What People are Saying
Endorsements from the Westport community for Don and Andrea.
Lee Caney
Chairman of the Board of Finance
I am a Democrat and I strongly endorse Don and Andrea for the position of First Selectman and Second Selectwoman of Westport. As a twelve-year member of the Westport Board of Finance and most recently as the Chairman of the Board I have had a front row seat to Don and Andrea’s leadership, working style and accomplishments. They are the only candidates who have the experience to lead Westport.
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Don was elected twice as a member of the Board of Education and served as Chairman for four years and currently serves as a member of the RTM. Don served as Chairman of the highly successful Coleytown Building Committee and currently serves as a member of the Long Lots Building Committee. As a member of the Coleytown Building Committee, Don was able to successfully shepherd the Town and the Board of Education through the biggest crisis faced by our Town in recent history. His service on the Long Lots Building Committee was equally stellar, helping to replace an old outdated Long Lots School with a new 21st century school that will benefit our school age children for the next 60-70 years. His financial modeling was instrumental in the Board of Finance’s approval of the project. Neither of the other candidates have the relevant experience to lead the Town (take a look at their records). Work outside of government is helpful, but is no substitute, as I have learned over my years of service.
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I have also worked closely with Andrea during her time as Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Finance and as Second Selectwoman. Andrea has been instrumental in maintaining a stable mill rate and at the same time investing in Westport’s infrastructure. As a lifelong resident, Andrea knows Westport and its residents. Andrea always makes herself available to listen to all Westport residents, whether they are Democrats, Republicans or unaffiliated voters.
The decision to endorse Don and Andrea was not an easy one as I was personally endorsed by the Democratic Party for each of my three elections and I am currently a member of the Democratic Town Committee, but it is clearly what is right for Westport. One commentator on the blogs has called for my censure and requested that I be taken off the list of Democratic officials. Another leading Democratic Party member who I considered a friend and mentor, recently emailed me that “I really have little or no interest in hearing from you again” because of my support for Don and Andrea. As Democrats we constantly (and correctly) complain that the Republican members of Congress blindly follow the administration, let’s not do the same in Westport.
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Finally, let me address a few issues that have circulated in the press and blogs:
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Experience: Having been intimately involved in Westport government over the last twelve years and having witnessed all three candidates for the First Selectman’s office in their respective roles, the only candidate that has the experience to lead the Town is Don. The other two candidates, although intelligent and able people, have never demonstrated the knowledge and leadership abilities to run the Town. Listening is important, but over the next four years, Westport needs a leader who can work with the Town department heads and navigate the complex ten year capital forecast.
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Transparency: There have been arguments by a vocal minority that there was a lack of transparency on the Long Lots Building Project. There were probably close to 100 meetings in our Town related to the building of Long Lots, and in almost all of the meetings the Building Committee allowed and responded to public comment. Yes, there were Executive Sessions to address safety issues and specific cost estimates, but I think most members of the public would agree that the safety of our school children and saving the Town money in the bidding process are important (and legally appropriate) reasons for Executive Sessions. Obviously, all of the Town bodies agreed with the recommendations of Don and the Building Committee as the project was unanimously approved by all Town Boards and the RTM. Also, a highly publicized referendum received only 70 signatures.
Politics: Several online commentators have voraciously argued that Don will bring the MAGA movement to Westport and therefore the residents of Westport should support their chosen candidates. This is patently untrue, Don is an unaffiliated candidate and has publicly stated that he has not voted for nor does he support Donald Trump.
I hope you join me in supporting the only team that has the experience to lead Westport.
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Lee Caney, Chairman of the Board of Finance
Dorchester Drive
Westport
Sarah Morrison
Parents for a New Long Lots School
We feel strongly that this is a time to put aside identity politics; Don O’Day himself was a registered Democrat until he decided to take a chance to lead our town. We ourselves are registered Democrats and Independents and have zero affiliation or admiration for Republican politics in Washington.
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As many of you know, Don—alongside Jay Keenan—has been at the forefront of the effort to secure a new Long Lots School for our community. At a time when our voices risked being drowned out by special interests, Don spoke up. He brought steady leadership and unwavering resolve, even in the face of frequent hostility that often consumed committee meetings.
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Throughout it all, Don never lost sight of the goal: ensuring our children would have a new school built efficiently and without unnecessary delay. Because he stood firm in that commitment, those who worked to stall the project are now trying to discredit him. Some have even gone so far as to use his role as Chair of the LLS Building Committee against him—a disappointing tactic, especially from the Democratic nominees.
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This is not the kind of politics we need in our town. With Coleytown up next, we must elect leaders who are willing to advocate fiercely for what our students deserve: safe, functional schools and adequate playing fields.
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Don brings with him a wealth of experience in local government—more than any other candidate in the race. That experience matters, and we believe it will serve our town well.
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Don and Andrea are ready to listen, to answer, and to lead.
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Sarah Morrison
High Point Road
Westport
Liz Heyer
Board of Finance Member
Local elections are about choosing the most qualified candidate. I was glad to see the RTC put aside partisanship and nominate the person with the best experience to be First Selectman, Don O’Day, and I am proud to endorse him. Don has deep knowledge of how our town operates and long tenure working in local government. He communicates clearly and directly, works successfully across party lines, and has a proven track record of results. While I respect the other candidates, they simply don’t have anywhere near the level of experience or expertise that Don possesses, and is necessary, to lead Westport.
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Don doesn’t play party politics, and he has been committed to non-partisan leadership throughout his service. While on the Board of Education, Don championed bipartisan leadership on town boards by recommending the minority party hold the Vice Chair seat, a Westport tradition that continues today. While he was a Democrat, he endorsed a Republican candidate for First Selectman because he thought that candidate was the strongest. Running as an Independent candidate is not meaningful unless you can demonstrate an ability to collaborate with people across the political spectrum to deliver results, as Don has done.
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Don is celebrated for leading the Coleytown Middle School Building Committee and the hallmarks of his leadership were his level of transparency and the communications he provided to the community. Stepping up again as a member of the Long Lots School Building Committee, he weighed conflicting needs of stakeholders and made a difficult decision about how to best utilize the Long Lots property for the new school, the same decision the other two candidates made, and that was also unanimously approved by members of every town board. While Don explains the complexities that contributed to the decision, I am dismayed to see the other candidates waffle about their support for the Long Lots project. I have yet to hear them clearly state where they stand now, or what specifically they would have done differently, despite having opportunity to do so in their roles during project deliberations.
Don’s running mate, Andrea Moore, is a Westport native who has spent more than a decade working to preserve and enhance Westport through roles on school boards, town committees, the Board of Finance and the RTM. As our current Second Selectwoman, she is the only candidate with direct experience in the role. She fully understands the critical, daily management responsibilities of the job and will be instrumental in facilitating a smooth transition. No learning curves, no need for listening tours to understand how departments operate; Don and Andrea will hit the ground running.
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Through their many roles in local government, Don and Andrea have helped shape the Westport we all love and enjoy today, with a competitive tax rate, cherished amenities and services, exceptional schools, a vibrant senior community, a thriving downtown and expanding opportunities for new business. We face big decisions ahead with respect to our ambitious capital plan, large development projects, and state mandates. And though the pandemic is in our rearview mirror, we now know we need leaders who have the wisdom and maturity to lead in a crisis. This is not the time to take risks on unproven leaders.
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While serving on the Board of Education and the Board of Finance, I have had the opportunity to work directly with all the candidates. Only one team has the experience and leadership required for the job, and that’s the team of Don O’Day & Andrea Moore.
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Liz Heyer
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Salem Road
Westport
Evelyn Stevens
Westport Resident
“I believe in the science.” That was Don O’Day’s answer at the Sustainable Westport debate when asked how he differs from the national Republican Party. It’s a line to remember when stepping into the voting booth this year. Don believes in the science, and now I challenge Westporters to do the same: think critically, weigh evidence, and vote with reason over rhetoric.
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I am a Staples alum and recent Tulane graduate, and I have spent the last few weeks working closely with the O’Day team. Through firsthand experience, I can say confidently that Don is the only first selectman candidate I trust to successfully manage Westport. But you don’t need to take my word for it. If you understand Don’s platform, his professional experience and you trust facts, data, and science, you are inevitably bound to be an O’Day supporter.
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First, I admire the other candidates’ courage to immerse themselves in a town they’ve called home for less than a decade. That kind of commitment takes conviction and genuine enthusiasm. But I urge all voters to look at the facts. Don understands this town inside out, knowledge earned through years of involvement in Westport’s committees and boards. Don can name all 17 department heads that report directly to the first selectman because he has spent enough time learning the ins and outs of our local government. He breaks down complex fiscal decisions in a way that even someone like me, a philosophy major, can understand. When the current first selectman’s term neared its end, he didn’t run for ego or applause; he’d already had a long, successful career managing people and finances at Citibank, where he worked directly with the U.S. Department of Justice. Don approached his candidacy with the same scientific, objective mindset he’s applied throughout his career — by assessing his record and concluding, through that same data-driven lens, that he has the right skills to maintain and strengthen Westport.
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I now speak directly to Westport Democrats and Independents: I hear you, Don hears you, and his campaign team understands your concerns. As a young, open-minded recent graduate, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began this internship. I told myself that working in politics doesn’t mean agreeing with your candidate on everything, and I approached the campaign with some skepticism. But it took a single speech on a hot day in September to dissolve my doubts. I observed Don tell it like it is, regardless of which side of the aisle his words may land. In a time when the only thing that most Americans can agree on is that we disagree on everything, let Don be the one to unite Westporters around reason, evidence, and results. One conversation is all it takes to realize that this even-tempered, well-spoken, and affable man is who you want in Town Hall, balancing Westporters’ competing demands and ultimately arriving at the decisions that make the most sense.
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At the end of the day, it comes down to this: do you believe in the science? Let this election — and your decision in it — be guided by facts, data points, and concrete evidence. We know all three of the candidates care deeply about this town. But we also know that Don has managed large teams at a high level with massive financial responsibility for 36 years, and has been elected and reelected to town committees and boards for the past 13. Let’s rise above the partisanship that has poisoned national politics and choose someone who leads with reason, not rhetoric. Learn the facts. Believe in the science. Then vote.
Brian Gaines
Board of Finance Candidate
I’ve appreciated the active debate in our town media about the race for Westport First and Second Selectman. With all three candidates either registered Democrats or Independents who share mostly similar positions, this race is not about ideology — it’s about experience and proven leadership.
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In my view, one candidate stands out: Don O’Day. Don has a long track record of making tough decisions and engaging in town government as chairman of the Board of Education, RTM member and chairperson of multiple critical and complex school building committees. His running mate, Andrea Moore, brings her own direct experience as the current Second Selectwoman and past experience on the Board of Finance. Together, they’ve already shown the aptitude to navigate complex town issues.
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Of course, real leadership means making real decisions. That sometimes leaves people disappointed as no one can satisfy every interest group. But in Westport, most residents understand that decisions, such as relocating the community gardens while managing the Long Lots building committee, involve balancing many voices and priorities. Don did that thoughtfully. He also managed the Coleytown Middle School project with transparency and efficiency, pushing for a remodel that saved money and avoided years of overcrowding.
By contrast, candidates with little experience have never had to make hard decisions and can present themselves as all things to all people — nodding along with every concern while avoiding accountability. For example, as an RTM member, one opponent now claims he should have spoken out more on the community gardens issue while still not expressing a clear opinion on what he would have done. Similarly, when asked to take a position on the Superintendent’s non-renewal of a soccer coach, the other candidate abstained. That may avoid controversy, but it isn’t leadership and certainly seems like an obvious attempt to pander to all voters.
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Don, on the other hand, has done the work. He has faced real issues, weighed all sides, and put in the effort to reach decisions in the best interest of the town. You won’t find anyone who questions his understanding of the facts or his commitment to Westport.
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When people call for a “fresh start,” I wonder what town they are looking at. Westport is already a well-run, collaborative, and thriving community. During COVID, Don helped lead the rebuilding of Coleytown Middle School with remarkable efficiency. He also guided the successful funding of a new elementary school. These are real results and not just platitudes.
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We’re fortunate to have three good people running, but in this race, only one candidate slate brings proven experience, clear accomplishments, and demonstrated leadership: Don O’Day and Andrea Moore.
Melissa Carnahan
Westport Resident
With O’Day and Moore, we all win!
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I have lived in Westport for over 24 years and it has been a wonderful place to live and raise our two daughters. I have also been a secondary social studies and science research teacher for the past 33 years in Westchester County, a town that is a smaller version of Westport. I am amazed and saddened by the level of vitriol in both national and local politics, which is why I stand firmly behind Don O’Day and Andrea Moore in their bid for First and Second Selectmen in the upcoming election. The idea of coming together as a Unity ticket holds great appeal and much promise in my eyes. Don is a lifelong Democrat who is now Unaffiliated and Andrea is a Republican. They both want what is best for Westport and have been working tirelessly for years to achieve this goal. I have watched Don as a member and Chair of the Board of Education work to better the programs in the Westport Public Schools. I have volunteered with Andrea for almost 20 years as a parent in the community. She is a product of this amazing town and wants to continue to do the good work for us all. While they may be registered to different parties, the goal is the same, how to better Westport for us all. I can’t imagine anyone in town who couldn’t stand behind that kind of work and commitment. Please consider voting for O’Day and Moore, a Unity ticket for the benefit of all in our town of Westport.
Melissa Carnahan
Westport resident since 2001
Philip Gallo
Westport Resident
I met Andrea Moore shortly after my husband and I moved to Westport with our two boys, when she asked if I would be willing to join TEAM Westport. Over the course of the last two years, I have come to know Andrea as a woman of principle and integrity, and someone who helped make my family feel incredibly welcome in town.
I have recently spent some time getting to know Don O'Day. Don, a lifelong Democrat, is running as unaffiliated. Although endorsed by the Republican Party/RTC, he isn't running to showcase his party affiliation, he's running because he knows the town and how it works, and with Andrea's experience as 2nd Selectwoman, they'll make a great team.
Don and Andrea believe that party politics has no place in running a town like Westport: does a Democrat fix the roads or the sewers? Does a Republican put in a new 4-way stop sign or plow the snow? As the new member of TEAM, I have seen how national-level divisions and rancor seep in. We’re at our best when we, as neighbors, work together to solve common problems, and speak openly and engage with one another, in a civil and respectful manner. I find we can probably agree on 80% of things regardless of how we feel about the larger issues of the day.
For more than 20 years Don has worked with all types of people to make Westport better and stronger. He established the bi-partisan model on the Board of Education while Chairman, and the Board of Finance has adopted the same policy. I think this collaborative approach is refreshing. Andrea already has the experience as 2nd Selectwoman, and has substantial background with our schools as a PTA President, and on the Education Committee for the RTM.
Don and Andrea will work together to find the best path forward to run our town, and solve our very local problems. Not as a D and an R but as two highly experienced, highly effective people who love Westport and know how to get things done.
I find all the signs showcasing party affiliation disconcerting in a town such as ours, and likewise the independent candidate, while charismatic, doesn't have nearly the experience of Don and Andrea. Experience matters. Vote O'Day and Moore this November.
Philip Gallo
Andrew Colabella
RTM District 4
SAL Commander
PAL Board Member
Don O’Day and Andrea Moore each have a proven track record of decades of dedicated action-based management. Their global management experience and steady leadership have consistently delivered real results, including projects completed on time and within budget. These are management positions, not political ones, and Westport’s success lies in electing proven leaders, not party members.