There were no fireworks or personal attacks at today’s selectman’s debate.
David Rosenwaks, Kevin Christie and Don O’Day — the 3 candidates for first selectman — and Amy Wistreich and Andrea Moore, running mates of the latter two — agreed on the need for proactive planning and collaboration.
All cited their experience, in a variety of endeavors.
And all agreed on the need for a parking deck at the Baldwin lot.
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce event at the Westport Library drew a crowd of about 150. with more watching on livestream. They listened to calm, reasoned answers to questions from Chamber director Matthew Mandell.
From left: Kevin Christie, Amy Wistreich, David Rosenwaks, Andrea Moore, Don O’Day, moderator Matthew Mandell.
Differences were in emphasis, not policy. O’Day and Moore — running on the Republican ticket — cited their managerial experience, both professionally and on 2 school building committees and as current 2nd selectwoman, respectively.
Democrats Christie and Wistreich noted their work sitting on 2 elected boards — Education and the Planning & Zoning Commission, respectively.
Rosenwaks cited his Independent Party endorsement, being beholden to neither party.
There was some daylight between them regarding Westport’s relationship with the state Department of Transportation’s involvement in the Post Road project, the Cribari Bridge and a new maintenance facility on the Sherwood Island Connector.
Christie noted the Democrats’ relationships with the governing party in Hartford. O’Day and Rosenwaks countered with their abilities to work across the aisle.
Both Rosenwaks and Wistreich said that on “Day 1,” their administrations would hold meetings with stakeholders in DOT projects.
David Rosenwaks
All agreed that the $400 million-plus capital plan is not set in stone. O’Day was the only candidate to set priorities — Coleytown Elementary School and the Longshore clubhouse and Inn — while Wistreich floated the idea of a townwide facilities manager, to also oversee Board of Ed assets.
There was agreement on the need for some kind of development in Saugatuck — though not at the scale proposed by ROAN Ventures for the ill-fated Hamlet project — and the importance of meetings with the developer (who has options on the property),
Wistreich called it “a generational project that will transform this town forever. And Westport is not for sale.”
Moore agreed with her rival for second selectwoman. “This is such an emotional project. If we don’t talk, and get the grown-ups in the room together, we will continue to get nothing done.”
Kevin Christie and Amy Wistreich.
Rosenwaks cited Darien as an example of a public/private partnership that works for development, while O’Day said he preferred private development in Saugatuck.
In the area of state mandates for affordable housing, all agreed on the need for solutions. They praised State Representative Jonathan Steinberg for voting against HB 5002, which would have taken local control away from zoning near transportation hubs. They also hailed Westport’s Affordable Housing Fund (though, as Moore noted, its current $1.5 million will not go far).
Christie said, “We want more control — and credit for what we’re doing.”
The only applause in the 90-minute session came during a discussion of downtown parking, when Wistreich said, “It’s time to stop taking about Parker Harding, and do something.”
Andrea Moore and Don O’Day.
All the candidates had previously voiced support for a parking deck, and urged action by the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee. Christie advocated for businesses to be represented on that body. Moore noted that some had been on it yet not participated, but that Massimo Tullio, owner of Massi Co, has just been added.
The final questions were about the Community Gardens, and climate change.
O’Day said that Parks & Recreation director Erik Barbieri is working on a garden site, and that as first selectman he would support the director.
Christie said, “Amy and I would have brought everyone together, at the beginning. That would have saved a lot of time.”
As for sea rise, flood mitigation and other environmental concerns, O’Day noted, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” Data, he said, would lead to “action, and an embrace of science.”
Part of the debate crowd at the Westport Library. (All photos/Dan Woog)
I’m completely flabbergasted that in 2025 we are still using the term selectman . Select person or something akin to that would be much more appropriate.
Rob
Rob: Did you read the headline? I use “selectman” when referring to the candidates for the top job (all men), “selectwoman” when referring to those for the second spot (all women). The current board includes 3 women; I have always called them (as they call themselves) the Board of Selectwomen. Both are much nicer than the clunkier “selectpersons,” which I’ll use if I have to.
I prefer Select Board, myself. But that would take a revision to the Town Charter.
How about MFIC?😜🇺🇸
I thought this non-issue was thoroughly hashed out and resolved in an earlier addition of “The Blog.” Wasn’t the consensus reached that it would be socially “just” simply to refer to them as “Selected” instead of Selectman or Selectwoman? Why is it that animals don’t need to be differentiated by gender? A dog is just a dog. Same for the cat. Who do we humans think we are, special? Only if you’re from Westport (and went to Staples).
A considerable amount of information – quantitative and qualitative – about climate change and its consequences in coastal Connecticut has been amassed. For example, see The Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation at CIRCA.uconn.edu. We do not need to wait for more data to create an action plan and I hope whoever is elected will make creating and enacting one a priority.
Isn’t this nomenclature thing a bunch of crap? Don’t we, generally refer to our species as “mankind” and all know exactly what, without chauvinism, we mean.
enough woke already!
The term most people now use is “humankind.” (And, granted, that still has the word “man” in it.) It’s part of the way language evolves. “Postal carrier,” not “mailman.” “Firefighter,” not “fireman.” Not hard, but important.
Doesn’t work Dan although I do think you’re trying. “Human” is still malecentric because it has the sexist root “man” in it. There are a couple of options that don’t favor males; the first would be just to call them “kind” which as a double entendre also imposes expectations on them for civilized behavior (which sets a high bar – beware the tyranny of low expectations). The second would be to call them “Hu” but that may translate into a demeaning term in another language. How about “Hey HU!!!” The risk is that the Thant family (remember U Thant, the UN Secretary General back in the 60’s? I met him at a party over at Jack Backiel’s house – Ruth Steinkraus was my date – before she dumped me for that Cohen dude) may take offense.
U Thant’s daughter lives in Westport. Of course there’s a connection.
We need to develop a Westport-centric version of the Kevin Bacon game. I nominate Jack Backiel to lead the task force.
I am one degree separated from Kevin Bacon himself.
In 1978 I worked with Staples graduate Sean Cunningham on the great soccer film “Manny’s Orphans.” One of the Westport kids in the cast was Ari Lehman. He went on to appear in “Friday the 13th” with … Kevin Bacon.
Two degrees here. My mom dated Sean Cunningham at Staples.
I was a lackluster student in college (spent several semesters on double-secret probation) but my transcript and associated exploits served as the basis for the Tim Matheson character of “Otter” in the movie “National Lampoon’s Animal House.” This film classic also marked the cinematic debut of Kevin Bacon in the role of Chip Dillard.
Another strong Westport-Kevin Bacon connection: one of his earliest starring roles was in the 1980 Pulitzer Prize-finalist play, “Album,” written by David Rimmer, a close college friend of Dick Sandhaus and future husband of Ellen Sandhaus.
Note Kevin Bacon:
https://youtu.be/DZN4r8p6KbU
My sense is that I agree with Amy Wistriech on almost all the issues and was especially pleased to learn she may promote a Town wide, including the schools, maintenance operation. Our BoE does a good job with education, but performs poorly as to maintenance and new construction. Amy also appears forceful about getting the beauty of the river “back” at Parker Harding and may be the most aggressive in seeking a well designed approach to Saugatuck. I also note that, while possibly the fault of Selectwoman Tooker, Andrea Moore appears to have had little impact as the present Second Selectwoman. I am sure Amy Wistreich will make far greater contributions if elected with Kevin Christie.
I was not at the debate but this was a quote from the article from our current second select person, Andrea Moore, “ If we don’t talk, and get the grown-ups in the room together, we will continue to get nothing done.” I think this implies that other people are the children? Who are these children the public the merchants people that don’t agree with you? These are the kind of subtle statements that are made that are not collaborative and show no lack of listening skills and transparency.