CONSHOHOCKEN >> Conshohocken Mayor-elect Yaniv Aronson said this week he will be counting on outgoing Mayor Bob Frost for both guidance and friendship in the coming months.
“I also want to thank mayor Bob Frost for his many years of service to our community,” said Aronson, a Democrat who unseated the four-term incumbent in Tuesday’s election. “I will look to him for friendship and guidance on maintaining our wonderful Conshohocken events and traditions. I laid out an energetic and comprehensive vision for the borough over the course of this campaign, and I cannot wait to roll up my sleeves and get to work.”
Aronson won the mayor’s race with 1,165 votes, or 53 percent of the votes cast, compared with 1,027 votes, or 46.8 percent, for Frost. His surprise victory was a small part of a nationwide surge of support for Democratic candidates across the country.
One item on his agenda is the fostering of a more dog-friendly atmosphere in the town.
“Mary Wood Park was recently opened to dog walking, and the Londonbury Dog Park was revitalized by our local Rotary Club last year. Creating safe spaces for our furry family members could provide multiple community benefits. Additionally, we could work with local businesses to advertise pet-friendly restaurants, use dog parks for charity events, and even have pet-friendly street festivals,” Aronson allowed, adding that establishing an arts, crafts, and food festival is another priority that would attract a variety of vendors to the community.
“Festivals such as this could partner with the Conshohocken Art League and local artists to celebrate the wonderful work being created right in our borough,” he said. “A mix of local restaurants, visiting chefs and food trucks could cater to all tastes, diets and allergies to help promote Conshohocken to the entire region.”
During his campaign, Aronson noted that the safety of the community would be a top priority.
“The mayor’s primary focus should be public safety and overseeing our emergency services so that everyone has access to protection in a crisis,” he said. “I believe a safe community includes working with the police department and members of Borough Council to ensure residents’ concerns are heard and addressed. The Mayor should also be a leader of, and an advocate for, our community. Strong leadership helps build a strong tax base, provides economic stability and ensures equality for all of our neighbors ... As mayor, I will be an active and energetic presence in Conshohocken Borough, and an advocate for our small businesses and residents.”
As chairman of the Conshohocken-Plymouth-Whitemarsh Rotary Club, Aronson recalled having brought people together “to build a dynamic community volunteer organization that has worked on dozens of service projects including Schuylkill River Trail cleanups, Gambone Park Trail maintenance and tree planting, food drives for the Colonial Neighborhood Council, the Conshohocken Beer Festival, borough streets trash cleanup and restoration of the Londonbury Dog Park.”
Aronson is also a member of the borough’s Environmental Advisory Council and has worked with LoveConshy, the local chamber of commerce, to “ensure our environment and local small businesses remain priorities in Conshohocken’s rapid development.”
Aronson said he was honored and humbled by his victory.
“Thank you to everyone who came out on a cold and rainy Election Day. Your vote mattered, your voice was heard and you directly participated in the future of our borough,” he said. “This would not have been possible without a tremendous group of volunteers who have worked since last spring to make this victory a reality. I can’t thank everyone on my team enough for their time, dedication, and passion.”
