Catherine Walsh Elected Chair of Westport P&Z

, Republican members of the Westport Planning & Zoning Commission elected top vote getter Republican Catherine Walsh as board chairman on Thursday, according to published reports.

Walsh succeeds Democrat Ron Corwin, who served as chairman since 2007.

Walsh, who works as a consultant in the steel industry, was appointed to the commission in 2008 following the resignation of Helen Martin Block.

The six-seat commission’s three other Republicans, Al Gratrix, Jack Whittle and Chip Stephens, voted for Walsh as chairwoman, while the two Democrats, Nora Jinishian and Howard Lathrop, abstained, according to reports.

All four Republicans were . Their terms are up in 2015.