Westport Election 2021: Candice Savin For Second Selectperson

WESTPORT, CT — Election Day is approaching fast, and a number of key positions in town will be on the ballot.

To help readers make an informed decision on Nov. 2, Patch has reached out to local candidates to share their views on a few topics.

Democrat Candice Savin, 53, is running for Second Selectperson in Westport.

Occupation: Attorney

Family: Daniel Gross (54), Aliza Gross (23), Ethan Gross (19); both Aliza and Ethan went through the Wesport Public Schools K-12

Experience: Current Chair of the Westport Board of Education

Family in government: No

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

Jonathan Steinberg has made it clear that solving our traffic problems is his top priority, but our other top priority is investment in our infrastructure, and and in particular investment in our older school buildings. Lack of proper investment in our school facilities led us to a crisis point at Coleytown Middle School and we cannot let that happen again.

As chair of the Board of Education I have successfully pushed for improvements in our facilities management that will increase both the pace and the quality of our building maintenance and enhancements. As selectperson, I will continue to push the town to bring all our school buildings up to the standard we expect in Westport.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

Jonathan Steinberg and I are uniquely qualified to lead. As a voice for our community, both in Westport and at the State Capitol in Hartford, Jonathan gets things done. As chair of the Public Health Committee, Jonathan helped guide CT through the pandemic and he has been a leader in imposing fiscal discipline in state budgeting.

As chair of the Board of Education during a global pandemic my leadership skills were put to the test and our success as a school system through this trying time is a great point of personal pride for me. Simply caretaking an already excellent system was simply not enough. I had to envision what would be needed and make that happen, all in an environment of uncertainty and fear.

Jonathan and I have the experience, fortitude, and good judgement and vision to effectively lead through whatever challenges may come along in the future.

Accomplishments:

Two years ago, I was elected to lead the Board of Education with bipartisan backing during a time when our school community was crying out for responsive and decisive leadership. I stepped up to lead Westport’s most valuable public resource because I was driven to make things better, and we did just that.

We have restored the Westport Public Schools to a place of stability and trust. We installed effective educational leadership. We reopened CMS, and we guided our students and teachers safely through the pandemic, all while keeping the doors of learning open. Now I’m ready to bring those skills to the Selectman’s Office.

Other issues:

Our campaign is about building on the many things that make us all proud to call Westport home. We will dramatically improve our older school buildings like LLS and CES. We will tackle our traffic problems. We will make Westport an environmental leader in this state.

We will tackle long standing problems like the Cribari Bridge and take advantage of new opportunities and like enhancing the downtown riverfront and improving the amenities at Longshore. And we will make Westport an even more welcoming and inclusive place to live and raise a family.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I started my professional career in 1993 as a criminal prosecutor in New York City. Each day in court, I was filled with pride to declare myself "Candice Savin, and for the people," and I carry that with me to this day.

Westport has been my home for almost 20 years. I have been a practicing real estate lawyer here for 15. My two children went through the Westport Schools K to 12. This town has given my family a wonderful life.

All of these reasons and more fill me with an eagerness to give back and make a difference. I have a track record of speaking up for what I believe to be right and you will always know where I stand on the issues.