By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — Members of the Democratic Town Committee on Tuesday night officially endorsed its slate candidates for the November 2023 election.

The nominations were earlier forwarded from the DTC’s nominating committee.

The candidates are:

• Board of Education: Lee Goldstein, incumbent chairwoman, and member Neil Phillips.
• Planning and Zoning: Paul Lebowitz, incumbent vice chair.
• Board of Finance: Nancie Dupier, incumbent, and newcomer Danielle Dobin (current Planning and Zoning Chairwoman).
• Zoning Board of Appeals: Jim Ezzes, incumbent chairman.

There was only one hiccup: Dupier, a longtime public servant, announced this week she’d have to drop out of the race because she’s moving out of town.

“Due to unexpected circumstances, Nancy must withdraw her candidacy,” DTC Chairwoman Michelle Mechanic said Tuesday night.

Mechanic said she’d spoken with the state Democratic Party and the Town Clerk’s Office, and, “because we have so many interested candidates, pursuant to our bylaws, the nominating committee must reconvene.”

Mechanic said Dupier would be endorsed Tuesday as a placeholder until another candidate is agreed upon by the nominating committee and the full DTC.

Selectwoman Candice Savin, a former school board member, spoke in favor of Goldstein’s nomination.

“She cares deeply about the welfare of every student,” Savin said. “She values rigor and achievement and wants our schools to be the absolute best.”

Parks and Recreation Commission member Elaine Whitney, also a former school board member, supported Phillips’ nomination.

“Neil is an exceptional person, and a genuinely dedicated public servant,” she said. “Neil gets along with everyone, and also commands their respect. He is a model within our town government for his thoughtful deliberation, calm demeanor, collaboration, commitment to doing whatever it takes to become thoroughly informed on issues and their complexities, and his steadfast focus on the essential charge of the board to doing the very best for our students, staff and community.”

Lee Caney, Board of Finance chairman, spoke in favor of Dupier’s nomination, short-lived as it may be.

“Her decisions are always well-reasoned, and well thought out,” he said. “She always respects other members’ decisions and point of view will thoroughly listen to all members, and the public, and the administration, before making any decision.”

P&Z member Neil Cohn recommended Dobin, the current chairwoman for the P&Z, for the Board of Finance.

“She has truly redefined the role,” Cohn said of Dobin’s tenure as a zoner.

“Danielle has transformed and modernized the planning and zoning process to bring an entirely new generation that reflects her democratic values,” he said. “She boldly pursued diversification of housing and stopped conceding to the loud minority that opposes progress.”

Dobin endorsed fellow P&Z member Lebowitz, saying she calls on him first during hearings because he’s always done his homework.

“He’s read all the materials. He’s thought about all aspects of every application, and he uses his time to ask all the questions,” Dobin said.

The last nomination of the night was for Ezzes.

“He’s a force of nature when it comes to Democratic politics,” outgoing finance board member Sheri Gordon said.

“He has been in Westport since 1953,” she said. “And public service was in his blood.”

“Jim has been on the ZBA for 28 years, and has been chairman for 26 years,” Gordon said. “He may in fact be the longest serving continuously elected chair of a municipal board or commission in the entire state of Connecticut.”

The Republican Town Committee will meet at 8 p.m. Thursday in Room 201/201A of Westport Town Hall to finalize its slate of candidates.

Thane Grauel 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.