There likely will be new faces on the Westport Board of Education after the November municipal elections.
Lee Goldstein: recommended for BOE by Democrats. Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com
Unless a challenge is mounted, stepping down after their terms end will be Democrats Mark Mathias, the board’s longest serving member — 16 years — and chair since last August, and Neil Phillips, a member since last August, filling the unexpired term of Michael Gordon, former chair.
To fill the seats, the Democratic Town Committee (DTC) Nominating Committee at the DTC meeting Wednesday night endorsed two outgoing PTA representatives, Lee Goldstein, co-president of Coleytown Middle PTA, and Youn Su Chao, co-president of Coleytown Elementary PTA.
DTC Chair Ellen Lautenberg declined to say who sought the Nominating Committee’s endorsement. “We are only publicizing the names of those we are nominating, not the ones we are not nominating,” she said.
However, when queried Thursday night, Phillips, a lawyer, said: “I would have liked to continue on the board, but the time commitment has been significant this year and I need to refocus my attention on work and family.”
Mathias declined to comment other than to say he would make a statement in the next couple of weeks.
The Democrats control the seven-member BOE with four members, who are elected to staggered four-year terms. Continuing on the board are Democrats Elaine Whitney and Candice Savin.
The DTC Nominating Committee also recommended incumbents Paul Lebowitz on the Planning and Zoning Commission, Nancie Dupier and Sheri Gordon on the Board of Finance, and Jim Ezzes on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Formal nominations will take place July 17.
-Jarret Liotta contributed reporting.
This story has been updated to clarify that Phillips said he did not seek the DTC endorsement for reelection and thus was not considered by the Nominating Committee.
