WESTPORT — A changing of the guard in the town’s top office takes place Monday, as Jennifer Tooker is sworn in as first selectwoman during ceremonies for all those elected in the Nov. 2 municipal election,
Tooker, the first Republican woman to be the town’s chief executive officer, will be joined on the Board of Selectmen by running mate Andrea Moore. That’s another hallmark in the town’s electoral history — the first time that two women comprise the board’s political majority.
Monday’s primary inaugural event will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall auditorium, 110 Myrtle Ave. The public is invited to attend.
However, there also will be a brief outdoor swearing-in earlier Monday, at 4:30 p.m., on the Town Hall steps for officials who either cannot attend the evening ceremony or are uncomfortable about attending a large indoor event because of pandemic concerns.
Democrats to endorse third selectman nominee
Meanwhile, the issue of who will fill the third, minority-party seat on the Board of Selectmen is expected to become clearer Wednesday at a special meeting of the Democratic Town Committee.
State Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, the Democrat who narrowly lost the first selectman contest to Tooker, has declined to take the minority-party’s selectman seat, as is the usual case under the town’s election laws.
At the Wednesday meeting, the DTC plans to recommend another candidate to take the seat, but that decision ultimately rests with Tooker and Moore. Although the Republicans are apparently required to appoint a registered Democrat, they are not bound to appoint the person recommended by the DTC.
Candice Savin, Steinberg’s running mate and Board of Education chairwoman, has said she would be “honored” to take the third selectmen’s seat.
The DTC meeting, which will take place virtually at 8 p.m. Wednesday, is open to the public. Register here for the Zoom link.
During the session, any Democrat registered in Westport can propose the name of a registered Democrat to be considered for the party’s endorsement. Only party members will be allowed to vote on the endorsement.
Elgin contends the selectman’s seat is his
A wrinkle in the process of filling the minority-party’s seat on the Board of Selectmen is a claim staked by TJ Elgin, the Libertarian Party’s first selectman candidate.
Elgin, who received 64 votes in the Nov. 2 election, contends the seat is the right of the first selectman candidate with the next-highest vote total. And since Steinberg has bowed out, Elgin says he is entitled to take the seat as the first selectman candidate with the next-highest votes.
Like it or not, TJ is Westport’s next Third Selectman . Steinberg publicly and expressly disqualified himself by failing to assume the rights and responsibilities of a candidate running for First Selectman. Therefore the only duly qualified losing candidate with the highest number of votes is TJ. P.S. He ran on the Libertarian ticket.
How nice the Democrats think anyone cares who they endorse. The seat belongs to TJ. This will be a legal battle.
It would be nice to see Jen Tooker exercise her leadership skills by lawfully filling the position with Mr. TJ Elgin as Third Selectman and sparing our town from a lawsuit.
You’re right! After all, 64 votes out of 10,000 is a HUGE mandate. 🙂
64 votes, that’s how many Mr. Elgin garnered, out of THOUSANDS cast on election day. The voters have spoken and want him no where near town hall or the work that the Third Selectman does. I, and many others, would be happy to contribute to a fund to fight any baseless and spurious legal claims and filings made by this individual.