By Gretchen Webster, photo gallery by JC Martin
There wasn’t a seat left in the Town Hall auditorium on Inauguration Night Monday when First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker said her goodbyes, and newly elected First Selectman Kevin Christie promised to get to work right away in the service of Westport.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal administered the oath of Office to Christie, and Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas swore in Selectwoman Amy Wistreich, Christie’s running mate, and Selectman Don O’Day. Residents elected to all other town offices were administered the oath of office by Town Clerk Jeffery Dunkerton.
Christie thanked the people of Westport for trusting him with the office.
“I am filled with gratitude for the honor of serving you,” he said. “Imagine a Westport where downtown parking works,” he continued, getting a laugh from the crowd.
He also listed adding more housing for young people and town employees, maintaining “an attractive mill rate,” and setting up a process where the Planning and Zoning Commission has more oversight on a project’s final plans, as some of his goals.
Strong community engagement and collaboration are key for him, Christie also said.
“Community has been the foundation of my service; it’s what brought me and my family to Westport,” he said. “I look forward to getting started … Let’s get to it.”
Westport was praised by Thomas for the town’s 50% voter turnout in the Nov. 4 election compared to the statewide turnout of only 30 percent. “You cannot force anyone to vote. You have to inspire them,” she said, congratulating Christie and Wistreich for their campaign that reached so many Westport voters.
Blumenthal also complimented Westport for its strong voter involvement.
“It has never been more important for people to step up … Democracy is under threat,” he said.
Blumenthal, Thomas and Christie also thanked Westport Registrar Deborah Greenberg, Dunkerton and their staff for their hard work and “for standing strong for the integrity of our elections,” Blumenthal said.
Tooker was given a standing ovation when she finished her farewell speech. In her speech she called her term in office “the greatest honor of my professional life” and said that Westport “is in the strongest financial position in history.”
Before the inauguration began, she told Westport Journal that she would begin a campaign for state office in the new year. But she would not disclose which state office she would be campaigning for until after the holidays, she said.
It was a joyous night, and a new beginning for our town. Westport should be especially proud of the 50+% voter turnout for a purely local election (no state, no federal votes).
Westporters showed up, and delivered a mandate for accountable leadership.
Keep it up Westport! There is so much more we can achieve when we raise our voices, and have leaders who encourage us to do so.