By Gretchen Webster
WESTPORT–The Westport Democratic Town Committee met Tuesday to nominate a full slate of candidates for the November municipal elections. They unanimously approved Kevin Christie for first selectman with a standing ovation, and Amy Wistreich for selectwoman. Christie is currently a member of the Board of Education and Wistreich serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The atmosphere in the Town Hall auditorium was upbeat with about 100 people attending the DTC meeting.
Cohn withdraws from P&Z
One surprise at the beginning of the meeting was the withdrawal of Neil Cohn, vice chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission, from a nomination to return to the P&Z. DTC members interested in the now open position will be interviewed with a final candidate recommended soon for the P&Z slot, Michelle Mechanic, chair of the DTC, told the crowd.
“Neil Cohn is stepping away. We’re so grateful for his service,” she said.
Although Cohn is no longer running for a spot on the P&Z, he seconded the nominations of the two candidates who are – Michael Cammeyer and Breanne Injeski. Cammeyer currently serves on the commission and Injeski is an alternate member.
“He has a moral compass. I hope that he will guide the commission for years,” Cohn said of Cammeyer. “As I step away, I’m so glad that he will be there.”
More dialog needed
Christie was nominated to become Westport’s next first selectman by State Rep. Jonathan Steinberg. “Kevin represents our values,” Steinberg said. “A spirit of engagement will return to Town Hall.”
With Christie’s background as a fiscal manager, he will “bring the real world” back to Westport government, Steinberg said. “We need more dialogue and fewer photo ops. Let’s do better this time,” he said, referring to Jennifer Tooker, a Republican and the current first Selectwoman.
Christie said that his leadership would “bring people together, plan responsibly, and get things done.” He pledged to launch a large-scale traffic study, collaborate with key areas in the state government that could impact the town, and “engage our local businesses more directly,” a promise that got some cheers and applause from the audience.
“I’ve stood with thousands of people who care deeply about democracy and rights and decency,” he said of the protests against the current national leadership. “Being a Democrat means something,” he said.
Wistreich has the skills
His running mate, Amy Wistreich, was nominated by Jim Ezzes, chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Wistriech, a former ZBA member, was appointed to a vacancy on the P&Z in 2023 when former P&Z chair Daniele Dobin was elected to the Board of Finance.
“She has the management skills that we need to move forward,” Ezzes said when nominating Wistreich. “The current administration has not been successful with what the community needs to move forward – not backward,” he said.
Several of the nominees approved by the DTC are incumbents, and others are running for a seat on a different board or commission. That includes Elaine Whitney, a current member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, who is running for a spot on the Board of Finance. She is also a former chairman of the Board of Education. Selectwoman Candice Savin said that Whitney has “the courage to make tough decisions,” as she seconded Whitney’s nomination.
Another incumbent nominated to a different town board is Lauren Karp, vying for a spot on the Board of Education. She is currently chair of the RTM Education Committee.
Also nominated to the Board of Education was Abby Tolan, a current BOE member and former special education teacher and chair of the Special Education PTA. “Fourteen percent of Westport students are special education students, that’s one in 7. We deserve 1 in 7 BOE members to have expertise in that field,” said Becky Martin, DTC member from District 8.
In addition to Elaine Whitney, Allyson Stollenwerck, an attorney and member of the Board of Finance, was nominated to the Board of Finance.
The Zoning Board of Appeals nominees include Sheri Gordon, former chair of the Board of Finance, currently serving as an alternate on the ZBA; and Joe Scordato, a current member of the ZBA.
Nominated for the Board of Assessment Appeals were incumbents Ifeseyi Gayle and Lynette Pineda.
Neither Mr. O’Day nor Mr. Christie has demonstrated the slightest respect for due process. The one led the charge on the LLSBC to ride roughshod over the community gardeners, denying them full participation in the planning process and limiting their ability to make their case, and the other sitting silent throughout the BOE star chamber proceeding and voting with the majority not to reinstate the soccer coach without the slightest recognition of the total lack of due process which characterized that farce.
These are serious failures in what is democracy at the most basic, local level which should disqualify them both from holding public office.
I believe the Democratic candidate for First Selectman demonstrated cowardice in the way he acted and voted with the majority to deny the soccer coach a chance to call his own witnesses to defend himself. He doesn’t deserve to be First Selectman.
In regard to the lawsuit with the soccer coach as the plaintiff I would like to see the superintendent and all the members of the Board of Education subpoenaed and placed under oath with depositions and then called as witnesses in a trial court.