SHARE

Two Compete for Weston's First Selectman Seat

WESTON, Conn. – On Tuesday, Westonites will cast their votes and decide who will lead the town as the first selectman.

Two candidates are running for this two-term, part-time, salaried position: First Selectman Gayle Weinstein, a Democrat, and current Selectman Dan Gilbert, a Republican.

Weinstein has held the position of first selectman since 2009 and previously served as selectman from 2007 to 2009. She also serves as vice chairman on the Regional Economic Development District, as vice chairman on the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities Task Force on Children, Youth & Families and is a board member on Connecticut Citizenship.

Weinstein said her record as first selectman shows exactly why she should be re-elected. “For two consecutive years, I have transmitted town budgets, not including the school operating and school capital budgets, that have been a reduction over the previous year.”

“These budgets have been supported unanimously by the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance, and have been overwhelmingly approved by the town. We've successfully balanced economic reality with maintaining our infrastructure, while providing necessary town services, including the need for increased support in the area of social services,” she said.

Selectman Dan Gilbert served on Weston’s Planning and Zoning Commission for six years and in the U.S. Army and has lived in Weston for 25 years. Since retiring from General Electric in 2003, Gilbert has volunteered with various organizations, including AmeriCares HomeFront, the Warm Up Fund and as a St. Francis Eucharistic minister.

If elected, Gilbert said, “I’ll have three primary goals as first selectman. First, control property tax increases. Second, promote quality education for every child in our schools. Third, assure the effective delivery of town services.”

“As first selectman, we’ll have true bipartisanship in town government. We’ll have a Board of Selectmen that respects every person we engage, especially at board meetings. I have no hidden agenda and no desire for higher office. I love our town and feel privileged to live here. I want Weston to realize the vision most of us have for our town: a great school system, ethical and effective town government, well-controlled property tax increases, protection of open space and support for our neighbors in need and for our seniors. I’ll always tell the truth and never fudge the numbers,” Gilbert said.

The polls, in the Weston Middle School gym, are open Tuesday from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.

to follow Daily Voice Westport and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE