42°
Updated 12/22/10: Westporters, meet your newest selectman: Charles Haberstroh. On Wednesday afternoon, Haberstroh, a Republican, received the endorsement of First Selectman Gordon Joseloff and Selectwoman Shelly Kassen, both Democrats. Then, he was sworn in to his new position as the minority member on the Board of Selectmen by Town Clerk Patricia Strauss.
Haberstroh, a seven-year member of the Board of Finance, fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Gavin Anderson in November and will complete the rest of Anderson's term, which expires Nov. 19, 2013. Haberstroh resigned from the Board of Finance after being sworn in as selectman.
Original Story: After seven years on the Board of Finance, it looks as though Westport resident Charles Haberstroh is saying goodbye, but for good reason: He will likely be appointed as the minority member of the Board of Selectmen on Wednesday afternoon.
Haberstroh, a 20-year Westport resident, was unanimously nominated by the Republican Town Committee on Tuesday night to fill the vacancy created by Republican Gavin Anderson's resignation from the Board of Selectmen in November because of undisclosed health issues. The Board of Selectmen will hold a special hearing at 4 p.m. Wednesday to vote on Haberstroh's appointment.
"Actually, I'm sorry that this takes place now because of the illness of Gavin Anderson," Haberstroh told the RTC. "Gavin is a good friend and his heart was in it, but he just had to step aside. I can't tell you what big shoes that is to fill."
But Haberstroh said he was "gratified and humbled" that the RTC Selectman Nominating Committee recommended him out of about a dozen candidates who applied.
"We were very impressed with the breadth and the depth and interest of those candidates, but one rose to the top," said Mike McGovern, who led the nominating committee. "Every [applicant] I called was not only gracious but said, 'Great choice,' and that to me was the greatest endorsement I received."
A 1973 graduate of Harvard, Haberstroh is founder, president and CEO of CastleKeep Investment Advisors LLC, a Westport-based asset management company. Before he was elected to the Board of Finance seven years ago, he served for two years on the Representative Town Meeting.
Although he's looking forward to serving Westport as a selectman, Haberstroh said he has mixed feeling about resigning from the Board of Finance, which he would do Wednesday afternoon.
"I'd much rather [resign] after the budget process was complete," he said. "However, I know Ed [Iannone] and Avi [Kaner] will step forward during this time."
Do you think Charlie Haberstroh will make a good selectman? Why or why not? Leave your comments below!
Click here to follow Daily Voice Westport and receive free news updates.
