By Ken Valenti
WESTPORT–Don O’Day, the Westport Town Republicans’ newly endorsed candidate for First Selectman, has served in various public positions for more than 20 years, but one role he filled until just weeks ago makes his GOP nomination unusual.
Until May, he was a lifelong Democrat.
O’Day changed his voter enrollment to “unaffiliated” to gain the spot on the Republican ticket. He was endorsed in Westport Town Hall last night along with Second Selectwoman Andrea Moore, who was nominated for a second term, as well as eight other candidates for five other boards in town.
At the meeting, O’Day told about 40 party members in room 307/309, plus a few who joined virtually, that local public service should rise above partisan differences.
People over politics
“Local government is about people over politics,” he said. “Local government is about neighbors….It’s about us taking care of each other.”
A Westport resident for more than 30 years, O’Day has engaged in public service for more than two decades. He has served as chairman of the Board of Education and the Coleytown Middle School Building Committee and as a member of the Long Lots School Building Committee. He currently serves on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) for District 3.
Retired from a 40-year career in financial services, he lives with his wife Toni. Their three sons, Donny, Tom and Mike, all graduated from Westport Public Schools.
Moore: a decade of service
Moore, a Westport native, said has enjoyed her 10 years of public service including on the RTM, the Board of Finance (with two years as vice chairwoman) and now on the Board of Selectwomen. She serves with current First Selectwoman Jen Tooker, who is seeking the GOP nomination for Governor in 2026.
“I feel like I’ve learned a ton about Westport, and I think I can use that knowledge to help Don not only get elected, but going forward once he’s First Selectperson,” she said. “So thank you for the opportunity, and we’re going to work our butts off to make this happen.”
Moore built a career in financial services for more than 20 years before entering public service. She and her husband Dave Moore have three college-age daughters: Tessa, Janna and Ella.
Marpe: nonpartisan and positive
Former First Selectman James Marpe, addressing the meeting, said he understood that O’Day’s history as a Democrat “creates some concern and angst” among some in the party, but he added, “Don will be ready on day one to lead this extraordinary community in a nonpartisan, positive and professional manner that will reflect your values and the values of the majority of our fellow citizens.”
O’Day, and all other candidates proposed last night by the party’s nominating committee, were endorsed unanimously.
O’Day and Moore’s priorities, spelled out in an announcement they released last night, include:
- Modernizing town and school infrastructure with a focus on fiscal responsibility and sustainability.
- Preserving Westport’s AAA bond rating through disciplined financial management.
- Respecting local zoning while responsibly expanding affordable housing.
- Enhancing parks, beaches and recreational facilities for all residents.
- Improving traffic management with an emphasis on pedestrian and cyclist safety.
Republican Town Committee Vice Chairman Joseph Sledge said, “We really have the A-Team,” he said. “I’m really very pleased and the only comment that I have is, ‘Wow!’”
The top positions were two of 10 endorsements for several boards made by the Westport Republican Town Committee. The others were:
Board of Assessment Appeals
- Tom Bloch
Board of Education
- Dorie Hordon (incumbent)
- Michelle Hopson
- Andy Frankel
- Kaitlin Zucaro
Board of Finance
- Brian Gaines
Planning and Zoning Commission
- Michele Paquette
Zoning Board of Appeals
- Scott Schuster
The candidates each received praise in turn. Sledge said the party was fortunate to have a full slate of candidates for the Board of Education, describing the dedication and devotion shown by those who seek office in their community.
“They stand up,” he said. “They want to serve, and they bring a new and a different perspective. Every one of these candidates do just that.”
Just to be clear: Andy has opposed the ADL just like the NEA. He has called the ADL too progressive! I find his comments in the past to be offensive, divisive, and dangerous. Anyone who wants to get rid of the ADL is dangerous to our schools.
Stephanie – you’re entitled to your opinion but no need to spread false information. I have never “opposed the ADL” or wanted to “get rid of the ADL.” I fully support Israel and many of the ADL’s antisemitism initiatives but have offered specific and limited criticisms of some of their views and overly politicized involvement in schools for reasons I have explained in public at TEAM Westport meetings. Very irresponsible of you to make these utterly baseless and false accusations.
Someone needs to educate both candidates on the subject of due process. From their performances on the LLSBC and BOE respectively it is apparent that they either don’t know or don’t care about such things as fairness and an opportunity to be heard, and as far as I’m concerned that’s a disqualifier.
Andy, since most people do not attend TEAM westport meetings and you are running for school board, can you please provide us with transparency about your criticsms of the ADL in schools?
Thank you, much appreciated!
What does the ADL have to do with anything going on in Westport schools?
The ADL helps schools with anti bullying, discrimination, and teaching about the Holocaust. Westport Schools stand strong with our clergy and their support of fhe ADL Chris.
The ADL’s current aims seem far less about discrimination than they are about advocating for the Netanyahu administration and calling people “pro-Hamas” if they are express concern about the genocide in Gaza I really don’t see the value they have to offer. (NYT had a great piece on the Jonathan Greenblatt talking points, about a month ago. We see them all over local blogs.)
The ADL couldn’t even criticize Elon Musk for throwing a Nazi salute at the inauguration party.
Our schools can surely find resources from other organizations without (indirectly) giving the ADL a platform with school children. (Interfaith Alliance, for instance.) The Holocaust can be easily taught in schools without involving extremist political organizations.
For the benefit of the public, the ADL has very much broadened its scope in recent years. It has become a group that does much more than focus on antisemitism and is now involved in a broader range of identity issues. An example of this can be found in a survey that was administered to students in one of our middle schools, as I previously explained at a TEAM Westport meeting. This student-led No Place for Hate group sent out a survey based on ADL materials which asked various questions related to gender, sexuality, etc. When brought to the attention of the administrators by a parent who felt the questions were invasive and improper, the administration immediately purged and deleted the Google drive containing all of the information gathered on the survey. They were previously unaware of the survey and agreed it wasn’t appropriate. The response from the school administration was the correct one. They further stated that they would have to more closely monitor the No Place for Hate curriculum and the lessons. Like any outside group, how we use ADL materials should be carefully monitored.
Yes Dorie, the ADL has always stood against all hate and discrimination, not just antisemitism. My guess is that Camillo Raino was the parent opposing this. In any case, the ADL is an excellent tool and source for school systems and I was ashamed the NEA or any board member would oppoose the ADL.
Are we doing this again? Throwing spaghetti at the wall and smearing people? Your “guess” is totally wrong. I explained the problems that were encountered with the ADL materials and why the school administration felt it was necessary to take immediate action. No organization is perfect or beyond criticism. The schools need to examine all the materials that are used inside the classroom.