Early candidate selection. Voter contact and communication. Data.
Those are the basics of winning elections.
And, according to Democratic Town Committee chair Michelle Mechanic, they were the keys to Kevin Christie and Amy Wistreich’s decisive win in last week’s Board of Selectpersons race.
Democrats hold a 2-to-1 advantage over Republicans, in local registrations. (Unaffiliated voters are second — nearly as many as Democrats.)
But although Dems controlled all other town boards, they had lost 3 consecutive selectperson contests — dating back to 2013 — before this year.
One key was to start the nominating process early. Past DTCs had waited until the official July nominating convention — “the 11th hour,” Mechanic says.
This year’s “pre-endorsement meeting,” in late winter — including a round of interviews — identified Board of Education candidate Christie for the top spot.
He promised to campaign “day and night.” And he identified Wistreich — a Planning & Zoning Commission member — as his running mate. The nominating committee then met her, vetted her, and endorsed her to the full DTC.
There was no “grand strategy,” Mechanic notes. More important is “picking good people, and allowing them to be themselves.”
Kevin Christie and Amy Wistreich, at a candidates’ debate. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Communication is another important element. The Democrats spent about 60% of their funds on email newsletters and blasts, high-quality mailers, digital media and robo-texting.
Another element of communication: old-fashioned knocking on “tons of doors.”
The rest went to professional services, like campaign managers.
(As for yard signs: “They don’t win races,” Mechanic says. They are, however, good for name recognition of new candidates. And when placed on private property; they serve as “personal endorsements.”)
The Democratic Town Committee also used its proprietary data base well, Mechanic says. That includes information on who is likely to vote for their candidates; who needs a push to get to the polls — and, during early voting and Election Day itself, who has not yet cast a ballot.
By Election Day, Mechanic was ready for one of 2 outcomes: “either really close, or a blowout.”
In the end, it was close to the latter. Christie and Wistreich earned 52.84% of the vote, in a 3-way race.
Kevin Christie (center, rear), speaking to supporters at Little Barn on election night. (Photo/Catherine Campagnino)
“The rules of politics worked,” Mechanic says. “People found Kevin and Amy authentic and qualified.”
The Board of Education race was trickier. The DTC endorsed 2 candidates; 2 other Democrats gathered 400 signatures, and also appeared on the Democratic Party line.
One of the 2 endorsed candidates dropped out. But because, by Town Charter, one party can have just a bare majority on the BOE, only 2 of the 3 Democrats could be seated.
Abby Tolan
Mechanic consulted with state Democratic Party officials. They said the DTC had some discretion, but their first duty was to ensure the election of the endorsed candidate, incumbent Abby Tolan.
She won. Petitioning candidates Stephen Shackelford and Jodi Harris were close — within 300 votes. Both swamped the leading Republican, incumbent Dorie Hordon, by over 2,500 votes. But only Shackelford — who received 11 more votes than Harris — will be seated.
“Stephen and Jodi ran a great race,” Mechanic acknowledges. She had “a lovely exchange” with Shackelford after results were announced, she says.
The Planning & Zoning Commission race was more straightforward. Three Democrats — incumbent Michael Cammeyer, alternate Bre Injeski, and Craig Schiavone — won handily.
“They worked very hard. They’re very committed to serving the community,” Mechanic says.
Besides Schiavone — with a cross-endorsement from the Coalition for Westport — the top vote-getters in the overall election were a pair of familiar faces: Democrats Elaine Whitney for the Board of Finance, and Sheri Gordon for the Zoning Board of Appeals.
What do last week’s resounding results mean for Westport’s Democratic Party?
“I am thrilled for 4 amazing years of great service with Democratic values,” party chair Mechanic says. “Kevin and Amy are Democrats with a capital D.”
“Every selectman’s cycle, people talk about the DTC like it’s a private club. It’s not.
“I also invite newer and younger residents to attend our meetings and make their voices heard. We are committed to representing every voice, but we need those voices in our processes.
“That said, I believe our elected candidates will serve everyone, in every facet of town life.”
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