Below is an opinion submitted by Westporter Danielle Dobin, the Chair of the Board of Finance and the former Chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

I am delighted to support Samantha Nestor for State Senate in the 26th District and Lee Goldstein for State Representative in the 136th District.

Hartford can feel far away, and it’s tough to keep track of the many proposals that could have very real consequences for Westport. In this climate, Westport’s representation in Hartford truly matters. We need legislators who understand how decisions made at the state level actually play out in a town like ours, who will build coalitions to advance good ideas, and who are willing to push back effectively on bad ones.

That’s why Sam and Lee’s local leadership experience matters.

Lee, Chair of the Westport Board of Education, has a steely spine. And, speaking from experience on the other side of certain issues, she also knows how to work collaboratively and solve problems with people with whom she disagrees. She understands what it takes to maintain true excellence in our schools and our community, and I trust her to ask hard questions rather than simply follow the crowd. I’m very much looking forward to watching her in action at the committee level.

Sam, Weston’s First Selectwoman, brings years of experience balancing town budgets and firsthand knowledge of what schools, bridges, roads and other capital projects actually cost. That practical experience will be invaluable when Hartford considers policies whose costs ultimately land on municipalities and local taxpayers. Too few state legislators have actual experience managing a town. Sam gets it. Just as importantly, her warmth and ability to communicate without creating unnecessary friction will help her build support for Westport’s interests among legislators who may see these issues very differently.

Sometimes the most effective voices for changing the direction of a conversation are those offering thoughtful pushback from within a governing coalition. Sam and Lee are particularly well positioned to play exactly that role while advocating effectively for our town.

I’m very proud to support Sam Nestor and Lee Goldstein.

I am submitting this letter solely as a Westport voter and resident, and not in my capacity as Chair of the Westport Board of Finance. 

Danielle Dobin
Yankee Hill Road
Westport