Darien First Selectman 2021 Election: Ochman Vs. McNally

DARIEN, CT — The stage was set for Republican candidate Monica McNally and Democratic candidate Tara Ochman to face off this fall when Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson announced in June she would not seek re-election after serving five terms in the position.

In a statement at the time, Stevenson noted the decision was difficult but would ultimately benefit the community by opening it up to new leadership and fresh ideas. While there are no term limits for the first selectman position in Darien, Stevenson said she strongly believes in them.

"The decision to step aside was very difficult given the exciting, transformational work we've done to plan for the Darien of our future and the close friendships I've made along the way," Stevenson said in a statement. "I feel humbled and gratified by all we've set in motion. New leadership and fresh ideas, grounded by our history and community values, are healthy for our community."

Both McNally and Ochman are running for the position soon to be vacated by Stevenson, and both candidates bring a wealth of experience to the table.

See also: Darien 2021 Local Elections: Candidates, Polling Places, Hours

For eight years, McNally served as an elected member of the Representative Town Meeting, which exposed her to a variety of issues that affected the town and its residents, according to the Darien Republican Town Committee. During this time, she also chaired the RTM Public Works Committee for three years.

She currently serves as a member of the town's Board of Selectmen after being selected this summer to fill a seat vacated by Christa McNamara, who left the board to fill the town clerk position left vacant following Caryn Diller's death in November, according to the Darien Times.

Ochman, meanwhile, has served as a member of the Darien Board of Education for nearly four years and was voted in as chair by the board in 2018, according to her campaign website. She was also elected as chair for each of the following three years.

As chair, Ochman led the Board of Education through three of its lowest budget cycles in history, working to ease burden on taxpayers while maintaining the quality of Darien's public schools, according to her website.

In her Patch candidate profile, McNally identified flooding as the most pressing issue in town at this time and noted she viewed the worst of the flooding from Tropical Storm Ida when the storm blew threw town in early September.

"I helped residents and businesses clean up afterwards," McNally said. "Their suffering, and the anger and frustration following it, still stick to me."

She noted the town needs professional help for this complicated process, as well as "a governmental body that is more permanent than one that is event driven."

"There is no doubt," McNally said, "that mitigating flooding in an era of increasing rate and intensity of storms will take the cooperation of many stakeholders, including the town, and the state and land owners."

In her Patch candidate profile, Ochman also pointed toward flooding as the town's biggest issue, and one which highlights that "the town's infrastructure has been neglected for too long."

"Homeowners and small businesses that face consistent flooding deserve more than an insurance settlement," Ochman said. "They deserve a government that understands what they're facing. We need to update outdated plans."

Ochman noted she planned to invest in upgrading the drainage culverts, underpasses and riverbanks in town that are most at risk of major flooding. She also emphasized the need to "fight for state and federal support."

"Major mitigation projects are expensive, but we can't let cost get in the way of doing the right thing," Ochman said. "That's why I'll work with federal representatives like Jim Himes and Chris Murphy to bring federal infrastructure dollars to Darien, and push Democratic leadership in Hartford to send us the funding and bonding packages that we deserve."

In regards to previous accomplishments, McNally noted she is already a sitting member of the Board of Selectmen, and thus knows what the job entails. She also pointed to her experience as vice moderator of the 100-member RTM as evidence she could handle complex issues, competing goals, big budgets and multifaceted solutions.

"Building strong, respectful relationships, town-wide and state-wide, is an important part of the foundation for success as Darien's first selectman," McNally said. "These relationships develop when people are truly heard and their concerns and considerations are included in the decision making process."

As the chair of the Board of Education, Ochman said she oversaw the implementation of the Strategic Planning Committee and eventual unanimous adoption of the board's strategic plan, which provided a long-term road map for the district going forward.

"I advocated for and received all necessary approvals to bring air conditioning to our schools, and was incredibly proud to support the creation of Fitch Academy," Ochman said. "As chairman, I was able to shepherd all of these projects through the system within fiscally responsible budgets and effective five-year capital plans."

McNally also emphasized her love for Darien and its residents and, in turn, her desire to keep Darien a place residents can be proud of.

"I feel so fortunate to live in this vibrant community and surrounded by caring residents who give their time and effort so generously," McNally said. "My singular goal is to help keep Darien the town we all love."

Ochman said her role as a member and former chair of the Board of Education taught her the importance of listening to residents, being both responsive and responsible and delivering results. Likewise, she noted, it is the first selectman's role to understand concerns, identify problems, prioritize projects and get results for the community.

"It has been a great responsibility and a privilege to serve the community on the [Board of Education]," Ochman said, "and if elected, it will be an honor to serve the residents of this town as first selectman. I will bring the same integrity, work ethic and results-based pragmatism to Town Hall in an effort to improve the quality of life for all residents."

Note: To read each candidate's answers in full, click over the McNally's profile here and Ochman's profile here.