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 printedtheir responses verbatim.
This week’s final question for the Planning & Zoning Commission 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 yourself? Go for it!
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The Democratic Party has endorsed 3 candidates. Each has submitted a separate response.
Democratic candidate Michael Cammeyer says:
I’ve had the honor of serving on the Planning & Zoning Commission for nearly a decade, and what a transformation Westport has seen in that time.
When I first joined, downtown was filled with empty storefronts, not people. Outdoor dining was tightly restricted, and our sidewalks felt empty. Town rules even prohibited lighting fields for girls’ sports. We were spending taxpayer dollars fighting developers in court over 8-30g housing applications. P&Z notices looked like junk mail, and hardly anyone showed up to our meetings.
Today, Westport is thriving. Our restaurants and shops are bustling with energy. Smart, right-sized mixed-income housing has welcomed new residents. P&Z meetings now attract hundreds of residents tuning in via Zoom, with clearly marked notices stamped “Important Town Notice.” And just this year, I was proud to lead the effort to finally update our regulations so girls’ sports teams will finally play under the lights.
Michael Cammeyer and family.
It’s been a privilege to help shape Westport’s renewal. I’m running for re-election — alongside my running mates, Bre and Craig — to continue this progress and take on the next chapter of challenges ahead.
Westport’s biggest challenge is clear: preserving our town’s character amid state laws that promote over-development. With new state mandates on the horizon as soon as mid-November, developers will soon have even more power to override local regulations.
Our team is ready to meet this challenge. Our record proves it. Since our 8-30g moratorium expired nearly 2 years ago, Westport hasn’t faced a single new 8-30g application. Fairfield, meanwhile, has seen proposals for thousands of units. That’s not luck, that’s leadership. We’ve shown that collaboration and smart planning work.
We’ve also protected our commercial zones to keep Westport vibrant. Through key P&Z votes, our Democratic majority has preserved office parks and downtown retail from dense housing conversions, while promoting productive uses like medical offices — including CT Children’s Health Center — and supporting outdoor dining and 2nd-floor retail.
Even Cava’s opening and outdoor dining were split votes. The bustling restaurant scene and renewed downtown energy aren’t accidents; they’re the results of our deliberate, thoughtful planning.
Looking ahead, we’ll continue protecting what works, including opposing plans to remove parking behind Main Street. We’ll also directly engage residents as we update Westport’s Plan of Conservation and Development to tackle flooding, traffic, and balanced growth.
In Saugatuck, I would love to see a walkable, well-designed development that is in scale with our community. But under state law, local control is limited. Hope is not a strategy; pragmatism is. My goal is to guide inevitable change responsibly — protecting commuters, limiting density, and ensuring waterfront access. No one wins if 350-600 units are built pursuant to 8-30g.
My collaborative approach helps build consensus when it matters most. I don’t own any investments in Westport real estate beyond my home. Our team serves because we care, not for profit.
Please cast all 3 of your votes for our P&Z team. Together, let’s preserve what we love and plan for what’s next.
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Democratic candidate Bre Injeski says:
I’m running for the Planning & Zoning Commission because I care deeply about keeping our town livable, vibrant, and true to its character.
As an alternate on the commission, I understand the challenges of balancing growth with preservation. I believe thoughtful, proactive planning is how we protect what we love while preparing for the future. I’m a practicing attorney, with a background in transportation policy and government ethics. I’ve spent my career helping cities make fair, transparent, and well-reasoned policy decisions.
Bre Injeski and family.
My Priorities
When we plan ahead, we keep local control. On the P&Z, our biggest challenge is managing development responsibly when Connecticut’s laws — like 8-30g and newly proposed changes being considered at November’s special session — allow developers to bypass local zoning.
While applications for thousands of units have flooded nearby towns like Fairfield, Westport hasn’t had a single new 8-30g filing since our moratorium expired two years ago. That’s not luck; it’s the result of proactive, balanced decision-making by my team. Allowing the conversion of old office space to mixed-income multi-family on Riverside Ave is a perfect example. We maintained a smaller footprint and created affordable housing without adding density.
Build affordable housing on our terms. Westport should lead on affordability, not leave it to developers. My team has approved mixed-income housing along the Post Road, reusing empty office space, accessory apartments, and supporting projects for adults with special needs. These are Westport-scale solutions that reflect our values.
Protect commercial zones and support local business. In split votes, our team was key in preserving parking downtown, supporting adaptive reuse, conversions to medical office, outdoor dining, and downtown vibrancy because smart zoning serves residents while keeping Westport’s economy strong.
Supporting Residents. I strongly support my team’s efforts to finally provide equal access to lit fields for our girls sports team. And I’m particularly proud that the P&Z recently enacted a text amendment to ban new smoke shops and prohibit bright, neon-style signs at any stores selling tobacco or vape-related products. Our team voted for the ban in a split vote. I’m proud to stand for responsible, community-minded planning that protects public health, supports family-friendly retail, and preserves the character of our commercial districts.
My Commitment
As an attorney focused on transportation policy and government ethics, I understand how integrity, transparency, and balance lead to good public decisions. I have no financial interests in local real estate beyond my home, only a commitment to serving this town.
I want Westport to thrive as a vibrant, walkable, and well-planned town for generations. Let’s preserve what we love and plan for what’s next. Vote all 3 for P&Z!
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Craig Schiavone has been endorsed by the Democratic Party and the Alliance for Westport. She is also running on the Coalition for Westport ticket. She says:
I chose to run for Westport’s Planning & Zoning Commission because thoughtful, forward-looking planning is essential to protecting what we love about our town while preparing for the future. Westport is at a turning point, facing real challenges with growth, traffic, housing, and infrastructure. My goal is to promote balanced, transparent decision-making that reflects community input, supports smart development, and ensures that every project enhances the quality of life we all value.
As a member of the Democratic team committed to responsible growth and sound planning, I will focus on strengthening infrastructure to meet the needs of residents and businesses, fostering smart growth and housing diversity without overwhelming our roads or schools, and ensuring that every zoning decision aligns with a comprehensive, long-term vision for Westport’s future.
Craig Schiavone and family
I bring to this effort more than three decades of experience in urban planning, historic preservation, and nonprofit management. A Westport resident for over 20 years, I’ve been deeply involved in shaping local planning efforts, serving as co-chair of the Saugatuck Transit-Oriented Development Master Plan Commission, and as an appointee to both the Westport 2020 Task Force and the 2022 Implementation Committee — all focused on improving connectivity, accessibility, and livability while preserving our town’s historic identity.
Professionally, I founded and led 2 firms: Schiavone Management Consulting Group, advising nonprofits on strategy, finance, and governance; and Schiavone Management Company, which developed and managed over 1 million square feet of real estate, with an emphasis on adaptive reuse and preservation. Earlier, as a senior project manager for the city of New Haven, I wrote the downtown redevelopment plan and oversaw major revitalization and preservation projects.
Community service is central to who I am. I’ve served as a guardian ad litem — a court-appointed representative for children — with Child Advocates of Connecticut, mentored through Homes with Hope, volunteered with the Westport Library, and held board and leadership roles with organizations advancing education, child welfare and the arts. I was also honored to be appointed by the Governor to Connecticut’s Trust for Historic Preservation. Known for my steady temperament, collaborative approach, and careful listening, I work toward fair, balanced, and practical solutions.
Outside civic life I’m an avid hiker, kayaker and sailor, having recently earned my captain’s license. My husband Kurt and I share 4 grown children — Max, Bryan, Misha and Shana — and a large extended family.
It would be a true honor to serve on the Planning & Zoning Commission and to work alongside my esteemed colleagues, whose dedication to Westport reflects the very best of public service.
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Michele Paquette is a candidate with endorsements from 3 organizations. She will be listed on the ballot under both the Republican Party and The Coalition for Westport. Additionally, she has earned the support of the Westport Alliance for Saugatuck. She says:
I’m running for Planning & Zoning because I believe our town deserves a commission that listens, leads with integrity, and puts residents first. Over the past few years I’ve heard from many of you about flooding, traffic, noise, architectural concerns, and feedback that your voices aren’t being heard. I’m here to change that.
Development in Westport should reflect the town’s vision as outlined in the Plan of Conservation and Development. Yet recent decisions, like the Saugatuck amendment that increased density by 800% moved forward without honoring that plan or the concerns raised by residents.
That’s not how good governance works. It’s time for a new commissioner, one who is transparent, responsive, and grounded in community values.
Michele Paquette and family.
Why me? Because I bring a rare combination of strategic leadership, land use experience, and a deep commitment to public service.
- I’m a retired executive who led multi-billion-dollar biotech businesses, navigated complex regulatory landscapes, and built systems that drove accountability and results.
- I’m actively involved in real estate partnerships and development outside Westport, giving me practical land use insight.
- I’m mentoring youth, advising executives, and championing women in leadership, because I believe in empowering others.
- I’ve lived in Westport for 9 years, and I’m deeply invested in its future, not just as a resident, but as a neighbor who listens and acts.
I’m a principled leader who believes in independent thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and courageous decision-making.
I was disappointed by the partisan messaging from the Democratic slate in their response to Dan Woog’s last question. They claimed votes would fall along party lines and that Westport would suffer. That’s not just misleading, it’s a calculated attempt to sow fear and protect the status quo. Suggesting I’m not an independent thinker is false and an insult to every resident who expects integrity and transparency from their leaders.
While I stood on my own to answer Dan Woog’s questions, the Democratic slate chose to respond as a group. A commission that campaigns as one voice risks deciding as one mind, which undermines due process. It signals pre-packaged conclusions and erodes both the appearance and substance of fairness.
Zoning isn’t a team sport; it’s the careful exercise of individual judgment, guided by evidence, law and the public record. Open meetings mean open minds. Residents deserve commissioners who weigh every fact independently. That’s what I offer.
That independence is reflected in being the only candidate who advocated for a scaled-down development in Saugatuck. I took civic action by submitting 13 opinion letters that called for changes to the plan including compliance with parking regulations, highlighted flaws in the traffic study, warned of the negative impact on local traffic and highlighted issues with rivers views and access. (Michele’s Public Opinion | Paquette for P&Z)
That independence is also reflected in the broad support I’ve received. I’m the bipartisan candidate, appearing on both the Republican and the Coalition for Westport ballot lines. I’m endorsed by the non-partisan Westport Alliance for Saugatuck, and by 3 former P&Z commissioners, each with their own perspectives and approaches. I have several other personal endorsements as well. These endorsements reflect a shared belief: that I will do what’s best for Westport.
I’m married, with 3 stepchildren. I enjoy skiing, hiking, pickleball and Westport summers. I believe in building bridges — between people, ideas and communities—and I’m ready to bring that spirit to public service.
I would be honored to serve.
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Click here for last week’s “Where We Stand” responses.
Click here for the 3rd “Where We Stand” responses.
Click here for the 2nd “Where We Stand” responses.
Click here for the 1st week’s “Where We Stand” responses.
