Editor’s note: following is an opinion submitted by Westporter Andrew Colabella.
Don O’Day and Andrea Moore each have a proven track record of decades of dedicated action-based management. Their global management experience and steady leadership have consistently delivered real results, including projects completed on time and within budget. These are management positions, not political ones, and Westport’s success lies in electing proven leaders, not party members.
Andrew Colabella
Kings Highway North
Westport
The Atlantic published this article tonight, on election eve where local elections, not national, are happening all over:
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2025/11/no-politics-is-local/684806/?gift=YGv5TGlw9JT0ZzpSFbWqvMP2hEJ2ArFjfnUH814y34w
Here’s a excerpt:
“One might expect or hope that governorships and mayoralties are different. Certainly, the people who hold those jobs like to make snarky remarks about how, unlike peacocking legislators, they actually have to get things done. But national politics may be impinging on these jobs in the same way.
“…. Thus, party affiliation becomes a potent cue for such voters. That includes the politician they’re voting for and the politician they’re voting against.”
As usual, agree to disagree.
Disagree it is! The rest of the USA agrees. I’ll take it.
Well Said Andy! Agree 100% O’Day – Moore is the right choice for Westport. The Party nonsense is laughable, as by state mandate there are NO SUPER MAJORITIES on any elected or appointed boards and commissions.
The “Haters” might want to concentrate on state issues where PARTY POLITICS do come into play. 8-30g is great example of one party jamming a “one size fits” all zoning law down the throats of local towns and municipalities.
Westport is run by people not parties – meetings are transparent and open.
O’Day – Moore Experienced Westport Leaders – The Choice for First and Second Selectman.
Jimmy Izzo
RTM 3
16 year RTM member
Chair – RTM Public Protection Committee
I might agree with Jimmy as to the concept that management and not political affiliation makes the difference at the local level, but the last several years of admin by Marpe and Tooker have done nothing positive for Westport. The admins and projects which O’Day and Moore have have direct involvement with.
We haven’t seen a great resolution to messes:
– The tone deafness of plans for Parker Harding, paying hundreds of thousands for study after study of downtown parking without ever actually doing anything. – Perceived back room dealings and machinations around school maintenance and remediation of issues that directly impact our kids! Delays behind the fixes for CMS (because of poor planning and short sighted behaviors that caused a mold issue that powers tried to downplay and diminish,) the debacle of the Long Lots school planning and the ridiculous and absolute refusal to even acknowledge the validity of the gardeners concerns.
– The incomprehensible choices to ignore the state requests for town input and neighborhood notifications around the state yard remodeling and building, that is impacting ALL of us with significant construction as well as the neighbors who are living with the destruction of their borders and the loss of their quality of life. Who even DOES this and dares call themselves leaders?
– The inability of the town leadership to make strategic plans to work around the 8-03g regulations to allow us to not be inundated by predatory developers. This law doesn’t go away, but we need 5 and 10 year plans to ensure we line up our projects and points to ensure we gain moratoriums so WE are in control of the developments and can place them in areas that are able to handle them and serve people, rather than Hartford. We have so many resident experts in this area, tap our resources and their expertise!!
It’s embarrassing how the town executives have handled issues like ostriches with their heads in the sand. Anything they do manage to do, they’re not very transparent with communication either.