Westport Democrats: 2017 Candidates

First Selectman

Melissa Kane
Melissa Kane

Melissa Kane

Melissa Kane has distinguished herself as a successful businessperson, public servant, volunteer and advocate for the town of Westport and is respected for her ability to set a vision and build the support necessary to take action. Melissa was elected to, and currently represents, Westport’s District 3 on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM). Melissa is also the Co-Chair of the Downtown Implementation Committee, a position to which she was appointed by the current First Selectman. Prior to this role, she was the Chair of the Downtown Steering Committee… Read more…


Second Selectman

Rob Simmelkjaer
Rob Simmelkjaer

Rob Simmelkjaer

Simmelkjaer has been active as a volunteer coach for Westport Soccer and Westport Softball, a parent volunteer at Kings Highway School and Landmark preschool, and is the Vice Moderator of the Northfield Congregational Church in Weston. He also has served on the Westport Zoning Board of Appeals since January 2016 and is on the Board of Directors of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSVG), a Washington, DC based organization which seeks to secure freedom from gun violence through research, strategic engagement and effective policy advocacy. Simmelkjaer also serves on the Board of Advisors of the Child Study Center of New York. Read more…


Board of Finance

Brian Stern
Brian Stern

Brian Stern

Brian has served on the Board of Finance since 2009 serving as Chair since November 2015. Brian was employed by Xerox Corporation for over 35 years, beginning as a Finance Director and progressing to become President of four divisions. In Westport Brian has served as a soccer coach, an alternate to the Planning and Zoning Commission, and on the Board of the Levitt Pavilion and is a proud and active member of the Westport Weston Y’s Men. Brian is the Current Chairman of the Westport Audit Committee. Read more…

Lee Caney
Lee Caney

Lee Caney

For nearly two decades, Lee has managed complicated financial and tax matters with skill and responsibility. Now a partner at an international law firm, Lee brings his deep financial and legal knowledge to the board of finance to maintain our town’s excellent services and protect Westport’s taxpayers. Read more…


Board of Education

Candice Savin
Candice Savin

Candi Savin

Appointed to the Board of Education in October of 2016, Candi Savin hit the ground running. She quickly emerged as a leading voice in support of the protection and advancement of Westport’s excellent educational programs. Candi’s service has been marked by her ready availability and openness to fellow parents, her thoughtful review and questioning of all expenditures, her diligent outreach to Westport’s funding bodies, and her principled public stands on issues that affect Westport’s kids. Read more…

Elaine Whitney
Elaine Whitney

Elaine Whitney

Elaine Whitney is currently BOE Secretary after serving a term as Chair. She has a seven-year track record of proactively improving our educational programs while simultaneously achieving the lowest operating budget increases in over a decade. Elaine is passionate about maintaining the excellence of our schools and preparing each one of our students to reach his or her full potential. Read more…


Planning & Zoning Commission

Michael Cammeyer
Michael Cammeyer

Michael Cammeyer

Michael was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission in March 2017 after serving as an alternate for the previous six months.

While living and working in Westport, Michael spends a great amount of time around town which has opened his eyes to future development opportunities. As a member of the P&Z, he looks forward to being an advocate for the town and while he believes it is important to cultivate growth in the community, it is just as important to preserve the very reason why people choose to move to Westport. Read more…

Danielle Dobin
Danielle Dobin

Danielle Dobin

Danielle is a current Planning & Zoning Commissioner and chairs the P&Z’s Affordable Housing Subcommittee. Danielle began her career as a staff assistant in the office of US Senator Bob Graham (D-Florida). Following her graduation from Georgetown Law, Danielle joined the Real Estate Group of Skadden, Arps, a New York law firm. She left Skadden to found Monarch Real Estate, LLC, where she serves as Chief Executive Officer with a focus on residential and multifamily real estate investment. Read more…

Greg Rutstein
Greg Rutstein

Greg Rutstein

Greg began his career as an attorney at the New York law firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy practicing general corporate law and M&A transactions. After a couple of years he took a position at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, another large New York firm, to focus on private fund transactions and the associated regulatory matters. Greg’s unique skill set led him to his next role at Financial Risk Management (FRM), a London-based investment manager (now owned by Man Group) where he worked for a number of years as an in-house attorney. Read more…


Zoning Board of Appeals

 

Bernard Deverin

Bernard Deverin moved to Westport 15 years ago from the Jersey Shore, as a energy derivatives trader. In 2003, after spending more than 25 years on Wall Street he  retired, and founded the Westport Builder Group, LLC, a Design- Build firm here in downtown Westport. As someone who loves the town he lives in and appreciates the beauty, locale, history and heritage of Westport, Bernard wants to utilize his financial knowledge, building expertise and environmental concerns as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Read more…

Victoria Gouletas
Victoria Gouletas

Victoria Gouletas

Ms. Victoria Gouletas is currently is an Alternate Board Member for the Zoning Board of Appeals and has attended numerous ZBA meetings in her capacity as an Alternate Board Member. She is an experienced executive with significant real estate experience, including the practice of real estate law, real estate development, and the underwriting of title insurance. With over 15 years of real estate experience, Ms. Gouletas has considerable knowledge that aids in her ability to understand and vote on the issues brought before the ZBA. Read more…


Board of Assessment Appeals

Elaine Arnow
Elaine Arnow

Elaine Arnow

Elaine Arnow has served on Board of Assessment Appeals since 2005. A realtor in Westport with twenty-five years experience, Elaine is a CT native and a longtime resident of the town. She is also a former music teacher in Westport & Weston schools and a former religious school teacher. Arnow received BS and MA degrees from Columbia University and is married with five children, all of whom attended and graduated from Westport schools.
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