By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT–It was a full house at the Westport Center for Senior Activities Friday afternoon when the three candidates for first selectman and two selectwomen candidates introduced themselves and laid out their priorities for leading the town of Westport. The League of Women Voters sponsored the event.

 Democrat Kevin Christie; Donald O’Day, a former Democrat now running on the Republican ticket; and Independent Party candidate David Rosenwaks are vying for the office of first selectman. Andrea Moore, a current member of the Board of Selectwoman, is O’Day’s running mate, and Amy Wistreich, a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, is the second selectwoman candidate on the Democratic ticket. Both also spoke at the gathering. The discussion was moderated by 06880 blogger Dan Woog.

Introduction

In introductory remarks, Christie said that he envisions Westport as “a town where people work together to build a community.” Rosenwaks said he was especially drawn to Westport because of its rich arts and culture community, and O’Day said that “you can’t please everybody, but you have to tell the truth.”

Leadership

Each candidate was next asked to describe their leadership style, and to name a mistake they are sorry they made. Rosenwaks said his administration would have “a collegial atmosphere where we would listen to everybody.” His biggest regret, he said, was that as a member of the RTM he “didn’t speak as much as I could about the community garden,” which was destroyed as part of the Long Lots School building project.

O’Day said he has a strong but collaborative management style gained in years of experience in corporate management roles. His biggest mistake, he said, was not voting for full-day kindergarten when he was a member of the Board of Education. He went on to defend his role on the Long Lots Building Committee, explaining why the community gardens were ultimately removed from the property adjacent to the school. “Just because the decision wasn’t embraced by everyone doesn’t mean it was a bad decision,” he said. “The kids won because they’re getting a beautiful new school … It’s part of the democratic process.”

Christie said his leadership style is to support his staff and employees, and to create a collaborative environment. His regret, he said, was starting out his campaign with what he called “a listening tour,” to gather information on issues of interest to constituents. Some people misunderstood its purpose and he now believes that it’s important to lay out his platform “with plans and solutions.” 

Learned experience

Part of the forum also included a discussion of what the candidates had learned in the past that influences them now. O’Day cited his experience on the Board of Education where he learned the importance of “working things out as neighbors,” and not as political adversaries. “Partisan divisions don’t get things done,” he said.

Christie said that as he moved through life, and to different communities, he learned “how crucial support in the community is.” Supporting each other within a community is especially important now, he said “when we are so divisive nationally.”

Rosenwaks agreed, recounting a childhood experience when being singled out because he ate kosher meals in school was painful for him. “We need to treat everyone the same way,” he said, and work together against antisemitism and racism.

Selectwomen

The two selectwomen candidates spoke about their experience in government and business, with Moore currently sitting on the Board of Selectwomen and Wistreich on the Planning and Zoning Commission and formerly on the Zoning Board of Appeals. 

“Having a front seat to land use in the town has been a great privilege,” Wistreich said, calling herself  “a team player.”  Moore said, “if we’re going to get things done in Westport, we have to talk to each other.”

Closing

Without any questions taken from the audience, the forum drew to a close with each of the first selectman candidates invited to give some concluding remarks. “The right experience matters to lead the town,” Christie said, referring to his own experience on the Board of Education and his running mate’s experience on land use boards and as a professional land use consultant. “With Amy as a land use expert we have the leadership, the experience for what the town needs at this moment,” he said.

Rosenwaks said he is “proud to be representing the people as the town’s first Independent Party candidate.”

“Experience does matter,” O’Day said, citing his 40 years as a finance officer, and several positions on town boards and commissions. “I know how to get things done,” he said.