The 2025 election is history.
There was drama: 3rd-party, petitioning and write-in candidates. Three current or recent Democrats, endorsed by 3 different parties. Some intra-party scuffling. A few sharp elbows thrown, publicly and behind the scenes.
But the day after — yesterday — was quite different. Comments made, publicly and privately, were gracious and warm.
Those on the losing end congratulated the winners, and wished them well. Winners thanked losers for stepping up, and advocating well for their issues. (For a few comments from both sides, click here and here.)
Bipartisanship at its best: Last night, after a long Board of Finance meeting, elected officials and town finance director Gary Conrad headed to Spotted Horse to celebrate the end of chair Lee Caney’s 16 years of service. They also toasted Mike Keller, who served 1 term. 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker toasted both.
That’s not always the way things go after an election. Just look at Washington.
Westport is not Washington.
But recently — not necessarily in the campaign, but around several issues leading up to it — we’ve acted at times like it is.
So let’s all of us — public officials and private citizens — take this post-election period as a time to re-set.
Let’s follow yesterday’s lead, of candidates on both sides.
Let’s pledge to address our differences civilly.
Let’s talk calmly about options and alternatives before and during the decision-making process — not yell throughout, and continue yelling after.
Let’s enter dialogues and debates with the mindset that we all want what’s best for Westport — today, and tomorrow.
We will not always agree on what “best” means. But collaboration and compromise — 2 words missing for a while in the capital, and lately in this town — are not dirty words.
In fact, they’re the basis of democracy.
From left: 1st selectman hopefuls Kevin Christie, David Rosenwaks and Don O’Day, with former 1st selectman Jim Marpe, at Wakeman Town Farm’s Harvest Fest. (Photos/Dan Woog)
So: Hail to the victors. Thanks to the vanquished.
We need all of you.
And you need all of us.
See you November 17 at Town Hall, for the swearing-in ceremony of our new selectpersons, boards and RTM.