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.
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.”