Jim Marpe's Full Inauguration Remarks

Editor's Note: The following are Jim Marpe's comments at the Westport Oath of Office Ceremonies:

I want to thank so many of you who have shown me your confidence and support during the election campaign and with your good wishes since the election.  I want to single out my family – my wife, Mary Ellen, my daughter, Samantha and my sister, Sandy, who is here tonight from Ohio, for their unflagging commitment to my efforts this past year and to what we are about to undertake. 

I extend special thanks to Westport Town Clerk Patty Strauss and her staff for organizing tonight’s ceremonies and celebration and to the League of Women Voters who are ushering and serving refreshments.  This really is a special moment for so many who worked to be elected to public office in Westport. 

During the past two weeks as I have been preparing for this transition, I found myself reminded of the extraordinary responsibilities and expectations of a Selectman in Westport.  To that end, I would like to acknowledge and thank our predecessors, Gordon Joseloff, Shelly Kassen and Charlie Haberstroh.  Collectively, they have made Westport a better place for all of us. 

I’ve also had a chance to meet many of our Town’s dedicated employees.  I’ve developed an even greater appreciation for their commitment to the important, and sometimes dangerous, work that they do.  They make our community safe, clean and easy to travel; they educate our children; and they provide the processes and services that allow the rest of us to do the things we want to do in our daily lives.  I’m looking forward to working with them to make Westport a truly “Citizen Centric” community – a town that continues to work for all its citizens.

As Avi noted, now it’s time to begin “making the ideas into reality”.  It’s time to switch from the politics of an election campaign to representing all the people, and to focus on what we have in common – not what divides us.  I am looking forward to working with all of our elected officials here tonight in a spirit of teamwork, cooperation and consensus building to accomplish that.  I know that we may encounter some disagreements, but I hope they are always in the spirit of what we each think is best for all of Westport.

One of the many lighter moments during the campaign was when I was going door to door and met Sid Filderman, a former RTM member in the 1980’s, who regaled Jen Tooker and me with stories of the battles over some things we take for granted like Winslow Park and the playground at the beach.  So, the topics may change, but the debates are always there.  And in the end, I hope we are all debating for a better Westport.

I think what really makes our Town so special is that so many Westporters are committed to service on behalf of their fellow citizens.  I was constantly reminded this past year that there are so many good things that happen here, not because the government makes it happen, but because so many our citizens volunteer to make things happen. 

Whether it’s coaching our kids on the athletic fields, driving seniors or delivering meals to them or helping our neighbors clean up and put their lives back in order after a major storm  ---  I could go on for a very long time about the countless ways Westporters volunteer to make this a great community. 

As I start my term in office, I hope many of you will direct some of that volunteer spirit to serve or continue to serve on the many Town committees, Boards and commissions that help make a difference in our quality of life.  In a few minutes, we’ll hear a song called “In Wonderful Westport” where we’ll hear a long list of Westporters who made a difference – Adams, Avery, Bedford, Jennings, Sherwood, Staples – but also some more contemporary names like Newman and Raymond.  Think about how your own name could be associated with those great builders of our community.

Effective communication is a key part of making ideas into reality.  My approach to communication is first listening and learning and then leading.  In the coming months I’ll be conducting a “State of the Town” meeting; I’ll be visiting you in your neighborhoods for coffee and conversation events and will begin using webcasts and crowdsourcing to conduct virtual Town Hall meetings that can fit your schedule, not just mine.  If you want to have an active role in shaping the Town’s future, I urge your participation in these kinds of events.  You can start this coming Saturday morning by attending the Community Charrette (collaborative workshop) to discuss the future of Compo Beach with the Compo Beach Site Improvement Committee.  I hope to see you there.

Westport is at a transitional point in its history.  We can be proud of our vibrant and interesting community that is a recreational, artistic, cultural, shopping and business destination for so many.  It is not by accident that we have great schools, wonderful restaurants, a trend setting library, multiple parks and recreation facilities and numerous beaches and open spaces.  Now it’s up to us manage future development to assure the continued quality of our assets and financial strength and the renewed vibrancy of our community and to encourage a population that reflects all our generations and maintains our historic small town character. 

In closing, I want to thank you again for your support and confidence.  I pledge to you that my administration will continue to listen and to learn from all of you, to work at building consensus and will commit to being “Citizen Centric”.  But remember, government by itself can only do so much.  It is our citizens through their volunteer efforts that will continue to make Westport the special place it has become.  Please join me – be a part of our larger team. And help me and all of your elected representatives and Town employees make Westport an even better place than we found it.  I know I can count on all of you!   

Tomorrow morning I start the job you elected me to do.  I can’t wait to begin making great ideas for Westport into reality!

Thank You!"