Politics & Government

Westport GOP Supports Marpe, Kaner for Selectman

Westport's Republican Town Committee announced their endorsement for First Selectman candidate Jim Marpe and Second Selectman candidate Avi Kaner Tuesday night in the Westport Town Hall Green Room.


Jim Marpe, former Westport Board of Education Chair, and Board of Finance Chair Avi Kaner received a unanimous endorsement Tuesday night from the Republican Town Committee’s (RTC) Selectman Nominating Committee.

Although by law they cannot officially be nominated until July 16, First Selectman candidate Jim Marpe, and Second Selectman candidate Avi Kaner will most likely be at the top of the Republican ballot during the upcoming election in November.

“I am honored and humbled. I am thrilled to have Avi as running mate,” Marpe said. “I cannot imagine a stronger team.”  

Marpe, who served on the school board since 2005, became the vice chair in 2007. The 23-year Westport resident took on the roll as acting chair when Don O’Day stepped down last summer.  

Kaner, the owner of Morton-Williams, a supermarket chain in New York, was first elected to the Board of Finance in 2005. He became chairman in 2011.   

“I would like the Westport taxpayers to realize a vote for this team is a vote for two people who, I believe, have a proven track record on the Board of Education and on the Board of Finance,” said Kaner, who will not seek re-election on the finance board.  

Kaner, 48, said Marpe is a candidate with excellent credentials and a proven track record in both the private and public sectors. Marpe, 66, was employed by Accenture, a leading global management consulting and computer technology services firm, for more than 30 years until he retired as a senior partner in 2002. At that time he was the head of Accenture’s worldwide financial services merger and acquisition practice.  


Goals and priorities

Marpe: 

  1. Prepare for upcoming labor contract negations (2014 & 2016)
  2. Focus on filling vacancies of department managers as they retire over the next few years, and potentially look into restructuring the managerial positions to seek out cost savings.     
  3. Seek out ways to consolidate Westport human resources and activities to minimize a tax increase

Kaner:    
  1. Maintain the excellence of our schools 
  2. Improve property values 
  3. Improve the vibrancy of the Westport community    


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