Westport Democratic Town Committee

Westport News -- July 28, 2011 The Westport Democratic Town Committee on Tuesday endorsed candidates for the November municipal election. They include, from left: Board of Education nominee Michael Gordon; Board of Finance member Kenneth Wirfel; Board of Finance nominee Janis Collins; First Selectman Gordon Joseloff, who is not on the ballot this year; Planning and Zoning Commission nominee Jennifer Johnson; Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman/DTC Chairman Jim Ezzes, and Board of Education member Mark Mathias. Photo: Paul Schott / Westport News

Seeking to maintain control of every elected board in Westport's town government, the Democratic Town Committee unanimously approved Tuesday night its slate of nominees for the November municipal election.

The top elected job of first selectman, however, is not on this year's ballot. That post is held by Democrat Gordon Joseloff, whose current four-year term ends in 2013.

This year, six Democratic nominees will stand for election or re-election to municipal boards and commissions.

Board of Finance member Kenneth Wirfel, a litigator, will run for a second term, while Janis Collins, a management consultant, will run to replace Democrat Allyson Stollenwerck, who will not seek another term on the finance panel.

On the Planning and Zoning Commission, Jennifer Johnson will run to replace fellow Democrat Ellie Lowenstein, who is stepping down after 16 years on the P&Z.

The Democrats will have another newcomer, Michael Gordon, run for election on the Board of Education. He will run to succeed fellow Democrat Faith Taylor, who will not seek a second term. Incumbent Mark Mathias, a technology executive, will run for a third term.

Jim Ezzes, the Democratic Town Committee chairman and a residential building contractor, will run for a fifth term on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Currently the ZBA chairman, he has served on that board since 1995.

 

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“Blame me for the medicine, but don’t blame me for the problem,” Gov. Dannel Malloy said Saturday morning as he discussed his efforts to deal with the state’s $38 billion budget deficit. Malloy addressed about 100 Westport Democrats at a breakfast fundraiser that was also attended by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and other Democratic elected officials.

Malloy told the Minuteman he hoped state union employees will agree to givebacks negotiated by their leadership to help balance the budget, but if they don’t, other steps will have to be taken. Two key unions said this week they wouldn’t go along with the givebacks.

Malloy answered “I hope not” when asked whether the additional steps may include reductions in state aid to municipalities, a prospect that state officials mentioned this week.

“We’ve decided to play it straight, which it hasn’t been played in Connecticut for a long time,” Malloy told the Democrats gathered at Tavern on the Main.The event was hosted by Westport Democraic Town Chairman Jim Ezzes. Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff gave opening remarks. In addition to Blumenthal, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, state Comptroller Kevin Lembo, and Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen, State Reps. Jonathan Steinberg and Kim Fawcett, as well as Westport Democrats serving on boards and commissions in Westport, Weston and Wilton, attended the breakfast.

Westport was the only town Malloy won in the Fourth Congressional District in last November’s election. He defeated Republican businessman Tom Foley by 6,440 votes statewide.

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