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)