By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — The Democratic Town Committee on Tuesday evening gave a sneak peek at its likely slate of candidates for the November election.

There was just one surprise — Board of Finance member Sheri Gordon will not seek re-election after more than a decade of volunteer public service, and Planning and Zoning Chairwoman Danielle Dobin will seek her finance seat.

All other sitting candidates up for re-election in November were unchanged, according to DTC Chairwoman Michelle Mechanic.

Tuesday’s roster is not the DTC’s endorsed list, but rather the list of its nominating committee recommendations to the full committee.

The full DTC will vote on the slate of candidates, and hear nominations from the floor, at its July 18 meeting, Mechanic said.

Candidates recommended by the DTC nominating committee:

• Board of Education: Lee Goldstein, incumbent chairwoman, and member Neil Phillips.
• Planning and Zoning: Paul Lebowitz, incumbent.
• Board of Finance: Nancie Dupier, incumbent, and newcomer Dobin.
• Zoning Board of Appeals: James Ezzes, incumbent chairman.

“Sheri Gordon has chosen not to continue,” Mechanic said, saying she wants more family time and to pursue other endeavors.

“Sheri’s served us very very well, she’s done an excellent job,” Mechanic said, noting that between the finance board and the ZBA, Gordon spent 13 years in service to the town.

Gordon briefly served as chair of the finance board last year, but tensions ensued and she stepped down from the leadership position.

Dobin has led the P&Z at a time of tumult, with state-imposed affordable-housing mandates clashing with issues of local control.

Why the change for Dobin — simply seeking a new role or a stepping stone to higher office in 2025 — is not yet clear. Dobin did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.

If Dobin is not elected to the Board of Finance, she would remain on the P&Z two more years.

“This is the election that will impact our residents the most by far, aside from the selectmens’ race,” Mechanic said. “It’s these local boards that get the get the job done.”

Republicans also are expected to announce their slate of candidates for this year’s municipal elections sometime in July.

Thane Grauel, executive editor, grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond for 35 years. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.