Category: Politics - Page 12

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Finance Board Reelects Stern Chairman

In a special Board of Finance meeting tonight, Brian Stern, a Democrat, was reelected 6 to 0 to serve another two years as chairman, a post he has held for the past four years.

Andrea Moore, a Republican, was elected vice chairwoman after being nominated by Nancy Dupier. Moore fills the post previously held by Republican Michael Rea, who did not seek reelection.

Board member Lee Chaney called them “great leaders for us” as the town prepares to tackle myriad fiscal challenges.

“It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to serve for the last four years,” Stern said, adding that he looks forward to two more years “in the interest of all the residents and kids of the town.”

Watching the Impeachment Hearings

The impeachment hearings today continued to get the attention of Westporters. Visitors to the Westport Library’s Trefz Forum found it a convenient place to watch on a large screen. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Anna-Liisa Nixon for WestportNow.com

Tuesday, November 19th, 2019

Himes Defends Impeachment Witnesses

By Ana Radelat

www.ctmirror.org

Washington — U.S. Rep. Jim Himes today came to the defense of impeachment inquiry witnesses derided by President Donald Trump as “never Trumpers” and accused the president of trying to intimidate them.

Himes asked Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a senior National Security Council official who testified in military uniform about the medals on his chest — an infantry medal awarded for combat and a Purple Heart given to those who are wounded in combat.

Himes expressed outrage at GOP questioning of Vindman, who emigrated as a toddler with his family to the United States from Ukraine.

“Colonel Vindman, multiple right-wing conspiracy theorists, including (Trump attorney) Rudy Giuliani, have accused you of harboring loyalty to Ukraine,” Himes said.

Monday, November 18th, 2019

Gallery: Swearing In of Town Officials

Scenes from tonight’s Town Hall swearing in of Westport officials elected in the recent municipal election. Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

Town Officials Sworn In

By Jarret Liotta

In a ritual repeated at least every two years, Westport’s newly elected officials were sworn in tonight in an inauguration ceremony at Town Hall.

A police and fire honor guard opened tonight’s ceremony. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

“This is a significant moment for all of you who worked so hard to be elected to public office,” said First Selectman Jim Marpe.

“You and your families should be proud. You are embarking on, or resuming, a journey of public service.”

Several officials were accompanied on stage by young children, who, like their parent, duly raised their right hand as the oath of office was administered.

Friday, November 15th, 2019

Himes Angry Over Trump Attacks on Diplomat

By Ana Radelat

www.ctmirror.org

Washington – Rep. Jim Himes today told former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch that he is an angry man, made so by President Donald Trump’s treatment of the longtime career diplomat.

“I am angry,” Himes, D-4th District said. “I’ve been angry since I learned about your summary and unexplained dismissal after a lifetime of excellent and faithful service to this country. I am angry that a woman whose family fled Communism and Nazism to serve this country beautifully for 33 years is literally under fire.”

Yovanovitch told her side of the story to members of the House Intelligence Committee after the president ousted her in the spring and called her “bad news” to Ukraine’s president in a notorious phone call that sparked the impeachment inquiry.

In that phone call, Trump urged the Ukrainian president to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, who had served on the board of a Ukrainian energy company.

Thursday, November 14th, 2019

Senate GOP’s No-Tolls Alternative Relies on Rainy Day Fund

By Keith M. Phaneuf and Mark Pazniokas

www.ctmirror.org

The Senate Republican minority today proposed using budget reserves in a complex and creative way to finance an overhaul of Connecticut’s creaky transportation system without tolls or new taxes.

They invited Gov. Ned Lamont and Democratic lawmakers to weigh those political advantages against sacrifices and risks inherent in the plan.

The GOP would use nearly two-thirds of the state’s budget reserves to pay down pension liabilities, producing an annual savings of $130 million that could be spent on transportation.

Another $100 million would come from cutting annual borrowing for things such as capital spending on local schools and public universities.

Wednesday, November 13th, 2019

Lamont Rebuffed on Tolls by Senate Democrats

By Mark Pazniokas and Keith M. Phaneuf

www.ctmirror.org

The Senate Democratic majority today effectively took highway tolls off the table as a means to leverage low-cost federal financing of Gov. Ned Lamont’s sweeping $21 billion plan to maintain and modernize Connecticut’s aging transportation infrastructure over the next decade.

“I think we need to find something that is broadly palatable in the General Assembly and also to the public,” said Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven.

Senate Democrats met for two hours with Lamont in their third-floor caucus room at the State Capitol, then discussed the governor’s CT2030 plan for more than another hour after Lamont departed.

They had one small piece of good news for Lamont once they emerged to face the press. The senators, who hold a 22-14 majority in the upper chamber, are ready to offer “broad-based support” for the transit, highway and bridge investments in CT2030 — and they would like to act on them before the General Assembly returns in regular session in February, Looney said.

Tuesday, November 12th, 2019

RTM Approves Raise for First Selectman

For the first time in 16 years, Westport’s first selectman will get a pay increase—a bump of $3,450 effective Nov 21.

The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) voted 32 to 0 with 1 abstention tonight for a 3.4% mid-term cost of living increase, raising First Selectman Jim Marpe’s salary from $101,474 to $104,925.

Prior to the vote, Lou Mall, who chairs the RTM’s Compensation Committee, said the last time the town’s top employee had a raise was July 2003 when the pay went from $99,000 to $101,475.

“This salary has fallen further and further behind,” Mall said, adding that increase could be approved without the recommendation of the Board of Finance.

Saturday, November 9th, 2019

Election Recount Underway

UPDATE Marla Cowden, Westport Democratic registrar of voters, today addresses participants in an absentee ballot recount from Tuesday’s election. A Board of Education race and several races for the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) were close, triggering the recount. After the recount, there was no change in any of the race outcomes, she said. In the BOE race, Vik Muktavaram’s lead over fellow Republican Liz Heyer narrowed by one vote to 22. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com