Following their swearing in tonight at Town Hall ceremony, First Selectman and new Selectman Melissa Kane (l) and Jennifer Tooker posed for photos. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

U.S. Congressman Jim Himes is scheduled to be at Westport’s Unitarian Church Tuesday to address Indivisible Connecticut District 4 (ICT4) the local branch of a national group opposed to the agenda of President Trump and Vice President Pence.

The event at the church located at 10 Lyons Plains Road is scheduled to run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

Himes is expected to share his views on the political environment in Washington, D.C., Trump’s tax plan, the Russia investigation, recent election results, “and how grassroots organizations can bring about effective and meaningful change,” according to ICT4 organizers.

Event planners say seating preference will be given to those who have pre-registered online at http://www.ICT4.org.

By WestportNow Staff

Voting machine printouts resembled calculator ones. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Both major Westport parties were determined to turn out more voters in Tuesday’s election.

The Democrats repeatedly said their key to victory was getting those who don’t usually vote in municipal elections to do so this year.

But their efforts failed. Turnout was about 47.5 percent, almost the same as four years ago. That number represents 8,502 voters.

* * * * * *

The Town Clerk’s Office was crowded on Saturday before the election, the last day to pick up absentee ballots.

Melissa Kane addresses supporters Tuesday night. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Democrat Melissa Kane told supporters today her loss in the first selectman’s race was tough but “we have moved the dial.”

In a Facebook posting, she echoed her comments to supporters Tuesday night that victorious First Selectman Jim Marpe “knows there are people out there he has to do more for.”

“It’s tough to lose a race,” said Kane in the posting. “But we won in many, many other ways. We have moved the dial.

“New voices came together and were heard. So many more people are involved in the process. And our entire superb down tkt D slate won.”

Scenes from Election Night at Republican and Democratic Party headquarters in Westport. Dave Matlow and Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com and WestportNow.com photos

By Jarret Liotta

What began as an almost somber scene at Republican headquarters around the time the polls closed tonight, ended in a loud and jubilant celebration thanks to the projected win of incumbent First Selectman Jim Marpe and his running
mate Jennifer Tooker.

Jim Marpe and jennifer Tooker share a laugh as they celebrate their win tonight.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

“I am humbled by the honor of being re-elected as your first selectman,” Marpe said, “and grateful that you have seen fit to grant me another four years of this awesome responsibility.”

According to unofficial figures called in to the campaign headquarters, Marpe was projected to have taken just under 50 percent of the overall vote in what was a tight and sometimes emotional political race with Democrat Melissa Kane. (See complete list of unofficial returns HERE.)

Petitioning candidates John Suggs and Timothy Elgin finished much farther behind either major party candidate in a local election that was projected to include about half of Westport’s registered voters by the end of the evening.