Marpe, Kaner Anchor Slate of Westport GOP Candidates

Jim Marpe and Avi Kaner will anchor the Republican ballot for November's municipal elections as candidates for First Selectman and Second Selectman, respectively.

The Republican Town Committee unanimously nominated Marpe and Kaner during its convention Tuesday, and endorsed candidates for the seats on the finance and school boards.

"Westporters knows that leadership matters," Marpe said.

He served on the Board of Education from 2005 to 2012, including five years as vice chair and filled in as interim chair twice.

Kaner currently serves as Chair of the Board of Finance and was first elected to the board eight years ago.

"My parents taught me an important life lesson -- whenever I go somewhere, to try to leave the place in a better way than I found it," Kaner said. "I believe Westport's finances are stronger now than when I started eight years ago."

He and Marpe intend to continue that trend if elected. The candidates are running on a five-point plan to make Westport "one of the five best places to live in America," according to their campaign website. Those points are:

1. "Continue to fully support the excellence of the Westport schools and leverage Marpe’s Board of Education leadership and experience to enhance and consolidate, where appropriate, shared services with the town;
2. Further reform the town’s pension, health and benefit obligations begun under Kaner’s Board of Finance leadership, instilling a greater sense of fiscal discipline to minimize property taxes while safeguarding Westport’s financial future;
3. Renew Westport’s commitment to seniors and encourage those who want to 'age in place' the opportunity to do so through lower property taxes, senior housing options and innovative programs;
4. Deliver the highest quality town services and amenities that reflect the complex needs and interests of our fellow citizens; commit to proactive public safety preparation and robust emergency information/communication systems, improve Westport’s parks and recreational facilities and maintain our town's historic commitment to the arts;
5. Develop a cohesive town plan to ensure any development initiatives enhance our quality of life and foster vibrant commercial establishments that cater to resident’s interests while maintaining Westport’s small-town character."

But the success of the plan hinges not only on Marpe and Kaner's election as First and Second Selectmen, but on having the entire slate of candidates elected, Marpe said.

Jennifer Tooker, who currently serves on the Board of Education, was unanimously nominated for a seat on the Board of Finance.

"I love the work I do on the Board of Education," Tooker said, "but this is a fantastic opportunity to move to the Board of Finance."

An opportunity that would be a "win-win" situation for both the town and the public school system, she added.

"I have a unique opportunity to bring an in-depth knowledge of the Board of Education budget to the Board of Finance," she said.

Jeannie Smith, who was appointed in 2012 to fill Marpe's seat on the Board of Education after he resigned to run for First Selectman, was nominated for a spot on the school board ballot.

Smith ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the school board in 2011, but hopes her experience as an educator and enthusiasm for campaigning will yield a victory this year.

"I understand what goes on in the classroom," she said, but also understands the realities taxpayers face and the need to balance educational goals with fiscal responsibility.

The Republican Town Committee also nominated Michael McGovern for the Board of Education. McGovern, who currently serves as vice chair on the school board, was away Tuesday.

The committee is processing nominations for an additional candidate for the school board and candidates for the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Board of Assessment Appeals.