Tag Archives: Andrea Moore

Andrea Moore: Life After Town Hall

Posted on January 28, 2026 | 18 comments

Andrea Moore woke up on November 5 with nothing to do.

She had not felt that way in 40 years.

After college, she had spent over 20 years in financial services, with firms like UBS, Deutsche Bank and Salomon Brothers.

Returning to Westport, the 1984 Staples High School graduate was elected to the Representative Town Meeting (RTM). Then came the Board of Finance, including vice chair. In 2021 she ran with Jen Tooker, and became 2nd selectwoman.

Moore was an active civic volunteer too. She was president of the Child’s Place preschool board, Saugatuck Elementary School PTA and Staples Tuition Grants. She served on the Westport Weston Family YMCA board of trustees, and the National Charity League’s local board.

But on Election Day nearly 3 months ago — running for re-election — she and 1st selectman candidate Don O’Day suffered a resounding defeat.

He became 3rd selectman. She became unemployed. (Though the $2,000 stipend for 2nd selectperson may not really qualify as “employment.”)

Andrea Moore, at Studio Café.

Moore was so focused on the campaign, she had not thought about next steps if she lost.

In the weeks since, she’s taken time to figure out what’s ahead.

One thing she is not thinking about is “what if…”

Republicans nationwide suffered losses in November, from the governor’s mansion to town boards and commissions. In Connecticut alone, 30 cities and towns — including Westport — shifted from Republican leadership to Democratic.

“We worked hard. But nothing Don and I did differently would have mattered,” Moore notes. “There are masses of people who never would have voted for Republicans.”

Andrea Moore and Don O’Day, on the campaign trail.

The moment the first RTM district’s results came in, Moore knew they had lost. That chapter in her life was over.

Two months earlier, Moore’s youngest of 3 daughters began her first year at Emory University. The campaign was already in full swing.

The result: Moore never had time to deal with “empty nest syndrome.” Then came the holidays, and a trip to Australia, where she had spent a year during college.

Now, in January, she has time to do things like clean closets. But she knows she’s not the type to spend “the next 30 years” doing that.

“It’s a relief to not wake up thinking about “the community gardens, and the comments on ‘06880,’” Moore admits.

Still, there are many aspects of her most recent role the misses.

The 2nd selectperson has no specific role, beyond serving on the Select Board. Tooker delegated important tasks to Moore, including vetting potential members for all boards and commissions.

There was a large backlog of appointments, after COVID. Then — in response to a challenge to the makeup of TEAM Westport — the town reassessed the membership of all appointed bodies.

“I got to meet so many people I never would have known,” Moore says. “I was able to help them find a place where they could put their talents and passions to work for the town.”

She met others too, like Y’s Men members, whose friendships she now cherishes.

Selectwomen Jen Tooker and Andrea Moore, at a Wreathing for Community event.

Another highlight: Helping raise — very quickly — the funds and volunteers to light the Cribari Bridge in 2024, when it seemed the longstanding holiday tradition would end.

Tooker and Moore had an excellent relationship, professionally and personally. Moore acted as advisor to the 1st selectwoman.

She also acted as a buffer, an ambassador, and a conduit.

The role suited her well. “I had an impact. But I wasn’t on the firing line,” Moore says.

Now — as Moore assesses her next challenge — she is moving slowly and deliberately. Whatever she does, it must align with her interests and skill sets.

She already said “yes” to the Westport Downtown Association. With her deep knowledge of the town, its operations and its people, she’s eagerly joining their board of directors.

“It’s a very good group. They put on great events,” Moore says. “They support local business, and they’re expanding.”

Andrea Moore, at the 2025 Downtown Westport Association’s  “Fashionably Westport” show. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Beyond that, she asks herself: “How can I use 20 years of relationships and knowledge in this town, to help create something good?”

One thing she has no time for: people who pat her solicitously on the arm and say, “I’m so sorry for you.”

“I hate that,” Moore says. “I was sad we lost. But now I’ve got a great opportunity to move ahead. I look forward to whatever comes next.”

(“06880” regularly covers town politics — and the people in it. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!) 

 

18 Comments

Posted in Categories, Local politics, YMCA

Tagged , , ,

“Where We Stand”: Selectman Candidates Offer Final Messages To Voters

Posted on October 27, 2025 | 22 comments

An informed electorate is the greatest bulwark of democracy.

Westporters understand this is a very important election. “06880” is doing our part, to help Westporters understand candidates’ perspectives on a variety of issues.

Once a week, between now and Election Day, we’ve asked the men and women running for 3 important boards — Selectmen/women, Planning & Zoning, and Education — one specific question.

We’ve printed their responses verbatim.

This week’s question — the final one in this series — for the Board of Selectmen/women is:

This is your chance to send your message to Westport voters – to seal the deal. What do you want them to know about you, your plans, and yourselves? Go for it!

==================================================

Democratic Party-endorsed candidates Kevin Christie and Amy Wistreich say:

Over the past few months we’ve knocked on doors, talked with voters, and met neighbors at community events and coffee chats. What we’ve heard from Westporters is clear. People want three things from their next leaders:

  1. A clear vision for Westport,
  2. A thoughtful plan that reflects the needs and priorities of the community, and
  3. The proven ability to execute and get things done the right way.

That is exactly what Amy and I bring to Westport.

 

Kevin Christie and Amy Wistreich.

Vision

We will be leaders and advocates for all Westporters, listening carefully, communicating clearly, and representing the entire community.

Our vision is a Westport that continues to lead in fiscal discipline, education, quality of life, and environmental sustainability. Imagine a Westport where local businesses thrive and downtown parking is finally resolved, where there are more opportunities for seniors, teachers, and first responders to live in the town they love, where Saugatuck has development that works for Westporters, and where kids can safely walk or bike to school.

We see a town that protects its shoreline, open spaces, and trees, not just for today but for generations to come. We see a government that is open, transparent, and inclusive, where every Westporter feels heard and respected.

That is our vision, because leadership means more than managing what is in front of us. It is about shaping what comes next.

Planning

Vision only matters if it is matched with disciplined, collaborative planning. We will manage with fiscal responsibility and transparency, ensuring that Westport’s half-billion-dollar capital forecast reflects community priorities, not wish lists.

We will break the cycle of “study and shelve” spending by setting clear priorities, relying on experts, and remaining accountable. We will protect Westport’s AAA bond rating through long-term planning, not short-term fixes.

We will work with state and federal partners, including the Department of Transportation and our Westport delegation in Hartford, to secure funding and move long-delayed projects forward. Westport deserves leaders who pick up the phone (unlike the DOT maintenance facility project), build relationships, and turn partnerships into results.

We will plan responsibly by supporting smart development that protects our environment and expands housing options for the people who make our town work. We will strengthen local businesses, simplify the permitting process, and ensure downtown and Saugatuck remain thriving economic and cultural centers.

That is what thoughtful, community-driven planning looks like.

Execution

Great plans only matter if you can deliver. Nothing gets done without teamwork.

With more than 15 years of professional experience in finance, investment banking and strategy at IBM, Merrill Lynch, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and the Madison Square Garden Company, I have successfully led teams and executed complex transactions amounting to more than 80 times the value of the town’s current $500 million list of capital projects.

Amy’s public service on the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning & Zoning Commission, along with professional experience in land use, architecture and construction, means she knows how to ask the right questions, evaluate details, and move projects forward.

Our combination of experience is unmatched.

We will prioritize finishing Long Lots/Stepping Stones on time and on budget, completing a practical downtown redesign that improves safety and parking, addressing flooding and climate resilience, and creating a town-wide plan for maintaining athletic fields, sidewalks, and public spaces.

We will turn plans into action through collaboration, transparency and accountability.

Westport is special because of the people in our community. Amy and I are proud Democrats and proud Westporters. We have the vision, the plan, and the proven experience to execute, and with you we can get things done together.

==================================================

Republican Party-endorsed candidates Don O’Day and Andrea Moore say:

Westport is about to hire its next leadership team, and experience matters, particularly on day one.

Since July, Andrea Moore and I have had the privilege of meeting thousands of you, listening to your hopes for Westport, and sharing a simple truth: Leadership is about more than hearing your concerns. It is about having the proven ability to act on them. It is about standing tall and taking a stand for the greater good of our town.

The O’Day Moore team does just that.

Andrea Moore and Don O’Day.

Let me tell you about Andrea Moore.

Andrea is Westport’s current second selectwoman, and has been my superpower in this race. A lifelong Westporter, she has served at every level of community leadership, from senior PTA roles to vice chair of the Board of Finance and as a trustee of the Westport Weston Family YMCA.

In her more than 20-year financial services career, she led complex teams and made tough decisions. In her current role, she has appointed nearly 100 residents to boards and commissions, ensuring Westport’s government is filled with talented, civic-minded volunteers. She knows our people. She knows our process. She knows how to get things done.

No one knows Westport more than Andrea Moore, and no one is more ready to keep leading it forward.

My story in Westport began 31 years ago, when my wife Toni and I stretched to buy a home here and raise our 3 sons. Professionally I spent 35 years in financial management at Citi, including as a chief financial officer in our residential lending business. I have led organizations larger than Westport’s municipal workforce. Managing complex teams and budgets is not new to me. It is what I do.

Westport has regularly placed its trust in me. I was twice elected to the Board of Education, and was chair for 4 years.

I led our schools through the 2008 to 2010 financial crisis. When districts nationwide were slashing budgets, I led with clarity, transparency and precision — cutting where we could and protecting what mattered most.

Later, when Coleytown Middle School was shuttered, I was asked to lead the rebuilding effort. I communicated clearly at every step, earning broad praise for transparency and results.

Today, as a member of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) and Long Lots School Building Committee, I led a plan for a new school that earned unanimous approval across every board, including Planning & Zoning.

Andrea and I have been tested, and we have delivered.

So why O’Day/Moore?

Because Westport is choosing between those who have already led this town through crisis, budgets, rebuilding and complex governance, and those who have not.

Listening is essential. But leadership means deciding, especially when 2 groups want opposite things. If you avoid criticism by avoiding decisions, you are not leading — you are taking a poll.

We will always listen and we will lead, anchored in facts, transparency.

Our Immediate Priorities:

  1. Fix infrastructure now, including a solution for Coleytown Elementary, downtown improvements, and upgrades at Longshore.
  2. Protect Saugatuck with responsible development, supporting scaled, reasonable projects instead of a massive housing plan without full Planning & Zoning oversight.
  3. Make Westport safer and easier to get around, with more sidewalks, marked bike lanes, better enforcement including cameras, and smart traffic light timing.

Andrea and I are ready to serve. Westport deserves leadership with a proven record of solving problems, managing teams, rebuilding schools, balancing budgets, and earning town-wide trust.

Experience matters, especially on day one.

We ask for your support, your confidence, and your vote.

Thank you for your kindness throughout this journey. We look forward to leading Westport forward.

==================================================

Independent Party-endorsed candidate David Rosenwaks says:

The inspiration behind my decision to enter the first selectman race comes from a simple belief: Westport deserves a different kind of leadership. Leadership that’s independent, inclusive, and grounded in collaboration.

What truly sets me apart are the values I live by every day — outreach, listening, empathy and inclusion. My goal is to unite our shared vision for Westport and work together to respect the heritage that got us to this point, while also enhancing the assets of our beautiful town. These values will guide every decision I make from day one.

 

David Rosenwaks and family.

As a member of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM), I’ve seen firsthand the need for something our town has never truly had: a long-term, strategic plan that defines our vision, aligns our goals, and ensures that every decision we make supports our future, not just the moment. With collaboration and transparency, we can focus on initiatives with the greatest impact and return on investment. I am committed to delivering Westport’s first comprehensive strategic plan by April 1, 2026.

With a clear plan and strong leadership values, we can transform how Westport governs and budgets. Imagine a budget process guided by purpose from the very start where priorities, projects, and expenditures align naturally because we’ve already done the hard work of planning together in a holistic fashion.

My approach is simple: engage every department, listen to every voice, and lead through collaboration. It’s not the easiest path, but it’s the right one; and it’s the one I’m uniquely prepared to take as your next first selectman.

Running as the first-ever Independent Party-endorsed candidate in Westport’s history allows me to lead free from partisanship, to put people and progress first.

My candidacy also creates a unique opportunity to bring everyone together. Per the Town Charter, both the Republican and Democratic candidates could serve on the Board of Selectmen alongside me in the case I am elected as first selectman.

We can build a leadership team that includes all voices and all ideas, and I argue such a Board of Selectmen represents a more perfect union. Every member goes into every conversation with an open mind ready to listen, deliberate and be decisive based on all our constituents’ voices. That’s what collaboration looks like in action, and the kind of government Westport deserves.

My promises to you as your First Selectman:

  • I will prioritize the voices of our community making sure everyone is heard, not just the loudest or most powerful.
  • I will lead with full transparency and accountability.
  • I will protect the heritage of our town and the quality of life we all cherish, always standing for Westport at both the state and local level.
  • I will keep our housing market strong by balancing smart spending with responsible taxation, working closely with the Board of Finance.
  • I will support our schools and lead a full infrastructure review, always planning and budgeting in partnership with the Board of Education.
  • I will strengthen our most important relationships with the Connecticut Department of Transportation, state leaders, and local housing developers to advance our interests and keep Westport moving forward.
  • And I will act, collaboratively and decisively, on our most critical issues: affordable housing, Saugatuck development, downtown parking, Cribari Bridge, community gardens, and traffic congestion.

At a time when civic discourse feels fractured and challenges seem bigger than ever, Westport deserves leadership that brings people together: inclusive, strategic, fiscally responsible, transparent and accountable.

I believe in value-driven leadership that pairs long-term vision with short-term action. I believe in collaboration over partisanship. I believe in urgency, accountability, and progress that you can see and feel.

Your voice. Your town. Your government.

==================================================

For last week’s “Where We Stand” responses, click here.

For the third “Where We Stand” responses, click here.

For the second  “Where we Stand” question, click here.

For our first “Where We Stand” question, click here.

22 Comments

Posted in Local politics

Tagged , , , , ,

Selectpersons Debate: Minor Differences, No Bombshells

Posted on October 21, 2025 | 17 comments

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)

 

17 Comments

Posted in Categories, Library, Local politics

Tagged , , , , , ,

Roundup: Shonda Rhimes, Don O’Day, John Oates …

Posted on August 15, 2025 | 3 comments

StoryFest — a Westport Library signature event — returns in October, bigger and better than ever.

It’s expanding to a full week of author talks, panel discussions and more.

And it’s just signed its biggest name ever for a closing act.

Shonda Rhimes — the award-winning producer, Westport resident and huge Library fan — takes the stage on Monday, October 20 (7 p.m.).

Closing out the 8th annual StoryFest, she’ll celebrate the 10th anniversary of her best-selling memoir, “Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person.”

With special guests, Rhimes will share the new moments that shaped her life over the past 10 years, plus the fears she conquered and the unexpected joy of embracing life with an open mind.

“This book is the same as before, but it also is not,” said Rhimes. “It is brand new. It has changed. Transformed. Evolved. Grown. Just like me.”

Tickets are $30, and include a signed copy of the 10th-anniversary edition of “Year of Yes.” The price is the same for 1 or 2 seats, and one copy of the book.

StoryFest 2025 runs October 13-20. The largest annual literary festival in Connecticut and one of the biggest in the Northeast, it is a celebration of the story in all its forms and storytellers from across all media. It draws scores of authors and hundreds of readers, writers and fans.

Rhimes knows the Westport Library well. She was the 2022 “Booked for the Evening” honoree. She also held a special screening of her documentary “Black Barbie” last year, and served as the guest of honor for Westport’s 19th annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration this past January.

==================================================

“06880” kicked off our selectpersons’ Instagram Live series yesterday, with Don O’Day and Andrea Moore as guests.

Dave Briggs and I asked the Republican-endorsed candidates about a wide range of topics: Saugatuck development, the Cribari Bridge, the Community Gardens, education, traffic, and much more. Viewers added questions too.

We’ll sit down with the other candidates soon. In the meantime, click here or below to see our conversation with O’Day and Moore.

==================================================

Speaking of politics:

Democratic selectperson candidates Kevin Christie and Amy Wistreich invite all interested residents to a “Coffee and Conversation” event next Thursday (August 21, 9 to 10:30 a.m., Westport Library McCall room, 2nd floor).

Another is scheduled for Thursday, September 18.

Kevin Christie and Amy Wistreich.

==================================================

In 1985, Hall & Oates did not play a concert in Westport.

Their “appearance” at the Inn at Longshore — part of our town’s 150th birthday celebration — was a memorable hoax. (Read that fascinating back story here.)

But — a mere 40 years later — John Oates will play in Westport.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has just been added to the Levitt Pavilion’s calendar. He and his Good Road Band are set for next Friday (August 22, 7 p.m.). Click here for tickets, and more information.

John Oates

==================================================

The Atlantic’s September cover story, “This Is What the End of the Liberal World Order Looks Like” — staff writer Anne Applebaum’s reports from war-torn Sudan — is accompanied by stunning photographs from Pulitzer Prize winner (and 1991 Staples High School graduate) Lynsey Addario.

Applebaum says that Sudan’s suffering offers “a stark preview of what will follow the collapse of the liberal world order and the retreat of U.S. leadership: not a more just world, but a descent into nihilistic violence.” (Hat tip: Rosalie Wolf)

The Atlantic’s September issue features this cover photo by Lynsey Addario.

==================================================

Westport has 6 new Local Historic Properties.

And they’re all bridges.

On Tuesday, the Historic District Commission accepted those designations for these bridges, on town-owned land:

  • Evergreen Avenue, over Deadman Brook
  • Jesup Road, over Deadman Brook
  • Myrtle Avenue, over Deadman Brook.
  • Greens Farms Road, over Muddy Brook
  • Cross Highway, over Muddy Brook
  • Long Lots Road, over Muddy Brook.

The proposal now goes to the Representative Town Meeting (RTM), for final approval.

Greens Farms Road bridge, over Muddy Brook (Photo/Wendy Crowther)

=================================================

Popcorn … that staple of movie theaters and baseball stadiums — comes to the Westport Country Playhouse on Monday (August 18, 7 p.m.).

The first event is — appropriately — a movie night. And — appropriately too — the film is “The Sting,” starring Paul Newman. He had a decades-long association with the Playhouse.

(He also owned the restaurant next door, The Dressing Room. It did not sell popcorn.)

The Playhouse’s “gourmet popcorn” comes from Prospector Popcorn in Ridgefield. It’s been handmade for 10 years and sold at the Prospector Theater, supportng the company’s mission to create jobs for people with disabilities.

Prepackaged bags will be available at all Playhouse events for $8 each. They may be brought into the theater itself.

Coming soon, to a Playhouse near you. (Photo/Andrea Quiles)

================================================

Speaking of food: Basso opened in January 2021 — an inopportune time, in the winter and the midst of a pandemic.

But it quickly became one of Westport’s favorites.

Now, Basso celebrates its 18th birthday.

That’s right. The restaurant started in Norwalk, and spent 14 popular years there.

The party begins Friday, August 22 (7:30 p.m.), with live music from Manny Montañez & Friends. Chef Renato Donzelli takes a break from the kitchen, to join on congas. Click here for reservations.

Basso will be filled — as it often is — on August 22.

=================================================

VFW Post 399 reaches out to veterans in many ways.

Next up: a Veterans Benefits Luncheon on Thursday (August 21, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.).

It’s free, and open to all veterans as part of an ongoing effort to check in on all veterans’ welfare, and connect them with the benefits and support they earned.

Representatives will answer questions, and provide information on services and assistance available to veterans.

RSVPs are encouraged (but not required). Email vfw399ct@gmail.com, and include the number of attendees, or call (203) 227-6796.

PS: If you’re not a veteran, but know one: Please pass the word!

All veterans are invited to the VFW’s free August 21 luncheon.

==================================================

When I got this photo from ever-alert “06880” reader Jack Backiel, I figured it was a clever AI or Photoshop reference to some residents’ habits of “forgetting” to pick up after their dogs:

Nope. (Noope.)

Turns out to be a business district in Amsterdam.

Damn!

================================================

Dozens of Staples High School football players gathered at Paul Lane Field yesterday for the 6th annual Murph Challenge.

It was a culmination of their summer fundraising, for both the football program and the Catch a Lift Fund (the non-profit that helps post-9/11 combat-injured veterans regain mental and physical health).

The event began with Catch a Lift veteran Andy Smith talking to the players about sacrifice, resilience and commitment.

Then the athletes took on the Murph Challenge. It includesd a mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and another mile run.

The 2025 season begins next month.

Andy Smith (far right) addresses the Staples football team.

==================================================

Longtime Westport resident, entrepreneur and business owner Thomas Roth died on Sunday. He was 80, and had been diagnosed with cancer a month earlier.

The New York native — by then a fabric manufacturer — met his wife Theresa in 1983, at a fabric trade show. His obituary calls their marriage “rich in conversation, travel, and a loving circle of adoring friends and family.”

He loved her children as his own. He doted on his grandchildren, and traveled around the country to watch their sports games, concerts and lays.

His obituary adds, “he had a deep appreciation for beautiful objects and surroundings. His eye for design was unmatched. He skillfully blended new and vintage pieces to elevate any space.”

Tom was an avid boater. He often quoted “Wind in the Willows”: “There is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

Tom is survived by . His wife of 42 years, Theresa; their children Michael Chaney (Christine) and Anne Delorier (Chris); grandchildren Jack, Ryan and Colin Chaney, and Mason, Miles and Ellie Delorier; brothers Edwin (Joan) and Barry (Anneli), and his “chosen brother” Peter Arest, and nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family is holding a private remembrance. Donations in Tom’s name can be made to the Glioblastoma Foundation.

Tom Roth

================================================

Jonathan Rosenoer sends along today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo, of Long Island Sound.

He adds, “I’m not sure how to caption this. It may reflect low air quality. But it’s pretty, all the same.”

==================================================

And finally … in honor of popcorn coming to the Westport Country Playhouse (story above):

Every day, our Roundup offers news, views — and entertainment options. If “06880” helps you learn more about Westport, and have fun in the process, please click here to support our work. Thanks!)

3 Comments

Posted in Library, Local politics, Obituaries, Restaurants, Westport Country Playhouse

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

O’Day, Moore: After Hamlet Vote, Time To Reassess

Posted on July 29, 2025 | 30 comments

Don O’Day is a former Board of Education chair. He led the Coleytown Middle School renovation, and currently serves on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) and Long Lots School Building Committee.

Andrea Moore is Westport’s 2nd selectwoman. She is a former Board of Finance vice chair and former RTM member.

They are running on the Republican ticket for the Board of selectmen. In the wake of last night’s Planning & Zoning Commission decision on The Hamlet at Saugatuck, they say:

ROAN Ventures’ proposal to build a mixed-use waterfront development called The Hamlet was denied by the Planning & Zoning Commission last night.

This has been a long and difficult process — for Westport residents, the P&Z, and ROAN Ventures. But make no mistake: Last night’s decision by the P&Z is not the end of the road. Far from it.

The Hamlet plan was denied last night. But discussion of what comes next for Saugatuck will continue.

Westport’s leaders, property owners and residents must now consider the next steps. The O’Day–Moore campaign for selectmen sees two:

The applicant withdraws and resubmits a new Hamlet proposal.

This is our preferred outcome.

Very often, a denial — however frustrating — is simply one step on the road to a mutually agreeable solution. Come November, Westport will have new members and leadership across our local government. With new faces may come fresh thinking, and new ideas should be on the table. Thoughtful suggestions recently offered by several respected members of the community deserve serious evaluation.

Let’s also acknowledge that developers seek a return on investment. Investor profitability isn’t about greed; it is a basic reality of business — but by no means guaranteed. It is why people risk personal capital.

The O’Day–Moore campaign views this moment not as a final rejection, but as an opportunity to move forward constructively, with the knowledge that development in the Saugatuck area is a positive outcome. Importantly, the O’Day–Moore pledge is that all development must consider the myriad concerns raised by residents during the many hearings held on this issue.

The applicant moves ahead with a large-scale 8-30g project.

We hope this does not happen.

First and foremost, threats — explicit or implied — make resolution harder. We urge a tone of collaboration, not confrontation.

As we all know, Connecticut’s 8-30g statute allows developers to bypass local zoning regulations in towns where less than 10% of housing is considered affordable. A massive 8-30g development in Saugatuck could place significant strain on Westport’s infrastructure—particularly our schools, roads and other vital services.

One possible 8-30g proposal for Saugatuck.

ROAN Ventures’ Hamlet proposal was not presented under the terms of the 8-30g statute. Therefore, it went through a robust local process where zoning protections applied.

Losing local control through a state override is not in our town’s best interest.

Let us be clear: Affordable housing must be part of Westport’s future. If elected, the O’Day–Moore team is committed to working with the Planning & Zoning Commission to promote an affordable housing provision in town and a cohesive zoning plan for Westport.

On Traffic: Let’s Try Solutions — Now

Traffic in Saugatuck is a known and daily frustration. Commuters rushing to or from the train experience it. So do parents, business owners and visitors.

Interestingly, the Hamlet proposal included ideas to reduce congestion while adding density — something that may sound counterintuitive but merits exploration. Proposals such as smart traffic-light management (via remote monitoring), converting one-way streets to two-way, or other design tweaks deserve immediate consideration.

If we can implement even a few of these ideas and they help — why wait?

ROAN Ventures offered several ideas for traffic mitigation and improvement.

A Path Forward

Reopening this discussion will require a willingness to begin again — by both sides. A reassessment period makes sense. Then let’s return to the table with a shared goal: smart planning for Westport’s future.

Let’s find a collaborative path forward.

30 Comments

Posted in Local politics, Real estate, Saugatuck

Tagged , , , ,

GOP Surprise: Ex-Dem Don O’Day To Get 1st Selectman Nod

Posted on July 14, 2025 | 42 comments

As Washington becomes more polarized, Westport’s Republicans hope to reverse that trend.

The party’s nominating committee has endorsed Don O’Day for first selectman.

That’s a historic choice for Westport — and might make national news.

The former Board of Education chair was a lifelong Democrat. Six weeks ago, he switched his registration to “unaffiliated.”

The nominating committee also endorsed Republican 2nd Selectwoman Andrea Moore, for a second term.

Theofficial selection of O’Day and Moore — tomorrow (Tuesday) at 8 p.m., in Town Hall Room 307/309 — seems assured. Though nominations may be made from the floor, no other Westporter has indicated a desire to run.

Andrea Moore and Don O’Day.

The Democrats meet tomorrow too (7:30 p.m., Town Hall auditorium). They are expected to endorse Board of Education member Kevin Christie for first selectman, and Planning & Zoning Commission member Amy Wistreich as his running mate.

O’Day’s candidacy is rooted in both “bipartisanship and non-partisanship,” he told “06880.”

It won’t be his first time seeking that kind of consensus. When he became Board of Ed chair in 2008, he bucked tradition by insisting that the vice chair come not from his own Democratic party, but from the GOP.

That vice chair, Jim Marpe, later served 2 terms as first selectman.

The Board of Finance then adopted the 2-party model for chair and vice chair. They and the BOE continue the practice today.

“I’m very, very proud of that,” O’Day says. “We built a culture of cooperation and respect that worked.

“I have a non-partisan point of view. I think the best way to govern here is in a bi-partisan way.” He is currently a member of Westport’s non-partisan Representative Town Meeting (RTM), from District 3.

The role of parties in Westport, he says, is to present candidates who support their vision of how the town should be run.

“The difference between Democrats and Republicans should be de minimis in Westport,” he says. “Nationally, I know it’s different.

“Local government should be about neighbors and solutions – not ideology. What matters most is what’s best for Westport residents, not a particular party.”

This is not O’Day’s first time in the first selectman’s race. He vied for the Democratic endorsement in 2021. It went instead to State Representative Jonathan Steinberg.

O’Day understood. He had supported Marpe’s 2 successful selectman campaigns, raising charges from Democrats of “apostasy.”

“I guess I was like Joe Lieberman,” he notes. “I chose to support the person I thought was most qualified.”

When several Westporters suggested he enter the race this year, O’Day listened. However, independent candidates are not assured a line on the ballot. He realized his clearest path would be endorsement by the GOP.

In conversations with Republican Town Committee members, O’Day emphasized his experience chairing both the Board of Ed and the Coleytown Middle School Building Committee, after its sudden closure due to mold.

The RTC was “confident I have the best interests of Westport at the forefront,” O’Day says. “This is about the town, neighbors, people — not party.

“In every meeting, I made it perfectly clear that the last Republican presidential candidate I voted for was Ronald Reagan, in 1984,” O’Day says.

“I am not close to being a Trump supporter. I’m a Westport supporter.”

Not once, he says, did the RTC “back away.”

“We may not align on all national issues,” O’Day says. “But we agree that Westport deserves pragmatic, non-partisan leadership focused on getting things done.”

He advocates “action, transparency and inclusivity — not delays or endless studies.”

His priorities include modernizing town and school infrastructure, with a focus on fiscal responsibility and sustainability; preserving Westport’s AAA bond rating through disciplined financial management; respecting local zoning while responsibly expanding affordable housing; enhancing parks, beaches and recreational facilities; and improving traffic management with an emphasis on pedestrian and cyclist safety.

“People won’t always agree with every decision,” the candidate notes. “But they’ll always understand how and why it was made. The first selectman’s office will be clear, candid and responsive.”

O’Day moved to Westport in 1994, from Long Island. “I was so proud to be here,” he says. “I’ve never lost that pride of saying I live here.”

O’Day is retired. He spent 40 years in financial services, including 35 years at Citigroup. His roles there included chief financial officer of Citi Home Equity, and chief administrative officer of CitiMortgage.

His wife has taught preschool at St. Paul’s for many years. All 3 children went through the Westport school system.

Donny, now 40, moves back in August. His 2 children will eventually attend Coleytown Middle School — and see their grandfather’s name on a building committee plaque.

“I want the same rewards for them here that my kids had,” O’Day says.

Don O’Day chaired the Coleytown Middle School Building Committee. Just before its reopening in January 2021, he posed in the renovated cafeteria.  (Photo/Dan Woog)

He is excited to share a ticket with Moore. The Staples High School graduate, former Board of Finance vice chair and financial services professional offers “deep knowledge of town operations and financial control,” he says.

She shares his enthusiasm. The 2nd selectwoman got to know O’Day during his work on the CMS renovation, and cites his “even temperament and ability to get stuff done, during a really tough time.

“I was impressed by his grasp of the big picture, and his ability to bring people together for a common cause.

“At the end of the day, first selectman is a management job,” she adds. “You have 17 direct reports, a budget and so much more. Most people see the meetings and events, but the job is really running the town. Don has a great ability to do that. I hope I get the opportunity to keep doing what I’ve done, to support that.”

Washington venom will not be part of Westport’s first selectman’s race — and not just because O’Day is an unaffiliated voter.

Kevin Christie

Of Christie — the favorite for the Democratic nomination — O’Day says, “You can’t find a nicer guy. I like him a lot.

“As the Board of Education representative to the Long Lots School Building Committee, which I serve on, he asks lots of thoughtful questions.”

The difference between them? “I think I have more experience, both in town and management.”

Tomorrow night, both parties determine their selectperson slates. In November, voters get the final say.

42 Comments

Posted in Education, Local politics

Tagged , , , , , ,

“06880” Podcast: Andrea Moore

Posted on December 26, 2023 | 13 comments

Andrea Moore — Westport’s 2nd selectwoman — is a proud townie.

She grew up here (and graduated from Staples High School). She moved back. She got involved in local politics (after corporate gigs).

And she loves it.

The other day, we sat down on the Westport Library’s Verso Studios stage. Our lively discussion ranged far and wide: What did she love about being a kid? What do her kids think about Westport? What are her go-to places? And what the heck does a 2nd selectwoman actually do?

Click below for our intriguing chat.

13 Comments

Posted in Library, Local politics

Tagged ,

Candice Savin Selected, Sworn In As 3rd Selectwoman

Posted on November 23, 2021 | 4 comments

Jen Tooker and Andrea Moore made history last week. They were sworn in as 1st and 2nd selectwomen — the first time 2 females occupied to town’s top spots.

They made history again. As a special meeting of the Board of Selectwomen, they chose Candice Savin as 3rd selectwoman. This marks the 1st time in the town’s 186 years that all 3 members are female.

Savin was quickly sworn in, in the selectwomen’s meeting room, by Town Clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton.

The swearing-in ceremony.

Savin’s route to Town Hall began when she  ran on the Democratic ticket, with 1st selectman candidate Jonathan Steinberg. They lost to the Republican candidates by 69 votes.

Steinberg declined the 3rd selectman’s seat, citing his obligations as Westport’s state representative in Hartford.

Libertarian candidate T.J. Elgin — who received 64 votes — claimed he was then the rightful 3rd selectman, since Savin had run for the 2nd post. He filed a lawsuit in Superior Court, but withdrew it yesterday.

Savin — whose most recent position was Board of Education chair — was endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee last week.

The new 3rd selectwoman told “06880”: “I am so pleased to take on this role, and look forward to working with Jennifer Tooker and Andrea Moore on behalf of our town.”

4 Comments

Posted in Local politics

Tagged , , ,

Election Day: 2 Days Later

Posted on November 4, 2021 | 24 comments

The voters have spoken.

Well, some of them.

With just over 8,400 of Westport’s 19,811 eligible voters casting ballots, Republicans retain Town Hall. Control of the selectman’s office has ping-ponged between parties ever since the 1970s, when a 25-year stretch of Republicans ended.

This will be the 3rd straight term for Republican leadership. But this is Westport, not Washington or many other places in America.

We’re a blue town, in a blue state. And we’re a town. We’re neighbors. We see our new selectwomen — and, notably, this is the first time in our history the top 2 slots are filled by  females — everywhere. The market, the beach, doctor’s offices — they’re part of our community.

Westport’s new 1st selectwoman Jen Tooker (right) and 2nd selectwoman Andrea Moore

Jen Tooker and Andrea Moore are Westporters, through and through. Tooker has lived here for many years; Moore is a Staples graduate.

Both have extensive experience. Tooker is the incumbent 2nd selectwoman; Moore serves on the Board of Finance. They know this place. They know us. They will guide our town with wisdom, strength, compassion and care.

Tooker and Moore won the election with substantial support from Democrats and independents. Both groups represent the bulk of Westport voters.

Tuesday’s election was hardly a Republican wave. Democrats continue to control all boards and commissions. They outpolled their opponents — in some cases, substantially — in races that were both contested, and uncontested.

Planning & Zoning — one of the most important bodies in town — saw the re-election of 3 Democratic incumbents.

The Board of Education — another crucial body — was humming quietly along, with 2 candidates from each party “vying” for 4 seats. A late write-in candidate plastered the town with signs, but drew less than 5% of the vote.

Suddenly — less than a week before Election Day — one candidate slammed his own Republican Party, for failing to take a stand on the Critical Race Theory debate, and alleging it had stopped him from campaigning.

The resulting extensive publicity did not seem to matter. Both Republicans drew nearly the same number of votes; at around 21%, both trailed their Democratic rivals, who were around 28%. All 4 now make up the majority of the new Board of Ed.

Town Hall will continue with Republicans in the top spot — and Democrats leading board and commission meetings held htere.

One of the big stories of this election was the number of uncontested races. The Board of Finance and Zoning Board of Appeals had the same number of candidates as open spots; so (without the write-in candidate) did the Board of Ed.

Six of the town’s 9 Representative Town Meeting districts did not have competitive races.

Combined with the low turnout, that raises a crucial question: How much do Westporters really care about our town government?

Kudos to the men and women who stepped up this election season. Thanks to all who ran, whether they were opposed or not.

You will run our town well. You will put in countless hours, read mind-numbing reports, attend endless meetings, and hear from many residents, with ideas, insights and complaints ranging from very valid to ridiculously absurd.

Some of them may have voted for you. Some of them may have voted against you. Some may not have voted at all.

That’s the reality of democracy. We get the government we deserve.

Or, in Westport’s case, sometimes it’s even better than we deserve.

 

24 Comments

Posted in Local politics, Westport life

Tagged , , ,

Tooker’s Margin: 69 Votes. Next Question: Who Is 3rd Selectman?

Posted on November 3, 2021 | 28 comments

Results of yesterday’s election — filed with the Secretary of the State — show just how tight the selectman’s race was.

Jennifer Tooker and running mate Andrea Moore edged Jonathan Steinberg and Candice Savin 4,237 votes to 4,168. The winning Republican ticket had 50.03% of the vote, to the Democrats’ 49.21.

Libertarians TJ Elgin and Louis D’Onofrio garnered just 64 votes (0.76%).

Jen Tooker

But Elgin may become Westport’s 3rd selectman.

Steinberg — currently in his 6th term as a state representative — has declined the 3rd selectman’s position. By statute — and long Westport tradition — it goes to the candidate for 1st selectman who places second in the voting.

Steinberg chairs the legislature’s Public Health Committee, and serves on the Transportation, and Energy and Technology, Committees too.

He told Westport Journal this afternoon that he does not want to be a “third wheel” on the 3-person selectmen board.

Elgin believes that the 3rd selectman position should not go to Savin — Steinberg’s running mate — but rather to him.

The town charter says: “The defeated candidate for First Selectman having the highest number of votes shall be elected a Selectman.” Elgin contends that because Savin was not a candidate for first selectman, he should be next in line for the post.

Assistant town attorney Eileen Lavigne Flug says, however, that there is only one second place candidate for first selectman: Steinberg. If he declines the post, Flug said, Tooker and Moore must appoint a Democrat to replace him.

=======================================================

Meanwhile, Democrats led in all other races. The results:

Board of Education (contested)

Party-endorsed Democrats Kevin Christie (5,097 votes) and Christina Torres (5,177) and Republicans Robert Harrington (3,850) and Dorie Hordon (3,913) will form a newcomers’ majority on the 7-person board. Write-in candidate Alma Sarelli received 130 votes, and was not elected.

Planning and Zoning Commission (contested)

Democratic incumbents (and Save Westport Now-endorsed Danielle Dobin (5.396), Michael Cammeyer (5,095) and Neil Cohn (4,923) return to office. Republican Jack Whittle (3,368) failed in his bid to recapture his old seat. Coalition for Westport candidate Ron Corwin (786) also lost.

Board of Finance (uncontested)

Democratic incumbents Brian Stern (5,207 votes) and Lee Caney (4,950) will be joined by Republican Michael Keller (4,100).

Board of Assessment Appeals (contested)

Democrats Lynette Pineda (4,547) and Heseyl Gayle (4,446) were elected. Republican Town Committee chair Joseph Sledge (3,470) lost.

Zoning Board of Appeals (uncontested)

Josh Newman and Amy Wistreich were elected.

Representative Town Meeting

Three districts had contested races.

In District 1, Liz Milwe (436), Matthew Mandell (360), Chris Tait (337) and Kristin Mott Purcell (277) won. Abby Tolan (253) and Rick Jaffe (228) lost.

In District 3, Jimmy Izzo (403), Mark Friedman, Don O’Day (35) and Arline Gertzoff (328) won. Ross Burkhardt (252) lost.

In District 9, Kristin Schneeman (427), Nancy Kail (401), Sal Liccione (347) an Lori Church 9343) won. Clark Thiemann (315) and Marla Cowden (300) lost.

Winners in the uncontested districts:

2: Joy Keenan, Harris Falk, Louis Mall, Christine Meiers Schatz.

4: Andrew Colabella, James Bairaktaris, Noah Hammond, Jeffrey Wieser.

5: Peter Gold, Dick Lowenstein, Karen Kramer, Claudia Shaum

6: Candace Banks, Beth Braunstein, Jessica Bram, Cathy Talmadge

7: Brandi Briggs, Jack Klinge, Ellen Lautenberg, Lauren Karpf.

8: Wendy Goldwyn Batteau, Lisa Newman, Stephen Shackelford, Rachel Steel Cohn.

======================================================

The Democratic Town Committee issued this statement earlier today: “The Westport Democratic Town Committee congratulates Jen Tooker and Andrea Moore on their election as Westport’s next first and second selectmen. Their success is Westport’s success. We look forward to working together to keep Westport the vibrant and welcoming place that we all cherish.”

28 Comments

Posted in Education, Local politics

Tagged , , ,