By Jarret Liotta
Candice Savin, a Democrat who joined the Westport Board of Education (BOE) three years ago, was elected chairperson tonight.
Vice Chair Jeannie Smith looks on at Superintendent of Schools David Abbey congratulates Candice Savin on taking over as the new chair. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com
While the other six members expressed unanimous support for her in principle, Vik Muktavaram abstained from an otherwise unanimous vote because he said he wanted to see a slate voted on that would have included member Karen Kleine as vice chair over Jeannie Smith, who was separately reelected to the post.
“I believe that we have to put what is best for the board … ahead of friendships,” he said, with the slate he favored including Savin, Kleine, and Elaine Whitney, a former chair, maintaining her role as secretary.
“There’s a clamor for change of leadership on the board,” said Muktavaram, who was reelected earlier this month.
“I have to vote my conscience,” he said, though he was not opposed to Savin’s election.
Smith was reelected by a 6-1 vote, with Muktavaram in opposition, while Whitney abstained from voting for herself but was reelected secretary 6-0.
“I’ve always appreciated that Candice is willing to engage,” newest BOE member Lee Goldstein said in her nomination of Savin. “She answers every call, every text … She listens and is responsive to the community.”
“I’m really humbled by the importance of the work of this board,” Savin said, stating that her goals as chair will be to promote transparency, accessibility, and a more cohesive vision.
New member Lee Goldstein nominates Candice Savin for BOE chair. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com
“It’s been a challenging year for our community,” Savin said, “but I want to acknowledge tonight that we have many blessings to celebrate.
Savin succeeds Mark Mathias who did not seek reelection.
The change in leadership comes after the outgoing board faced tough issues — including the mold problem which has closed Coleytown Middle School and the abrupt departures of the superintendent of schools and the Staples High School principal.
Since moving to town in 2002, Savin has been an active member of the community, co-chairing the Westport Library’s Booked for the Evening fundraiser, serving on the boards of the Conservative Synagogue and Hadassah, and volunteering with the Kings Highway and Coleytown Middle PTA’s.
She was raised in the Hartford area. After graduating from the Johns Hopkins University and Duke University School of Law, she served as a prosecutor in New York City.
Since 2004 she has had her own legal practice in Westport focusing on real estate law.
