The signatures have been gathered and verified. Today, Stephen Shackelford and Jodi Harris launched their campaign for the Board of Education.
Though running as Democrats, the pair were not endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee. Those nods went to incumbent Abby Tolan and Lauren Karpf, deputy moderator of the Representative Town Meeting. Earlier this month, Karpf left the race, to seek re-election to the RTM. The DTC has decided not to replace her on the ticket.
The Republicans have nominated 4 candidates: incumbent Dorie Hordon, plus Michelle Hopson, Andy Frankel and Kaitlin Zucaro.
Board of Ed members serve staggered terms, so not every seat will be contested in November. There are currently 4 Democrats, 2 Republicans and 1 unaffiliated member on the board. Because by law one party can have only a bare majority — 4 seats — on the 7-member BOE, only 2 of the 3 Democrats could be elected. All 4 Republicans, however, could get the voters’ nod.
Shackelford is an attorney, and former RTM member. Harris recently completed a term as Staples High School PTA co-president. They say:
Today, on the first day of school, we’re excited to officially launch our campaign. Like so many families, including our own, we’re feeling that familiar mix of promise and excitement as our kids head off to another year in Westport’s public schools. It’s a powerful reminder of how fortunate we are to live in a community with exceptionally dedicated teachers, staff, coaches and administrators.
Stephen Shackelford and Jodi Harris.
Over the coming months we look forward to meeting many more of you, hearing your perspectives, and sharing our ideas. To our students, parents, teachers, staff, coaches and administrators: We wish you a wonderful, rewarding school year.
And to our neighbors: We look forward to earning your trust and your vote this November.
Shackelford and Harris’s Instagram — with information on their principles and plans — is @HarrisShackelfordBOE. Their email isharris.shackelford@gmail.com.
There will be 2 more candidates on the November 4 ballot.
Democrats Steve Shackelford and Jodi Harris collected — and the town clerk certified — over 400 petition signatures.
He is a former Representative Town Meeting member; she is a former Staples High School PTA co-presisdent.
They’ll join Democratic Town Committee-endorsed candidates Lauren Karpf (RTM deputy moderator) and Abby Tolan (incumbent BOE member), and Republican Town Committee-endorsed candidates Dorie Hordon (incumbent), Michelle Hopson, TEAM Westport member Andy Frankel, and Kaitlin Zucaro.
Shackelford and Harris say, “We are honored to have the opportunity to earn the trust and support of our fellow Westport residents. We look forward to engaging with the community and sharing our vision for a thoughtful, effective and forward-looking board that puts students and families first.”
Steve Shackelford and Jodi Harris.
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The Westport dining scene is about to change.
And “06880” is eating it up.
Today (Thursday) at 6 p.m., Dan Woog and Dave Briggs bring our popular “Dave & Dan” Instagram Live camera to Don Memo. Our Instagram is @06880danwoog.
The popular Mexican restaurant in the middle of downtown will soon become a popular Italian-American spot: Massi Co.
We’ll chat with owner Massimo Tullio about the new concept, his own career, and Westport’s ever-evolving culinary scene.
Also today — like every Thursday, from May to November — the Westport Farmers’ Market comes alive, at the Imperial Avenue parking lot (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
But this day is extra special. It’s part of National Farmers’ Market Week, celebrated every first week of August.
Check out the 36 vendors — along with live music, informational tables, a great community vibe, and much more.
In other Farmers’ Market news, the Young Shoots photo contest — for photographers ages 5-18 — has been extended one week. The new deadline is August 15. Click here for details.
Happy National Farmers’ Market Week! And if you’re a young photographer: Celebrate with your camera.
See you at the Farmers’ Market! (Photo/Marcus Slomich)
Speaking (still) of food: Quietly but deliciously, Field Trip has helped make Westport the jerky capital of the Northeast.
The company’s headquarters are at 153 Post Road East, opposite Design Within Reach.
Now they’re adding a sister brand there.
DefenderBar will be the first bar ever — and one of the first snacks in the US — to use functional ingredients like psyllium husk (to support gut health) and dandelion root (for the liver and gut), while also fueling the brain and heart with chia, flax and hemp seeds.
There are 3 flavors: cinnamon churro oatmeal, peanut butter chocolate chip and coconut almond chocolate.
To support the launch on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, founders Matt Levey, Tom Donigan and Scott Fiesinger invite any “06880” reader to come in to the store, and show you’ve followed the brand on any of those platforms.
You’ll get 25% off the entire store, including Defender and Field Trip.
The first 100 people in (and following on social media) will receive a free Defender bar. The promotion begins August 13, and runs through August 20.
Levey explains, “we realized we’re not 25 anymore. But we’re still pushing ourselves — on the trails, in the gym, at home with our wild kids — and we needed a better way to fuel that lifestyle.
“As longtime friends who have spent half our lives in the better-for-you food industry, and as adventurers and dads, we looked for something with functional macros, real ingredients, and satisfying.
“We were tired of bars that were all sugar and no substance, or ones that claimed to be ‘healthy’ but left us crashing mid-hike. So we got to work. We kept it simple, with nutrient-dense ingredients.”
Defender bars are definitely worth a field trip!
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Speaking of local businesses: The Gig Center (next to Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids) is now The Music Collective.
It offers the same services: private music lessons, rock band programs, instrument repairs, music books and instrument accessories. It’s also still the home of Westport Musical Instrument Rentals.
The new phone number is 203.292.3077.
Jamming at the Gig Center.
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Nature, memory, abstraction and form are the basis of 3 new art exhibits at the Westport Library.
The artists and their works are Steve Moen (“Circling Back,” in the Sheffer Gallery), Tom Kretsch (“A Symphony of Color,” South Gallery), and Linn Cassetta (“Eggcentric,” Jesup Gallery).
Each exhibit will have a separate reception (6 p.m.) and artist conversation (7 p.m.), with Artists’ Collective of Westport co-founder Miggs Burroughs. Moen’s is set for August 13; Kretsch’s is August 27, and Cassetta’s is September 17.
What’s new in the world universe of amateur telescopes?
Wesetport Observatory Bob Meadows is just back from the 89th annual convention of amateur telescope makers. He’ll describe all the innovations at the Westport Astronomical Society’s next lecture: August 19 (WAS classroom, 8 p.m.)
The event will also be livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube.
Seen at the Westport Observatory. (Photo/Frank Rosen)
And finally … on this date in 1789, The Department of War was established.
(Politics, food, art, entertainment … just another day on “06880.” If you learn about your town — or anything else — from our daily Roundups, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
The Democratic and Republican Town Committees nominated candidates last night for the Board of Selectmen, and a variety of other boards and commissions. (Click here for that story.)
They’ll all be on the ballot on November 4.
Well — maybe not all.
The 2 Democratic candidates for Board of Education — incumbent member Abby Tolan and Representative Town Meeting deputy moderator Lauren Karpf — may face a primary challenge.
Former RTM member Steve Shackelford and outgoing Staples High School PTA co-president Jodi Harris plan to run against the endorsed slate. They’ll pick up petitions at Town Hall today.
If they receive enough signatures — 5% of registered Democrats (approximately 500 names) — the Democratic primary would be September 9.
Steve Shackelford and Jodi Harris.
Harris and Shackelford are “proud registered Democrats. We think our party has historically served the town well on the Board of Education,” they told “06880.”
“More recently though, the BOE as a whole — including the Democratic majority — has lost its way in its prmary tasks of exercising true oversight over the Westport Public Schools administration, and being responsive to our community and its concerns. We believe we are the best people for that job.”
They add, “In talking through the many issues and conflicts facing the BOE this past year, we realized we see eye to eye on the type of role the Board should play, and the ways in which the BOE as currently constituted has fallen short.
“We believe the best way to make the BOE, and the administration, more accountable to the people of Westport is to run, and win, together.
“That way, we can ensure this push for meaningful and cnstructive oversight, accountbility and transparency is not just a one-person show, but a movement with real inquiry, discussion and momentum.”
The pair noted their complementary skill sets: Harris’ long involvement with Westport public schools at all levels, and Shackelford’s understanding of “good governance, acountability and proper risk management.”
Harris moved to Westport in 2008. Her daughters have gone through the Westport schools. She has volunteered from preschool through Staples, including as a member of the Bedford and Coleytown Middle Schools combined PTA, when those schools were merged.
She has spent her career in children’s book publishing, including most recently as editorial director at HarperCollins. She authored and ghost-wrote over 40 children’s books.
Shackelford has lived in Westport since 2016. His 4 children have gone through, or are still in, the district’s schools.
Inspired to serve in local government during the mold closure of CMS, he served 2 terms on the RTM.
A lawyer at Susman Godfrey, Shackelford was co-lead counsel for Dominion Voting System’s defamation case related to the 2020 presidential election. His team’s work led to Fox News’ historic $787.5 million settlement with Dominion.
He pledged to “make good use of legal advice when needed, without effectively delegating major decisions to outside lawyers.”
“Our kids get only one shot at their education,” the running mates say. They believe the Board of Ed can do more in terms of charting broad strategy, exercising rigorous oversight over the administration, ensuring transparency and accountability, and providing guidance to minimize conflict.
“Recent events also underscore a critical need to safeguard all Westport Public School employees,” they say.
“We believe immediate, decisive acction is necessary to implement clear policies and procedures that protect our students and staff. The current Board’s inaction on these serious, yet solvable, issues is unacceptable.”
(Click here for information on the Democratic Town Committee. Click here for information on the Republican Town Committee. For information on the primary campaign, email harris.shackelford@gmail.com)
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