By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — In a generally light-hearted ceremony at Town Hall Monday night, Jennifer Tooker and Andrea Moore were sworn in as the town’s new first and second selectwomen, respectively, marking the first time the two top posts have been simultaneously held by women.

“I am just so honored to serve this extraordinary town as your next CEO and leader,” Tooker told the crowd.

Joined by family and friends, they and two dozen other elected officials took their oaths of office, most of which were administered by Town Clerk Jeff Dunkerton.

Outgoing First Selectman Jim Marpe, who swore in both Tooker and Moore, was also honored for his eight-year tenure as the town’s top administrator.

“I’d like to thank the voters of Westport for allowing me to have this special privilege of serving them in this first selectman’s office,” he said. “I remain humbled by, and grateful for, the responsibility and opportunity you’ve granted.”

Along with thanking his staff, including town and school employees, he also praised the many current and newly elected volunteer board members and commissioners.

Along with thanking his own family for their ongoing support of his commitment, he likewise told the families of newcomers to be cognizant of the job they’ve embarked upon. 

“To the families of our newly elected officials (and) our re-elected officials, please offer that same love and support,” he said. “I know they’ll appreciate it and I know they’ll need it as well.”

Tooker thanked Marpe for this leadership, mentorship and friendship.

“Westport is absolutely a better place because of you,” she said.

“Andrea and I officially start the job tomorrow morning,” Tooker said. “And we promise you that we will wake up, not just tomorrow morning, but every morning for the next four years and work tirelessly to make sure Westport remains the best place to live, work and play in the region, so each of you can wake up, enjoy all our town has to offer, and know that Westport is where you belong.”

Early in the day a number of newly elected town officials chose to be sworn in in an outdoor ceremony in front of Town Hall, preferring not to take part in a potentially crowded indoor ceremony in relation to COVID-19 concerns.

At least one other official chose to be sworn in privately after Election Day.

State Rep. Jonathan Steinberg (D-136), who narrowly lost his bid for first selectman, was not in attendance at the ceremony.

Earlier this month he said he would decline the appointment of the third selectperson seat, which traditionally goes to the losing candidate of the other major party. Steinberg said, however, he wanted to maintain his position in Hartford, which includes the related tenure of his six terms there.

He made it official in a letter to Dunkerton on Nov. 12.

Steinberg’s running mate Candice Savin, outgoing Board of Education chair, has said she would accept the post if she receives the nomination of the Democratic Town Committee later this week and is subsequently appointed by Tooker and Moore.

Meanwhile, Libertarian T.J. Elgin has laid a claim to the third selectperson’s seat, arguing that since Steinberg is declining it, he should get it because the candidates ran on a single ticket and he, therefore, is the next candidate in line.

On Sunday Elgin sent out a press release stating that the town’s attorney is breaking the laws of the Town Charter, indicating that he intended to be sworn in at the ceremony.

“I intend on being sworn in tomorrow night at the ceremony,” he said. “The Town Charter will be in my hands expressing the rules that were made prior to elections.”

While Elgin was in attendance Monday night, and even spoke briefly with Tooker prior to the ceremony, he did not intercede during the event.

He said he also hopes to hear from Tooker on Tuesday morning. He said Tuesday, two weeks after Election Day, is the deadline to file a court challenge over the seat.

A Nov. 12 letter from Town Attorney Ira Bloom to Marpe states that a Democrat must fill the third seat. “My opinion is that Mr. Elgin has not been elected to that position, nor is he entitled to that position under Charter Section C4-1,” he wrote.