Joseloff and Kassen garnered 3,676 votes, or 53 percent, to 3,242 votes, or 47 percent, for Republican challenger Gavin Anderson and his running mate Kristin LaFleur. Former Selectman John Izzo, who ran as a write-in candidate, garnered 172 votes.
Turnout was relatively light in this non-presidential election year, with 41 percent of the town's almost 18,000 registered voters going to the polls under mostly sunny skies during the day Tuesday.
"I'm very gratified with the results," Joseloff said in a conversation with the Minuteman Wednesday morning. "Thr results are an affirmation of what we've done for the past four years and a vote of confidence for us to continue. I'm delighted."
If there was any pre-election trepidation among Westport Democrats about the outcome of the election, Joseloff said, it was due to the possibility of a low voter turnout.
"When you have a very low turnout, you get a certain type of committed voters who may have a 'throw the bums out' attitude," Joseloff said. Joseloff also said he was happy that the Repulicans' campaign argument that his administration was weak in supporting education, did not seem to influence voters.
Shortly after the election results became known, Anderson and LaFleur visted with Joseloff, Kassen and other town Democrats at Democratic headquarters on Riverside Avenue to congratulate the winners.
Anderson and LaFleur issued the following statement later in the evening:
"We congratulate Gordon Joseloff and Shelly Kassen on winning today's election, and a second term as First and Second Selectmen of Westport. Gordon and Shelly are decent, hard-working contributors to our town, and it has been an unusually challenging task for us to campaign against those we consider friends and colleagues of many years. We ask that all Westporters come together in support of Gordon and Shelly as we move forward.
"We have done our best to present a campaign based upon issues, fairness and honesty, and without the need to resort to personal attacks or rancor. This has been the very heart of our effort and has been based on the desire to set an example of how we believe our local elections
should be conducted - on the issues and qualifications - not the personal attributes, positives or negatives of the participants. We hope this can contribute to the sort of standard to be expected in the future. "We thank all those who have supported my campaign, and who have done so with a dignity and work ethic that has been incredible. Their confidence in the effort that we have put forward has been a source of enormous encouragement and of great pride; we are humbled by the faith, support and generous commitments we have received.
"Now that the election is decided, it is the time for all of us, as Westporters, to support our elected First Selectman and his team to face the formidable challenges of the immediate future, and to build a solid base for those that will eventually succeed. We will do our best while offering to become a part of that effort, and will continue to represent support of those values we hold dear that are for the benefit of our community.
"We thank all those Westporters who participated and contributed to the election process this year. By doing so, you continue to hold the flag of democracy high for all to see, and that is the most important contribution we Americans can make to our way of life and government," the statement by Anderson and LaFleur.
Anderson was formerly a member of the Board of Finance and is currently the head of the town maintenance committee, where his responsibility is the upkeep of the town's buildings and facilities. Anderson attempted a prior run for first selectman in 2005, but lost in the Republican primary to Izzo.
Joseloff, a former journalist and decade-long moderator of the the Westport Representative Town Meeting, will begin his second four-year term next Monday in swearing-in ceremonies at Town Hall.
In a recent interview with the Minuteman, Joseloff said, "We are in the business of providing the best services necessary to protect and enhance the lives of the people who live in Westport.
Kassen added, "Westport is not like other communities. Westport residents want superior, not just good, services and it is our job to provide those great services at a reasonable cost. That is our product."
Corwin wins
In another closely watched contest, Planning and Zoning Commission chairman Ronald Corwin and fellow Democrats Nora Jinishian and Howard Lathrop were elected, while Desiree Soli, who ran on the Republican and Save Westport Now lines, failed to win a seat on the P&Z. The vote was Lathrop 3,879; Corwin 3,877; Jinishian 3,832 and Soli 3,705.
Democrats Avi Kaner, 4,088 votes; Helen Garten, 3,963; and Brian Stern, 3,781, were elected to the Board of Finance; Republican Bob Zappi, with 3,715 votes, failed to win a seat on the finance board.
In voting for the Board of Assessment Appeals, Democrats Elaine Arnow, 3,962 votes; and David Krauss, 3,521 votes; won seats; Republican Bob Lasprogato, 3,448, did not win a seat.
Jacqueline Masumian, 3,684 votes; and Douglas Bowen, 3,646 votes, won election to the Zoning Board of Appeals; Republican Michael Calise, 3,452 votes, was not elected.
Elected to the Board of Education were Michael McGovern, 4,181 votes; Jim Marpe, 4,143; Elaine Whitney; 4,110, and Donald O'Day, 4,106.
Elected to the RTM were the following candidates:
District 1 - Elizabeth Milwe; Judith Starr, Matthew Mandell and Diane Cady.
District 2 - Sean Timmons, Jay Keenan, Linda Bruce and Michael Guthman.
District 3 - Amy Ancel, William Meyer III, Hadley Rose and Robert Galan.
District 4 - Jonathan Cunitz, Gene Seidman, George Underhill and Jeffrey Wieser.
District 5 - Paul Rossi, Barbara Ann Levy, John Suggs and Richard Lowenstein.
District 6 - Christopher Urist, Ann Flynn, Cathy Talmadge and Joyce Colburn.
District 7 - Arthur Ashman, John Klinge, Stephen Rubin and Allen Bomes.
District 8 - Wendy Batteau, Michael Rea, Lois Schine and Jonathan Steinberg.
District 9 - John McCarthy, Velma Heller, Kevin Green and Eileen Flug.
|
|
