Representative Town Meeting member Gail Coykendall is the most recent graduate of The Campaign School at Yale University.
For 30 years the nonpartisan, issue-neutral training program has worked to train people — primarily women — to run for office and manage political campaigns.
The Campaign School has a strong Westport influence. Pat Hendrickson was a co-founder and former president. Among its graduates: former 1st selectwoman Jen Tooker, State Senator Ceci Maher, State Representative Dominique Johnson, former State Senator Toni Boucher, Board of Finance members Allyson Stollenwerck and Elaine Whitney, and Democratic Town Committee chair Michelle Mechanic. Nationally known alumni include Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Representative Rosa De Lauro, and former Representative Gabby Giffords.
Today, Coykendall reflects on the lessons — and importance — of her recent week at The Campaign School.
I was honored to be one of 75 women and 2 men selected to attend the Campaign School at Yale last week. The experience was eye‑opening, challenging and energizing.
Early on, students were asked to answer a simple but profound question: Why are you a proud Republican or Democrat?
That question gave me pause. I told the program’s director I wasn’t sure where I fit.
On the RTM we serve as a non‑partisan body focused on collaboration, not party labels. I also wasn’t sure how my background in nursing fit.
What I learned is that the very skills I used every day in nursing —communication, teamwork, problem‑solving — are exactly what our state and national politics desperately need.
As the director reminded me, democracy only thrives when people can discuss, debate and negotiate. That message shaped my biggest takeaway: Change starts with us, and our personal politics often cross party lines. There is much we all agree on.
One person at a time, we can counter the rise of single‑party voting and encourage a more balanced, cooperative approach to governing that focuses on the needs of constituents.
The New York Times once described the course as “sadistically intensive.” That description is well earned.
We dove into leadership, campaign strategy, budgeting, fundraising, media, and the growing importance of campaign security.
Each evening we worked late into the night on group case studies, culminating in a mock‑campaign presentation judged by Betsey Ankney (former campaign manager for Nikki Haley) and Allida Black (special advisor to former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton).
My commitment remains focused on Westport’s needs: responsible fiscal management, strong schools, and thoughtful development. We must balance state housing mandates with the realities of our local infrastructure.
My top concern is the strain on our roads, particularly as large developments move forward. Many residents are unaware of the 157 new units coming to Hiawatha Lane — and the significant traffic impact this will bring near the Saugatuck train station.
These pressures stem from state legislation, which can be out of step with the needs and resources of individual towns. New proposed legislation continues to push for increased density, even in our cherished downtown.
Many residents feel this isn’t what they signed up for. I share that concern. This is why it’s essential that Westport has a strong, informed voice in Hartford.
While I’ve been encouraged to run for higher office now, I plan to wait. My priority is to ensure more Westporters understand what is happening at the state level, and how it affects our daily lives.
We all have a role to play in urging legislators to consider traffic, transit and infrastructure before adding more cars to already overburdened roads.
Together, we can protect the character of Westport while we advocate for smarter, more balanced policies.
(Click here for a News 12 story on The Campaign School.)
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