It was a resounding, historic victory.
Jill Dillon not only beat a pair of doom-and-gloom Board of Education candidates, with an upbeat, positive message — she did it without her name even appearing on the ballot.
Supporters had to find a line at the bottom. They had to fill in her bubble, and write her name.
But they did. And they did it in numbers so massive, her total (unofficial) count of 5,292 votes was 1.033 more than her 2 Republican opponents — combined.
The GOP message from Camilo Riano and Jamie Fitzpatrick was, essentially: Our schools are failing. Our teachers are not teaching. Our administrators are forcing their beliefs on students. Our superintendent is a groomer.
Westporters did not buy it. Turning out in record numbers for an off-year, non-statewide election, they said, essentially: Enough.
Enough of divisive rhetoric. Enough name-calling. Enough negativity.
Dillon — plus Democratic Board of Ed chair Lee Goldstein and fellow incumbent Neil Phillips, both of whom won handily (with even more votes than Dillon) — countered with fervent support for our schools.
They said, essentially: We support our superintendent, administrators, teachers, students, and fellow Board of Ed members. We are proud of our school system and its values, and of our town and its values.
The election will not solve all the problems that Westport faces. Many differences of opinion, debates and controversies lie ahead.
What there should not be — if yesterday’s election is any indication — is name-calling and negativity.
We have a great school system. It is filled with excellent administrators and teachers. They work hard every day to do their best to provide for the academic, extracurricular — and social and emotional — needs of students who face unceasing, unfathomable pressures, from the world at large, American society, and our wonderful but very demanding town.
From left: Neil Phillips, Lee Goldstein, Jill Dillon. All won election to the Board of Education yesterday.
Yesterday’s election marked a ringing affirmation of support for our school system from the thousands of parents with children in it.
But there are thousands of voters without children in our schools. They are old and young. Some have been here for decades. Some have been here for a relatively few days.
They too rejected the message of negativity and divisiveness. They too embraced positivity, progress, and faith in the direction our schools and town are heading.
The election is over. The residents have spoken.
It is time to move forward — together.
And it is time to heed the words of Jill Dillon, the newest Board of Education member, who told “06880” early this morning:
“During the campaign, I said ‘I know who I am, and who I am not.’
Today, Westporters showed who they are, and who they are not.”
I could not have said it better myself Dan. I felt the same exact way and that is why I got involved at the end of the campaign election and stood outside for 2 1/2 hours yesterday morning to get people to vote for Jill Dillon. And to have amazing leaders here who really will represent all of us in town and do it with grace and dignity shows the amazing community that lives here today. I was absolutely sick of the name calling, negativity and character assassinations that happened in the election. We are going to have to experience that enough before next year’s presidential election. Now time to get to business and resolve some big issues that are impacting many people in Westport.
Thankfully we can have some fruitful debates and know the discussions will not become personal attacks with the officials voted in yesterday!
Congratulations!!!!
There are many retired PTA Presidents still living here. All gave huge chunks of their lives to our school system and to sitting in the back of BOE meetings, sometimes knitting, sometimes doing their Holiday cards, but always ready to leap up and speak up.
Jill Dillon has taken our dedication to a much higher level by stepping “into the breach” at the last moment, and in a far more decisive and just plain mean era. I don’t know her but want to congratulate her and warmly, warmly thank her for offering herself up. And thank Darcy Hicks and Lisa Marriott for their “publicity”!
Remembering some years long past when there were divisions between voters with children in school and those without (school budget fights), I was thrilled to hear that empty nesters also stepped up for Jill and our schools.
Perhaps current school parents will return the favor and trade one field for many gardens…
I am a Jill Dillon writer-inner. Please excuse the uninformed question, but why was her name not on the ballot? Seems odd.
She was an unaffiliated voter who only got into the race in October, after the official deadline. She decided to run because she did not agree with the 2 Republican candidates’ views. By Town Charter, one political party can have only a bare majority — 4 members — of the 7-member Board of Ed. So, unless she ran (and won), one of the 2 Republicans would have been guaranteed a seat.
It was a matter of timing. My understanding is the Republican and Democratic town committees announced their respective slates around August 18th. The deadline to petition to be added to the ballot, when not officially nominated by a party, was September 6. That petition requires two statements of endorsement and a number of signatures from voters (1% of the number of votes generally cast for that office in the previous election). I think that in the time it took to figure out who Ms. Fitzgerald was, and determine that enough people across parties were unhappy with the nominated candidates to make an independent campaign worth running, the window to be added to the ballot had closed. After the October 14th BOE debate, the only option for any new campaign was to register with the Secretary of State as a write-in (that deadline being October 24th).
Congratultions to Jill, Lee, and Neil!
Jill is a rockstar! I have never witnessed such a motivated, positive, inspiring, and energetic candidate. She beat all the odds! What a powerful movement she created.
To Lee and Neil, thank you for supporting our schools, our teachers, our superintendent, and our children. You had to withstand such a storm and you remained strong and level headed. You have protected us all in your fight to keep our schools highly ranked and respected.
To the others, hate has no home here. Banning books has no home here. Attacks on our schools, teachers, superintendent and students has no home here. Gaslighting has no home here. Extremism has no home here. Conspiracy theories have no home here. Bigotry has no home here. Using a terrorist attack on Israel for votes has no home here. And finally, Moms for Liberty political propaganda has no home here.
Public orgasms are unseemly. Especially in front of the children. Take the win, go home and sleep it off.
Jeez -lose gracefully can’t you?
Relax. I’m happy Jill Dillon won. I am a product of Westport education excellence that prepared me for life in the rational world. I was just counseling Stephanie on how to handle her flatulence problem.
No need to counsel a woman of intelligence.
Your uncalled for nastiness has been duly noted and hopefully can now be ignored by all!!
Proud of our entire school system and Westport for backing them and most especially teachers!!
Well said! Congratulations to Jill, Lee and Neil for resounding win. If Camilo is so unhappy with the schools he is welcome to move to another town!
Jill Dillon’s victory is a ray of hope in the
present chaotic political climate.
Congratulations to all of the winners. It’s not about party. Common sense and civility won out.
Yes, Westporters certainly did show who they are…
“We have a great school system. It is filled with excellent administrators and teachers. They work hard every day to do their best to provide for the academic, extracurricular — and social and emotional — needs of students who face unceasing, unfathomable pressures, from the world at large, American society, and our wonderful but very demanding town.”
So. Well. Said.
To Lee, Neil and Jill: A personal thank you from me for shouldering ALL the unnecessary personal attacks. You all led campaigns with grace and civility. I know, at times, it was not easy. You not only have given our children an excellent, nationally-ranked school district in which to learn, but you’ve also given them an excellent example of how to treat others. Both are worth their weight in gold!
Bravo , and thank you Jill. And to our town, it was an AMAZING grass roots effort.
Thank you Dan for letting me know about this important election. Not having kids in the schools without 06880 I would have missed it. Thank you thank you thank you!!
Fabulous – don’t know if you have the power or the connections but this would make an amazing local or even national story – how the power of organizing and voting can make a significant impact on turning the divisiveness around – perhaps Allyson Camerata or Craig Melvin could do a piece on this
From my home in Fairfield, watching Westport lead the way….
I am so happy and so proud of the all-out effort made by the Democratic Party, Jill Dillon, and all the people who understood what was at stake in this election. Thank you to everyone who went the extra step to write in Jill’s name and who showed the world what Westport stands for. Jill Dillon – you are my hero and I know many more people who feel the same. Dan, fantastic piece this morning. You are a treasure.
As an empty nester, but long time resident with grown children, I was delighted to be able to vote for Jill Dillon.
Would be interested in hearing the RTC explain why they put forth the BofE candidates they did. Is MAGA the current mindset of the Westport RTC? Best they could do?
Yes, why is the Republican Town Committee so in thrall to Leader Joseph Sledge? Why can’t Republicans take back their party from the guy with execrable taste in candidates? Aren’t there reasonable people in the party who want to address this?
Tom, Middle of the Road Republicans have been primaried. Reagan was a RHINO!!! He wouldn’t be MAGA enough today!
What a happy outcome. Congratulations Jill, and congratulations Westport!
Amen
Let’s hear it for — DEMOCRACY!
So, to former Penn. Republican Senator Ric Santorum who said last night “democracy is no way to run a country,” [really, he said that*]
COME TO WESTPORT.
Thanks to all who ran the election process. You are key at this level of the Rule Of Law.
*https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4299354-santorum-ohio-results-pure-democracies/