1,050 votes or 39.36 percent. Turnout was 33.13 percent of Palm Beach’s 8,053 registered voters.

Araskog Remains on Town Council

“It is so humbling to be supported so strongly by the people I represent after being up against so much during this campaign,” said Araskog. “I’m looking forward to taking this mandate back to the dais and to keep working hard for the residents.”

Silvin said that he called Araskog to wish her well and congratulate her on running a great campaign. 

“I would not exchange the experience of running this race for anything in the world,” he said. “I met and was supported by so many wonderful people and now, looking forward, I ask all of my supporters to support the mayor and the Town Council.”

Araskog has been a member of the council after defeating Zoning Chairman Martin Klein in the February 2017 election. The Councilwoman is a lawyer and former professional accretes and lives in the North End.

Silvin lives in Midtown and is a retired healthcare executive and author. He has severed as vice chairman of the Landmarks Preservation Commission for five years, and this was his first bid for elective office.

Related >>> Araskog and Silvin Face Off in Town Election

Araskog and Silvin agreed on the top challenges facing the town, but saw solutions for these problems differently. The two debated twice in late February.

Araskog raised $257,562 and spent $161,366, as of March 7, and Silvin raised $121,371 and spent $87,921 in the same amount of time.