Governor: Secretary of State Resigning “a tremendous loss for the people of Connecticut.”
Office of Governor Ned Lamont: Governor Ned Lamont released the following statement regarding the announcement made today by Secretary of the State Denise Merrill that she intends to resign from her elected office effective at noon on Thursday, June 30, 2022:
“Denise Merrill is a dear friend to me, and her exit from public service is a tremendous loss for the people of Connecticut. Denise has had a long history of serving the public good in Connecticut and has become one of the most respected secretaries of state in the country. I am proud to have partnered with her on our collected efforts to increase access to voter registration, increase access to casting a ballot, increase election transparency, and streamline the way businesses interact with our state government. It can’t go without noting that our most recent statewide election resulted in the highest number of registered voters casting ballots in our state’s history, which is a credit to Denise’s efforts to encourage voter participation. Denise has delivered results, and our state is stronger because of her efforts. My prayers are with her and her family, and I thank her for everything she has given to Connecticut.”
As required by state statute, when the legislature is not in session the responsibility to fill a vacancy for a constitutional officer falls to the governor. That appointee serves the remainder of the constitutional officer’s term. Governor Lamont will announce an appointment soon.
Save Westport Now Endorses Cammeyer, Dobin, Cohn Planning and Zoning Ticket
From Save Westport Now
Save Westport Now, a non-partisan political party devoted to preserving and enhancing Westport’s residential neighborhoods, historic resources, open spaces, and quality of life, announced its nomination of three candidates for Westport's November Planning and Zoning Commission election. P&Z incumbents Michael Cammeyer, Danielle Dobin, and Neil Cohn will all appear on line E, the Save Westport Now ballot line.
"Michael, Danielle, and Neil will continue to bring the fresh vision, ideas, and tone to P&Z that have been hallmarks of their leadership since they first joined the commission," says Ian Warburg, SWN Co-Chair. "As an organization with forty-plus years of service to the community, we welcome voters who care about appropriate development, prioritize environmental conservation, and wish to preserve what makes Westport such a desirable place to live."
“We're thrilled to receive the endorsement of SWN,” says P&Z Commission Chair Danielle Dobin. “My running mates and I share SWN's values – we balance our promotion of smart, sustainable growth, the creation of new sidewalks/bike lanes and regulation changes to prepare for climate change with a strong, intentional commitment to preserve Westport’s New England charm, our quality of life, open spaces and coastal resources."
The three SWN nominees bring to the ticket significant experience on the P&Z commission and a vision for a sustainable future that combines innovative new ideas with commitments to both environmental protection and preserving the town’s unique historic and scenic resources that comes with having lived in Westport for many years. Danielle serves as the current P & Z Chair, Michael serves as the Secretary, and Neil chairs the Economic Development Subcommittee. During their tenure, they’ve been responsible for initiatives such as: resisting state efforts to densely develop downtown and Saugatuck by broadly upzoning every town in Connecticut; pushing for stronger drainage requirements in response to increased storm activity; founding the P&Z’s Affordable Housing Subcommittee; passing a Text Amendment to allow for the development of affordable housing for Westporters with special needs; passing a Text Amendment to allow for much-needed bus shelters; and the thoughtful expansion of outdoor dining. As a team, they bring unrivaled wisdom and experience to the P&Z, plus a love for Westport and a desire to usher us into a more sustainable future.
Save Westport Now’s mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance Westport’s residential neighborhoods, historic resources, open spaces, and quality of life; to prevent over-building and over-commercialization via sensible planning and zoning enforcement; and to promote smart growth that preserves Westport’s small-town, New England charm. We accomplish our mission by supporting Westport residents, neighborhood groups, builders, and P&Z candidates who share these values.
CANDIDATE BIOS
Michael Cammeyer
Michael serves as the elected Secretary of the P&Z. Michael is a champion for the environment, open space and improved recreational spaces. He is spearheading stronger drainage regulations to ensure resilience to climate change as storms become more frequent. Michael holds a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and an MBA in Corporate Finance from Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business. He spent eleven years on Wall Street working for a large family office, and in 2010 joined his family’s Mergers and Acquisitions Healthcare business. Michael has lived in the area since 2011 with his wife Ali and their two sons.
Danielle Dobin is the elected Chair of the P&Z. Danielle founded the P&Z's Affordable Housing Subcommittee and co-created the P&Z Council of Chairs of Fairfield County, which successfully pushed back on state efforts to broadly upzone every town in CT. She is focused on ensuring that Westport proactively addresses state mandates to create affordable housing so that Westport residents, not private developers, choose where multifamily units are built, what they look like while ensuring quality for the families who will live there. Other interests on the committee include updating Westport's regulations to ensure sustainable economic development downtown, embracing climate change resilience and updating drainage regulations to protect neighbors. She earned her MS in Real Estate Finance from NYU, her JD from Georgetown Law and her BA in Political Communication from the George Washington University. Danielle is an active community volunteer who lives with her husband, their two teen boys and their beloved dog in the Compo/Longshore area.
Neil Cohn has spent the past three decades driving positive impact and sustainability through financial markets and investments, and he is passionate about public service. Neil co-founded Natsource Asset Management, the first private sector fund focused on carbon removal and renewable energy. Currently, Neil is building out Chia Network: an eco-friendly blockchain aimed to deliver the best intentions of cryptocurrency — sustainable growth and inclusive prosperity. Neil was an environmental advisor to Obama’s first Presidential Transition Team and has served locally on the Westport P & Z since January 2018. P&Z achievements include an active role on the Affordable Housing Subcommittee that was able to secure an 8-30G moratorium and establishing the P&Z’s Economic Growth Subcommittee, where Neil serves as the Chair. This new committee worked collaboratively to shepherd the successful adoption of a text amendment that enables public bus shelters – a basic need that had been stalled for decades. Neil has enjoyed living in Westport since 2012 with his wife and three kids in middle school.
Chamber of Commerce Announces Selectmen Candidate Debate
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce and the Westport Library are pleased to once again bring a vibrant and informative debate to the community this election season. There will be a new First Selectman in Westport and this interactive and moderated forum will help residents decide who should lead the town next.
“We have been doing these types of debates for years with the Library,” said Matthew Mandell, Executive Director of the Chamber. “But I think this one might be one of the most eagerly anticipated and meaningful.”
“This is all part of our mission to bring information to the community in this case through a debate,” said Bill Harmer, Executive Director of the Library. “It’s also another collaboration with the Chamber who we enjoy being partners with on so many things.”
The debate will be held live in the Library on Tuesday October 12th at noon. A limited number of tickets will be available, free, to those who would like to watch in person, in a socially distant manner. Tickets will be available starting on Wednesday at 10am. (note: all attendees must remain masked as per Town mandate)
The debate will also be televised live on Town Ch 79 and may also be watched via stream on vimeo. The debate will also be recorded and archived for later viewing. Both First and Second Selectman candidates from all parties; Jen Tooker and Andrea Moore, Jonathan Steinberg and Candi Savin, TJ Elgin and Louis D’Onofrio, will be attending and have agreed to the format and covid protocols put in place for health and safety.
The debate will be moderated by Matthew Mandell, Executive Director of the Chamber.
For further information on tickets and streaming go to www.westportwestonchamber.com/debate2021
Matthew Mandell matthew@westportwestonchamber.com 203-227-9234
Community Protests Texas Abortion Ban
Community members met on the historic Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Bridge today in protest of the recent ban on abortions in Texas. Dozens of neighbors showed up to the protest in support of one another and the women affected in the South. Organized by local leaders and residents, the protest began at 10:00 AM and joined the many protests before it that have all been held on the historic spot in Downtown.
All photos by Jerri Graham Photography. Click to enlarge photos.
