Editor’s note: this is part four in a series about the candidates running to serve on the RTM. We covered District 1 Monday, District 2 Tuesday and District 3 yesterday.

WESTPORT–The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) is the Town of Westport’s legislative body.

The RTM’s responsibilities include approving all town expenditures of over $20,000, passing ordinances, reviewing changes to town property and reviewing changes in zoning regulations, among others.

Westport is divided into nine districts, each with a similar number of residents. In odd years, like 2025, each district votes for four members of the RTM.

This year, four districts are uncontested–there are four candidates for the four slots.

However, more than four people are vying for spots in five districts, Districts 1 through 4 and District 9.

This week, Westport Journal will publish the answers that each of the candidates in contested districts submitted last week, when asked the question: 

Given the opportunity, how will you apply your experience and enthusiasm to best serve the members of your district?

Responses appear in the same order that District 4 candidate names will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot.

District 4:

• Andrew Colabella
• Clarence Hayes
• Jeffrey Wieser
• Victoria Wylie
• Charles Lucas

Andrew Colabella

As a lifelong Westport resident and RTM member, my commitment has always been to listen to residents, safeguarding Westport’s natural beauty, maintain infrastructure, & ensure that government remains transparent & accountable.  Over the years, I’ve worked diligently to protect open spaces, draft & pass legislation, & advocate for deep dive financial analytics into municipal costs. 

I’ve had the privilege of hands-on involvement in various matters, such as collaborating with neighbors to preserve landmarks and recreational spaces, food drives, PAL & VFW fundraising events, weekend trash picks & fall tulip/daffodil plantings, championing efforts to honor community members who made significant contributions, & ensuring that residents’ voices are heard in matters before the RTM, even when I disagree. I believe that public service is not about titles but about responsiveness, respect, & delivering results.

My enthusiasm stems from a deep pride in Westport’s history and a resolute determination to preserve its vibrant & welcoming charm for all. The little coincidences & stories shared by primary sources offer a profound glimpse into Westport’s past & present, serving as a valuable foundation for nurturing a strong love for the town. I will continue to apply my experience by fostering consensus across diverse viewpoints, upholding transparency in our town government, & working tirelessly on the issues that matter most—restoring, revitalizing, & developing what Westport has to offer, benefiting all residents. 

Above all, I will serve steadfast & be an approachable advocate for the members of my district, ensuring concerns are represented & their trust in local government is well-placed, with a proven track record of inclusive direct action. 

Clarence Hayes

I do the hard work: researching every issue, challenging waste, and listening to my constituents.

Here’s my promise:

• Make your tax dollars count. Challenge spending driven by feelings, not facts; reject requests lacking full analysis of alternatives or long-term cost projections.
• Strengthen financial planning. Lead and assist the Selectman and Board of Finance to improve budgeting—achieving efficiency today while preparing for the next recession.
• Plan for the future. Advance actionable strategies for land use, transportation, parking, recreational facilities, and infrastructure. Stop making short-term decisions while paying for studies that gather dust.
• Lead on the environment. Cut CO₂ emissions, defend against flooding, protect tree cover, and safeguard clean water.
• Listen. I will issue a District 4 newsletter and use online polling so your voice shapes my votes.

Westport is a great place to live. But I want to make it even better. I want my grandkids at Kings Highway Elementary to inherit a Town where their children will one day look back with gratitude for what we built together.

Jeffrey Wieser

As an RTM member for the past 9 terms, I have tried to be responsive to the needs of my constituents. As a result, with my D4 colleagues, I led the charge on the plastic bag ban, and I have supported other resident – led initiatives, without making any personal agenda override the needs of constituents. 

Additionally, as a duty I feel important, during my time on the RTM, the tax rate as represented by the mill rate increased less than 1% (~0.7%) annually, and this represents the care Westport pays – and I pay – to its taxpayers. 

As Moderator for the past two terms, I have sought to keep the RTM discussions fair and appropriate to the business of the RTM. In the administrative aspect of this role I strive to make our meetings conducive to the participation of a wider audience of prospective RTM members and spectators at our meetings. I enjoy service on the RTM and think it is a wonderful non-partisan legislative body.

jwieser@westportct.gov

Victoria Wylie

As a native Westporter, I’ve been educated by our teachers, protected by our police and enjoyed our parks and beaches. Westport is a beautiful, safe, New England town and I want to preserve it for future generations.

Working in the service industry, I have a unique perspective of Westport, where I get to speak with people from all walks of life, from CFOs of billion-dollar corporations, to real estate developers, oil tycoons, historic preservationists, authors, lawyers, teachers, doctors, cops, actors, Democrats, Republicans, children telling me about their school days, to co-workers telling me about their native countries as (I try) to practice Spanish with them. What I’ve learned from those conversations is that the concerns of other Westporters are the same as mine: high-density housing changing our landscape, grid-locked traffic overflowing our streets, schools’ education policies and safety, rising crime (notice all those sirens lately?), litter on our streets, flood prevention and mitigation, historical and green space not being protected, etc.

Many of these issues are connected. For example, The Hamlet at Saugatuck development and the historic Cribari Bridge restoration and/or replacement will have a major effect on Westport’s beauty, traffic and quality of life, particularly on District 4’s main artery, Greens Farms Rd., which is already being overwhelmed with I-95 traffic overflow. As a “District 4ian”, I have a personal interest in making sure that whatever changes are coming, that they are what’s best for our neighborhood and our town.

Charles Lucas

Westport shaped me. I was born and raised here, educated in our public schools, and now I’m raising my own family just down the road from where I helped build the Compo Beach playground as a kid. This town isn’t just where I live — it’s who I am.

Professionally, I’ve spent the past 15 years helping governments and companies navigate the bond market. I bring that same discipline and long-term thinking to local issues. When a recent development threatened neighborhood wetlands, I helped secure 10,000 sq ft of preserved land — a small but meaningful win for the environment and for residents.

If elected to the RTM, I’ll focus on preserving the character of our neighborhoods, protecting public safety, and ensuring that growth is supported by infrastructure — not just ambition. I’ll also work to make our local government more transparent, accessible, and forward-thinking.

Too often, residents feel like their voices don’t lead to action. I want to change that — not by talking more, but by helping Westport communicate better. That means modern tools for public feedback, clearer reporting on town decisions, and a commitment to raising the level of civic conversation.

I’m not running for the microphone. I’m running to move Westport forward — with clarity, compassion, and common sense.