By John Schwing

WESTPORT — Kevin Christie, the lone Democrat to so far publicly declare his candidacy for first selectman this year, told the Democratic Town Committee on Tuesday that “it’s how you lead that matters,” and if elected in November, promised to take “real action to preserve what makes Westport so special while also preparing for the future.”

The Board of Education member, first elected in 2021, delivered what amounted to a formal campaign announcement as he addressed an online meeting of the town committee, a gathering that represented a shift in party leaders’ initially announced plans to select their standard-bearer for the Nov. 4 election.

The town’s chief executive post is the top prize on this year’s ballot, with incumbent Republican Jennifer Tooker deciding not to seek re-election and planning instead to seek the GOP nomination for governor next year.

That gives local Democrats, who hold a decisive advantage in enrolled political party membership and control every other elected board in town, what should be a golden opportunity to reclaim the first selectman’s seat, a post that has eluded their grasp for the last 12 years.

“Early, informal endorsement” called off

Christie was one of four candidates interested in running for first selectman interviewed earlier this year by Democrats’ Nominating Committee, which subsequently selected him and a second, unnamed contender as finalists to be recommended for the full town committee’s endorsement.

In a March 10 statement, party leaders said they planned to make what they called an “informal endorsement” in a “new process” to select the first selectman nominee at a March 18 meeting, which was to have taken place in Town Hall’s auditorium. Only Christie, however, agreed to address the gathering, while the other unnamed candidate “decided not to participate in the early informal endorsement process, but is free to seek the nomination in July,” leaders said in that statement.

Two days later, Michelle Mechanic, the town committee chair, said in a statement the March 18 “informal” endorsement gathering would revert to a regular monthly meeting online, and that because a vote to become the party’s early consensus candidate “is now contested, the DTC will be voting at a special in person meeting … before month-end.”

That later session also was canceled, Mechanic told Tuesday’s meeting, because the unnamed candidate has “withdrawn,” leaving Christie as the sole aspiring nominee — at least for now.

Democrats’ official endorsement comes in July

Mechanic emphasized that despite the canceled plans to designate an early-consensus candidate for first selectman, only the Democrats’ nominations meeting in July is empowered to formally “endorse” the party’s candidate for first selectman and those running for other contested offices on the November ballot.

The name of any registered Democrat interested in running for first selectman, whose nomination is seconded at the July convention, will be put up for a vote against Christie.

The winner will carry the party’s endorsement into the fall campaign, unless overturned by a challenger in a Sept. 9 primary.

There was no public discussion Tuesday of the changes in candidate-selection strategies, which sources indicated had caused consternation among some party members.

Christie makes his case

Christie, who made no reference to the nominating process in his remarks, told town committee members he is committed to “building a movement centered on connections” to win the first selectman’s office.

He said that he and his wife “were sold” when considering a move to Westport seven years ago after watching their 4-year-old twins enjoy the community-built playground at Compo Beach. It embodied what they wanted in a hometown — “a place where people can come together, invest in their community and build something lasting,” he said.

It’s “how you lead that matters,” Christie said, promising to “make tangible progress on overdue projects.”

In a short list of priorities, he cited completion of the new Long Lots Elementary School/Stepping Stones Preschool as soon as possible, as well as resolving related issues of athletic fields and community gardens on that property. He also mentioned issues like downtown parking and Longshore capital plans.

Christie, who had a career in finance, investment banking and corporate development strategy spanning more than 15 years, stepped back from that work to focus on his family and community, he said.

On the Board of Education, as chairman of the Policy Committee, he oversaw a “substantial and very public revision of the student disciplinary Code of Conduct during a very challenging time for the Westport school community.”

He also has volunteered for the Coleytown Elementary School PTA and as a coach for his children’s teams in the Westport Soccer Association.

John Schwing, interim editor of the Westport Journal, has held senior editorial and writing posts at southwestern Connecticut media outlets for four decades. Learn more about us here.