Editor’s note: following are opinions submitted by Westporters Evelyn Stevens and Melissa Carnahan.

Reason over rhetoric: the case for Don O’Day

“I believe in the science.” That was Don O’Day’s answer at the Sustainable Westport debate when asked how he differs from the national Republican Party. It’s a line to remember when stepping into the voting booth this year. Don believes in the science, and now I challenge Westporters to do the same: think critically, weigh evidence, and vote with reason over rhetoric. 

I am a Staples alum and recent Tulane graduate, and I have spent the last few weeks working closely with the O’Day team. Through firsthand experience, I can say confidently that Don is the only first selectman candidate I trust to successfully manage Westport. But you don’t need to take my word for it. If you understand Don’s platform, his professional experience and you trust facts, data, and science, you are inevitably bound to be an O’Day supporter. 

First, I admire the other candidates’ courage to immerse themselves in a town they’ve called home for less than a decade. That kind of commitment takes conviction and genuine enthusiasm. But I urge all voters to look at the facts. Don understands this town inside out, knowledge earned through years of involvement in Westport’s committees and boards. Don can name all 17 department heads that report directly to the first selectman because he has spent enough time learning the ins and outs of our local government. He breaks down complex fiscal decisions in a way that even someone like me, a philosophy major, can understand. When the current first selectman’s term neared its end, he didn’t run for ego or applause; he’d already had a long, successful career managing people and finances at Citibank, where he worked directly with the U.S. Department of Justice. Don approached his candidacy with the same scientific, objective mindset he’s applied throughout his career — by assessing his record and concluding, through that same data-driven lens, that he has the right skills to maintain and strengthen Westport. 

I now speak directly to Westport Democrats and Independents: I hear you, Don hears you, and his campaign team understands your concerns. As a young, open-minded recent graduate, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began this internship. I told myself that working in politics doesn’t mean agreeing with your candidate on everything, and I approached the campaign with some skepticism. But it took a single speech on a hot day in September to dissolve my doubts. I observed Don tell it like it is, regardless of which side of the aisle his words may land. In a time when the only thing that most Americans can agree on is that we disagree on everything, let Don be the one to unite Westporters around reason, evidence, and results. One conversation is all it takes to realize that this even-tempered, well-spoken, and affable man is who you want in Town Hall, balancing Westporters’ competing demands and ultimately arriving at the decisions that make the most sense. 

At the end of the day, it comes down to this: do you believe in the science? Let this election — and your decision in it — be guided by facts, data points, and concrete evidence. We know all three of the candidates care deeply about this town. But we also know that Don has managed large teams at a high level with massive financial responsibility for 36 years, and has been elected and reelected to town committees and boards for the past 13years. Let’s rise above the partisanship that has poisoned national politics and choose someone who leads with reason, not rhetoric. Learn the facts. Believe in the science. Then vote.

Evelyn Stevens
Compo Road North
Westport

With O’Day and Moore, we all win!

I have lived in Westport for over 24 years and it has been a wonderful place to live and raise our two daughters. I have also been a secondary social studies and science research teacher for the past 33 years in Westchester County, in a town that is a smaller version of Westport. 

I am amazed and saddened by the level of vitriol in both national and local politics, which is why I stand firmly behind Don O’Day and Andrea Moore in their bid for First and Second Selectmen in the upcoming election. 

The idea of coming together as a Unity ticket holds great appeal and much promise in my eyes. Don is a lifelong Democrat who is now Unaffiliated and Andrea is a Republican. They both want what is best for Westport and have been working tirelessly for years to achieve this goal. I have watched Don as a member and Chair of the Board of Education work to better the programs in the Westport Public Schools. I have volunteered with Andrea for almost 20 years as a parent in the community. She is a product of this amazing town and wants to continue to do the good work for us all. 

While they may be registered to different parties, the goal is the same, how to better Westport for us all. I can’t imagine anyone in town who couldn’t stand behind that kind of work and commitment. Please consider voting for O’Day and Moore, a Unity ticket for the benefit of all in our town of Westport.

Melissa Carnahan
Spicer Road
Westport