Editor’s note: Following is an opinion submitted by Westport resident Julie Badion.
To the Editor:
David Rosenwaks is one of my RTM members. I have never heard from him, despite asking (twice) for updates on issues and actions. Not a good look for a First Selectman candidate. But I have deeper concerns.
Mr. Rosenwaks changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Independent after being rejected by the Democratic committee in favor of Kevin Christie—a candidate with more relevant experience and qualifications. Mr. Rosenwaks is now running as a CT Independent, a party he claims more accurately reflects his views. Among other troubling stances of the Independent party is its refusal to grant the state budgetary flexibility when dire situations arise, preferring to adhere to an arbitrary rule from 2017.
In light of cuts from the Trump administration, we need to be able to reallocate monies to programs including
- HUSKY B (Children’s Medicaid)
- HUSKY (Medicaid)
- School-based health clinics
- Community residential services
- Mental health/addiction services
- Aid to the blind/disabled
- Temporary family assistance
- Nutrition assistance
If David Rosenwaks shares the CT Independent party positions, he should so state. If he doesn’t, and is using the party’s ticket opportunistically, he has the kind of character and inability to compromise that I don’t wish to see in the leader of our town.
By contrast, Kevin Christie is a thoughtful, deeply experienced, and decent man who I believe shares “Westport values,” which include making Westport a welcoming place for all its residents.
Mr. Rosenwaks may be proud of his independent stance, but it’s not the right stance for Westport.
Sincerely,
Julie Badion
Westport
I wear flips flops to the beach, not to the ballot box.
If an individual wishes to change parties or platforms for ideologic reasons, I am all for that. I just watched a TikTok from a young woman who started out as a right wing conservative working for Turning Point/MAGA at an early age, but switched to a more progressive ideologic platform after studying government and politics in college. Her knowledge base changed so she changed her affiliation to one more suited to her beliefs.
To those who switch ideologic platforms solely for their own self-interest, solely to pursue a personal political ambition, I’m out. I can’t abide.
We have two candidates in the Selectman’s race who chose this path. They are seeking votes for themselves, not for the betterment of Westport. There was a path for these two former Democrats to compete for the Democratic slot on the November ballot. It’s called a primary. They chose not to do so.
Kevin Christie is solid, consistent and committed to work for a better Westport.
I couldn’t agree more! Julie’s opinion and Toni’s comment voice so eloquently what I’ve been fuming over — the flip flopping of those candidates is a slap in the face to the electoral process here in town that they should respect. Kevin Christie is a stand-up, respected candidate who reflects the better natures of our town. He deserves our votes.
Thank you Julie, Toni and Nell. I couldn’t agree more.
Today, 9/11, I think back to 2001, and how much has changed. Many elected officials in this country no longer value integrity, transparency, and honest commitment to their constituents.
I am concerned about the motivations of candidates that are willing to abandon their principals to achieve positions of influence. My hope is that the
incoming Westport representatives can rise above the chaos.
We need measured, thoughtful and fair leadership going forward and Kevin Christie is the obvious choice for Westport.
I agree 100 percent with Julie Badion.
David Rosenwaks is a nice guy but simply has no track record in public service for Westport. He’s actually only lived here about four years and has yet even to complete his first – and wholly unremarkable – term on the RTM. He simply cannot point to any substantive legislative statement or accomplishment while serving on the RTM. His rather empty campaign pitch – “I’m a good listener who attends a lot of meetings” is just not going to cut it this time around.
Both Rosenwaks (in 2025) and O’Day (in 2021) failed to be selected after seeking the Democratic nomination. In response, Rosenwaks opportunistically announced he was an Independent, and O’Day suddenly switched registrations to become a Republican. Neither candidate has articulated a principled issue-driven basis for their political conversion. It causes one to wonder about their true motivations and their reliability as potential office holders.
Kevin Christie & Amy Wistreich by contrast are an experienced and level-headed team, with meaningful service on the Board of Ed and the P & Z Commission, respectively. They have earned the trust of the party and have presented a detailed platform designed to move the town forward, building on a better and more productive relationships with Hartford and neighboring towns in SWCT. Westport would be lucky to have them!
I don’t know David, but I do know my dad (yes, we do have a similar name). My dad is the same person, with the same principles, as he was before he accepted the nomination. He has not switched ideologic platforms. At least for my dad, his personal identity is not tied to an affiliation with a political party, particularly for a local election in Westport, Connecticut.
It would be a “slap in the face to the electoral process” if the most qualified and experienced candidate was not on the ballot because of gatekeeping by a town political party. All Westport voters – Democratic, Republican, and unaffiliated – benefit from the choices for first selectman they have this November.
I love my Dad too. They are irreplaceable.
It is alarming to me that a Democrat who is not selected by his party to run would willingly become a member of the Republican Party or independent party which in Connecticut Does not mean unaffiliated. Some think that national politics should not be party of Westport politics but they do. If you affiliate with the party and run as a candidate endorsed by that party and run you are beholden to them. This will affect whether to encourage diversity, prevent book banning, protect people from ICE, preserve funding for arts and support the most vulnerable. Kevin Christie is a true Democrat and will implement Democratic values. And Ms Wyli’s statement about Kevin’s’ experience is inaccurate. The First Selectman is basically the Town CEO. KevinChristie has spent years in private sectors advising CEOs and Boards of major Corporations involving billions of dollars. His experience is truly needed and relevant
The Julie Badion letter and the ensuing comments seem to mostly be offended by the switching of affiliations. Westport, having become an the extreme leftist iteration of the Democrat party, seems to want only similarly inclined candidates. You may have noticed that many political hopefuls are distancing themselves from extreme leftism (even Mamdani in NYC). That is because most people do not hold those views.
As for Christie being so much more accomplished than the others, where is the evidence of that? The adjectives describing Mr. Christie from Miss Badion’s letter and the other comments ( with the exception of Mr. O Day’s son) were not substantive, to say the least….”solid. consistent, stand up, respected experienced and level headed”. I’m pretty the same could be said for the other candidates. I searched for info on Mr. Christie, who’s experience ( that I could find) was as a BOE member who supports DEI policies. Sorry, not very impressive.
Yes, blaming the Radical Left. How’s that going, Ms. Wylie?
Actually it’s going rather well Toni. That is, I guess, until their response to constantly losing is assassination. You may have noticed that the one who is losing an argument is always the unhinged, hysterical one. I still have not heard any legitimate reason Kevin Christie is a better choice than the other candidates. Being an advisor to a CEO is not being CEO. Furthermore, I believe experience in local government is more important than experience in the corporate world.
I think you are missing some information on just who the all-too-many alleged assassins are.