• Former Business Executive - Retired, 1986

• Elected to District #5, Palm Beach County Commission in November 1992 and unopposed for  re-election in 1996 and 2000.  Re-elected in 2004 with 77.62% of the vote
• Chair, Investment Policy Committee
• Chair, Value Adjustment Board
• Past Chair, Tourist Development Council
• Past Chair and Vice Chair, Palm Beach County Commission
• Past Chair and Vice Chair, Solid Waste Authority
• Past Chair, Film Liaison Advisory Committee
• Past Chair, Joint Committee to Increase County Government Efficiency
• Past Chair, Palm Beach County Judicial Arts Advisory Council
• Past Chair, Public Safety Coordinating Council
• Member, Criminal Justice Commission
• Board Member, Metropolitan Planning Organization
• Board Member, Solid Waste Authority
• Past Board Member, Justice Information Systems Policy Board
• Past Board Member, So. Florida Fair & Palm Beach County Expositions, Inc.
• Past Board Member, Community Action Council Administering Board

Civic:

• Founder and Chair Emeritus, Palm Beach International Film Festival
• Co-Founder and Director of DEBT (Derail the Bullet Train)
• Member, Governing Board of the Delray Medical Center
• Supporter, Lou Gehrig Disease Foundation (ALS), Our Lady Queen of Peace Mission in Delray Beach, the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies
• Board Member, SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives Association)
• Honorary Chair, 2000 Maccabi Games
• Past Member, Governing Board of West Boca Medical Center
• Past Member, Delray Beach and Boca Raton Chambers of Commerce
• Past Board Member, American Jewish Congress

Awards:

• 1974 - Received the Israel Solidarity Award for Leadership and Dedication on behalf of the development and strengthening of the economy of Israel through the State of Israel Bond Campaign
• 1994 - Named “Man of the Year” by the Migrant Workers of South Florida, Inc.
• 1996 - Awarded “Ambassador of the Arts” of the State of Florida Medal by the Honorable Sandra Mortham
• 1997 - Presented with the Distinguished Civic Achievement Award and named “Man of the Year” by the American Jewish Congress
• 1998 - Named the “Outstanding Commissioner of the Year” by the Democratic Council of 100
• 1999 - Honored by the Nature Conservancy Florida Chapter with the “Grassroots Leadership Award”
• 1999 - Named “Man of the Year” by Congregation Torah Ohr
• 1999 - Presented with the Humanitarian Award by The Haven
• 2000 - Presented with Special Olympics’ Humanitarian Award
• 2000 - Named “Man of the Decade” by the Boca-Delray-Boynton Women’s Democratic Club
• 2001 - Named “Humanitarian of the Year” by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America
• 2001 - Presented with Founders Award by the Palm Beach International Film Festival
• 2001 - Honored by the Voters Coalition of Palm Beach County
• 2001 - Presented with the Mom’s Apple Pie Award by the Million Mom March
• 2001 - Presented with the Professional of the Year EVIE Award  by the Professional and Business Forum
• 2002 - Honored by the Palm Beach County School Board
• 2002 - Honored by the United South County Democratic Club
• 2002 - Presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Temple Emeth
• 2002 - Presented with the Jacob’s Ladder Award for child advocacy
• 2003 - Named “County Commissioner of the Year” by the Palm Beach County League of Cities
• 2004 - Named Honorary Member of Temple Torah Ohr
• 2004 - Inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Special Olympics of Palm Beach County
• 2005 - Honored by the Palm Beach County School Board
• 2006 - Honored by the United South County Democratic Club
• 2006  - Honored by Temple Sinai

Accomplishments:

• Founded the Palm Beach International Film Festival in 1993
• Instrumental in establishing the “Tech Prep” and “Teens for Tomorrow” Programs
• Assisted in bringing a film production company to Palm Beach County (Palm Beach Ocean Studios)
• Introduced new Solid Waste Authority bidding process dubbed “Aaronson Method” by fellow Commissioners - process saves taxpayers  $76 million over a ten-year period
• Initiated search for an alternate location for the “Site One” landfill; land exchange completed 2/96
• Derailed the Bullet Train in 1998, a potential $22 Billion boondoggle to taxpayers
• 1998 Panelist for the Annual American Jewish Committee’s TV show, Jews of Distinction”
• Named to the Jewish Men of Distinction Oral History Collection by the American Jewish Committee
• Leader in the success of the 1999 $150 million Agricultural Reserve bond referendum for the purpose of conservation and recreation land acquisition
• Negotiated settlement that kept Temple Torah Ohr within the Century Village community
• Facilitated in the settlement between Floral Lakes Community and the Post Office that resulted in individual postal delivery for the residents in Phase 1
• Strongly supported the Palm Beach County Cell Tower Ordinance which sets criteria for the placement of cell towers
• Initiated the Palm Beach County Trigger Lock Ordinance mandating locking devices of firearms
• Reorganized DEBT (Derail the Bullet Train) to reverse the 1999 referendum mandating a bullet train
• Instrumental in getting the Royal Palm Beach Yacht and Country Club to eliminate its membership discrimination practices
• Responsible for the installation of illuminated street signs in District 5 at a cost of $800,000
• Fought and won the addition of a provision in the Palm Beach County Vegetation Preservation Ordinance to protect older communities saving residents millions of dollars
• Supported School Concurrency
• Responsible for Palm Beach County’s “Trees Only” and “OTIS” programs for median beautification
• Instrumental in the success of the 2002 $55 million Library bond referendum and the 2002 $50 a million Parks, Recreation and Cultural Projects bond referendum
• Convinced the Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning Organization to spend $1 million in State distributed federal funds to help drivers offset the cost of joining the Turnpike Sunpass Program
• Persuaded the Turnpike Authority to re-evaluate its proposed toll rate increase for the area from Boynton Beach Blvd. to Glades Rd. which ultimately led the Authority to rescind its proposal
• As Chair from 1996-1998, worked with Fire Rescue and the Sheriff to prohibit the use of fireworks during drought situations
• Initiated and strongly supported the following safeguards regarding the sale and use of fireworks:  1998 - amendment to the County’s Zoning Code to allow only the sale of sparklers from tents; 2003 - amendment to the County’s Zoning Code to limit the sale of fireworks to industrial areas only; 2004 - amendment to the County’s Zoning Code that added provisions making the Code one of the strictest Codes in the State of Florida
• Initiated the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department’s Generator Purchase, Operation and Maintenance Program
• Represented the County Commission in negotiations with The Scripps Research Institute

Personal