Westport First Selectman 2021 Election: Tooker Vs. Steinberg

WESTPORT, CT — The stage was set for Republican candidate Jennifer Tooker and Democratic candidate Jonathan Steinberg to face off this fall when Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe announced in April he will not seek a third term as the town's chief elected official.

In a statement at the time, Marpe said it has been an honor serving Westport for the past seven years, but he believes the town can continue to thrive with a new leader.

"While the Westport Town Charter does not place term limits on our elected officials, my experience in the private sector taught me that every organization benefits from regular changes in senior leadership," Marpe said in a statement, adding that he deeply appreciated the "bi-partisan support and encouragement" he received over the years.

Both Tooker and Steinberg are running for the position soon to be vacated by Marpe, and both candidates bring a wealth of experience to the table.

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

Tooker is currently the Second Selectwoman of Westport, a position she has held since her election in 2017.  She has also served as a member of the Board of Finance, Board of Education and the Westport Conservation Commission, according to her campaign website.

As Second Selectwoman, Tooker has worked on a number of notable initiatives, including launching Westport Together, an alliance between the town and Westport Public Schools that promotes the positive development of local children. She also recently served as chair of the ReOpen Westport Advisory Team.

Steinberg, meanwhile, is now the second-longest serving state representative in the history of the 136th District, representing Westport for six terms, according to his campaign website. As co-chair of the legislature's Public Health Committee, he has worked with the Department of Public Health and the governor's office to respond to challenges posed by the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Steinberg previously held a position on Westport's Representative Town Meeting for seven years and was unanimously elected its deputy moderator three times. He also chaired the health and human services, IT and library, museum, and the arts committees, in addition to serving on the education committee.

In her Patch candidate profile, Tooker noted there has been an increase both in local traffic and residents both working from home and utilizing the town's parks, beaches and other local amenities, as well as visiting local businesses, as a result on the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

"I will support these post-pandemic lifestyle choices by strategically investing in infrastructure to enhance Westport's many public amenities," Tooker said, "and to continue the successful revitalization of downtown by improving our pedestrian pathways, green spaces and parking lots."

Tooker also said she would "continue to communicate effectively with and support" new and existing local business owners.

"I will work with residents, public safety, public works and [planning and zoning] officials to solve traffic issues on town roads," Tooker said, "while, at the same time, continue to pressure state officials to finally address failing state controlled infrastructure and roadways."

In his Patch candidate profile, Steinberg identified traffic as Westport's biggest issue at the moment and noted he has a "strong relationship" with the state Department of Transportation.

"It's high time that the town pushed for more help," Steinberg said. "We'll get DOT to finally tackle the problematic intersections, like Riverside Avenue at the downtown bridge and the Weston/Easton/Main/Exit 42 mess."

He also expressed a desire to install smart traffic lights with cameras in town in order to "shift traffic flow in real time" and enable residents to "get where [they're] going faster." Other planned initiatives include improving crosswalks and bike lanes to assure public safety and "[outwitting] WAZE by implementing speed zones on bypass roads so it doesn't pay to detour off I-95."

"We're committed to doing something about this growing crisis," Steinberg said.

In regards to previous accomplishments, Tooker pointed to her work over the past four years "[leading] the effort to make Westport an attractive place to start and grow a business."

"I went door to door asking local business owners what they needed to be successful in Westport," Tooker said. "I responded to their needs and concerns by giving existing and prospective business owners a sense of stability and an effective channel of communication. The result is a thriving local economy with more than 30 new businesses moving into the downtown area this year and numerous others in Saugatuck and along the Post Road."

In addition to "round-the-clock efforts during the pandemic," "holding Eversource accountable after storms" and "working on bipartisan budget policy as a leader of the Moderates Caucus," Steinberg pointed to his work serving Westport for the past eighteen years as evidence of his deep knowledge of and passion for serving the community.

"I know Westport well, having grown up here and raised my family, and I'm passionate about tackling the tough issues to make our community better for everyone," Steinberg said. "Westporters deserve a first selectman who will work 24/7 on their behalf and has the business and government experience and statewide connections to get things done."

Note: To read each candidate's answers in full, click over to Tooker's profile here and Steinberg's profile here.