Right now, Westport is led by a Board of Selectwomen. Since 2021 — and for the first time in town history — the 3 members are all female.
From left: Jen Tooker, Candice Savin, Andrea Moore — our 1st, 3rd and 2nd selectwomen, respectively. (Photo/Dan Woog)
In November, we’ll have a new 1st selectman. All 3 candidates for the top spot are males.
But 2 of the men running — Don O’Day and Kevin Christie — are joined on the ticket by women (Andrea Moore and Amy Wistreich, respectively). David Rosenwaks is on the ballot without a running mate.
Which puts a blogger like me in a difficult position.
What’s the best way to describe the job they’re all running for?
It’s a bit 1950s-ish to call it the “Board of Selectmen,” when there are women in the race.
But “Board of Selectpersons” or “Board of Selectpeople” is a mouthful. Plus, it sounds like a mandate from the Grammar Police.
2025 candidates (from left): Democrats Kevin Christie and Amy Wistreich; Independent David Rosenwaks; Republicans Andrea Moore and Don O’Day.
For a few weeks now, I’ve equivocated.
I’ve called it the Board of Selectpersons (or Selectpeople). Someone suggested “Board of Selectmen/women.” I’ve tried various ways to avoid calling it anything, like “the town’s executive branch.” I haven’t been happy with any of those references.
Finally, I’ve come up with a solution. And it’s as simple as, um, 1-2-3.
From now on, I will call it the “Select Board.”
I know that’s not official. But how different is it from calling the Westport Weston Family YMCA just “the Y”?
Making the change official — and why not? — will take some doing, of course.
It might need a revision to the Town Charter, and perhaps approval by a couple of town bodies.
So it sounds like a job for the next Select Board.
Whoever they are.
In 2 months, this will need updating.
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