Saying that the state House of Representative has made it harder for police departments to do their job, Westport Police Union today endorsed Republican Chip Stephens over incumbent Democrat Rep. Jonathan Steinberg for the 136th District.

“As recent events have shown, our current representation in House has not only seriously affected our capabilities to take drugs, guns and wanted persons off the street to make our communities safer, but have also cost each community hundreds of thousands of dollars to implement unfunded mandates with new laws passed this year,” said Cpl Howard E. Simpson, president of Local 2080.

Simpson added that none of the current representatives serving Westport “took the time to discuss or rationalize the impact that these laws would have on public safety …or the brave men and women who work hard each day keeping your community safe.”

Simpson lauded Stephens as one who has pledged “to work closely with public safety.” He said Stephens would ensure “smart changes” to laws to enhance fairness and to make the community safer “without the added costs associated with unfunded mandates.”

Incumbent state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, a Democrat, and Chip Stephens, his Republican challenger, for the 136th District squared off on tolls, the need for a state funds lock box and local autonomy versus state mandates at today’s candidates’ forum via Zoom.

Other topics included the state’s handling of COVID-19, support for local businesses, the need for a state funds lock box and Connecticut’s unfunded liabilities.

The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce (WWCC) and Westport Library sponsored the debate, which also featured Stephanie Thomas, a Democrat, and Republican Patrizia Zucaro who are running for the 143rd District seat vacated by Republican Gail Lavielle who did not seek reelection.

Questions were gathered by the WWCC’s board of directors, with additional ones solicited from the public via a Zoom chat feature.

State representative candidates took part today in a Westport Chamber of Commerce/Westport Library virtual forum that covered a wide range of issues. They included Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, a Democrat, and Chip Stephens, a Republican, running for the 136th District, and Stephanie Thomas, a Democrat, and Patricia Zucaro, a Republican, who are running for Republican Gail Lavielle’s 143rd District seat. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Absentee ballots.arrived at Westport households today with some already deposited in a collection box behind Town Hall. Others like Mary Jo Kinser (above) drops off an application for an absentee ballot. “It’s for my mother who is ill and will not be able to vote in person,” she said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Gov. Ned Lamont reacted cautiously today from both a political and public-health standpoint to President Donald J. Trump having COVID-19, news that brought uncertainty to the presidential campaign and spasms of sympathy, snark and schadenfreude.

The Democratic governor expressed concern about the president and first lady and offered no criticism of the routine disregard for public-health guidelines about social distancing, masks and other precautions by Trump, his family and his campaign.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Trump family,” Lamont said.

The president announced on Twitter at 1 a.m. that he and the first lady had tested positive for COVID-19. Two hours earlier, Trump said he would quarantine because his close aide, Hope Hicks of Greenwich, had tested positive for the infection.

—CTMirror.org

By Ana Radelat

Washington –  Sen. Richard Blumenthal was among those being tested for the coronavirus today following President Donald Trump’s announcement that he has contracted COVID-19, unleashing a wave of concern about the president’s recent contacts.

Blumenthal had been at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday that was also attended by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who announced today he has tested positive for the virus.

Lee had also been at Trump’s Rose Garden announcement of Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court on Saturday, sitting, without a mask, with other Republicans on the Judiciary Committee.

Spokeswoman Maria McElwain said Blumenthal had sat across the room from Lee at Thursday’s Judiciary Committee hearing, but was getting tested “out of an abundance of caution.”

The Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce (WWCC) and Westport Library today announced two candidate forums via Zoom, the first set for Tuesday, Oct. 6, the second, Tuesday, Oct. 13. Both will be held at noon.

The first debate will feature candidates for the office of state representative. They include Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, a Democrat, and Chip Stephens, a Republican, running for the 136th District, and Stephanie Thomas, a Democrat, and Patricia Zucaro, a Republican, who are running for Republican Gail Lavielle’s 143rd District seat.

The second debate will feature incumbent state Sen. Tony Hwang, a Republican, and Michelle McCabe, a Democrat, competing the 28th District, as well as incumbent state Sen. Will Haskell, a Democrat, and Kim Healy, a Republican, competing for the 26th District.

“Once again we are pleased to offer this service to the community during these unprecedented times,” said Matthew Mandell, WWCC executive director. “Who leads us out of this pandemic and the clear economic impacts due to it is of the utmost of importance.”

A Westport man was arrested after Fairfield police said he showed up at the front door of the Democratic Town Committee office yelling profanities and insults at volunteers inside.

Michael Silverstein, 61, of Bayberry Lane, a Trump supporter, was issued a summons for breach of peace after the incident that happened around 4 p.m. at the DTC office at 1 Sasco Hill Road, the Connecticut Post reported.

Reached Saturday, he, said, “I let my emotions get the best of me. I wish I didn’t do it. I’m better than that,” the newspaper reported

While he did say that he did “terrorize and curse them out,” he never made any threat