After 16 years, Westport will have a new representative in Hartford.
CT Mirror broke the story yesterday that Jonathan Steinberg — the 1974 Staples High School graduate, who has represented the 136th District for 8 terms — will not seek re-election to the General Assembly’s House of Representatives.
State Representative Jonathan Steinberg
Steinberg said that he told fellow Democrats in Westport of his plans months ago. Until the online service asked though, he said he had “been able to avoid it being broadcast across the globe.”
The news broke when Matthew Mandell — a Representative Town Meeting member, and executive director of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce — registered to run for the seat on Wednesday.
“It’s been a long time,” Steinberg said. “I think I’ve had a good run … My wife retired in October. She’s happily retired at home. I’ll be 70 in a few weeks. Seems like the right time.”
Steinberg’s current term ends next January.
Mandell told “06880” he will make a formal announcement of his candidacy soon.
Click here for the full CT Mirror story.
Matthew Mandell
Thanks John for your service to the town of Westport as our state rep
As the Chair of the Westport Dems, I cannot thank Representative Steinberg enough for his years of devoted service. Assisting on his last two campaigns have been some of the happiest and memorable times in my service to the Party. Jonathan’s shoes are tough to fill.
In a community with such an abundance of talent, I am eager to see who comes forward to run for this seat. Since this is a statewide race, the Westport DTC’s nominating committee will not play a role in recommending a candidate. I look forward to hosting various forums for the candidates so our DTC and the Democrats in Westport can make an informed decision as to who will join our Hartford Delegation.
This is great news!
I would like to clarify my prior comment about this being great news. I have nothing against Jonathan Steinberg but it’s time for a change and I am really happy that Mathew Mandell is going to run. Mathew Mandell will give our representation a new energy and perspective (assuming he is nominated and wins the next election.)
Thank you Jonathan for your service to our community both at the state level and local level as a former RTM member and Deputy Moderator.
I am very disappointed that Jonathan, and his fellow Democratic Representatives Ceci Mahar and Dominique Johnson all voted for this lousy housing bill, passed in special session without minority party debate.
I have yet to hear a prominent town Democrat speak out against this vote. Make no mistake, Hartford is run, and has ben run by Democratic Majority in both the House and Senate the past 25 years plus.
Westport should be applauded, not punished with more unattainable affordable housing mandates that have come from 8-30g and the current Democratic Housing Bill, now law.
My two cents. Jonathan wishing health and enjoyment is your retirement. I always enjoy our debates, sometimes heated, always fair.
Nobody cares what you think, Jimmy.
Do you want to speak out about an ICE agent murdering someone in Minneapolis?
How about the US running Venezuela for the time being? We’re back into the nation building business?
Maybe you should speak out about one idiot’s designs on Greenland? Support or oppose?
How about attacks on the press and academic freedom? Speak out about those, since you are such a loyal member of the GOP.
We’re not minting pennies any more. Your two cents have no value to any of us.
Wishing you health and enjoyment.
I very seldom agree with Jimmy Izzo, but in this instance I have to say I could not agree more, that Johnson, Maher, and Steinberg did not represent the majority in Westport, voting for a terrible housing bill. It is a disaster.
I doubt they will be seeing support from many Westporters in the future.
Sadly Governor Lamont who had the opportunity to shut the bill down, also did nothing.
Very very disappointing.
Towns should control the zoning of what, where, and how many, and ARB, should control the physical appearances of “affordable housing”.
If towns do not want cheaply built prison like structures, we should be able to say no !
This bill has made that far more difficult.
On another note, the town should have purchased the Red Barn when it had the chance. It was cents on the dollar and building an affordable housing development there would have been very helpful to a town plan.
Ciara we do agree on a lot of things…it’s the ones we disagree on…we get spirited…and it’s all good!…always appreciate our offline conversations as well.
Good luck to you and your team with your new downtown ventures.
And I very seldom agree with Ciara, but here we are!!! This calls for a toast, is it a full moon? ❤️
8-30g, rather than correcting its unintended consequences, and its win-win approach of developers gaining and residents losing, it only adds to overdevelopment, no local control or say, and points are only good for 7 years. Further, senior housing units only count as half a point!!
Saying that our seniors only count as half a point is ridiculous. Further, all the residents who are benefiting from 8-30g and do not count, but are paying and occupying those units do not count is completely disgraceful.
They pay, they benefit, they count!
36 years to amend and change the law, instead we add HB8002…we all left the city to get away from city.
While we could have bought Red Barn, we also missed out on 79 Riverside, Walgreens, Steinway Building, and other parcels.
Town owns, town control.
Thank you Ciara 😊nailed it. See ya later ❤️
I can remember Jonathan Steinberg’s service to our town stretching back over two decades to his time on the RTM. His steady leadership, dependability and wisdom have made him a pillar of our community. I found his proposed solutions to issues ranging from teachers’ pensions to energy efficiency to be innovative and worthwhile. I also discovered what a great mentor he was to State Senator Will Haskell when I read 100,000 Bosses. Thank you for your dedication to our town and our wellbeing, Jonathan!
I will be very interested to see who steps up to run for this position during this pivotal time. We have some folks in town who have represented Westport on key boards who have shown themselves to be strong, effective leaders addressing issues in the national spotlight. I’m looking forward to a robust selection process! And thanks, again, Jonathan, for bringing us this far.
Jonathan and I had our disagreements over the years. At its core, my argument was that the Hartford system is deeply flawed; his response was that it is the only system we have. To his great credit, Jonathan chose to fight from within that system—for Westport, for Connecticut, and against backroom deals—on issues ranging from health care, transportation, utility services, and even to housing in previous years.
In the end, that fight took its toll. But it did so honorably.
Whoever follows him will have a hard act to follow. Hartford has always welcomed newcomers: the system introduces itself quickly, while it often takes years—if ever—for real, tangible results to emerge. Jonathan, at least, tried. And in important cases, he succeeded, with notable recent legislation such as Take Back the Grit and S.B. 7. Too many don’t even make the attempt.
Thank you for your service, Jonathan. And to whoever comes next: keep fighting. Westport needs you.