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Joseloff Defeats Anderson in Westport Election

Joseloff Defeats Anderson in Westport Election

Alix Neenan ’12
Staff Writer

On Nov. 3, Democrat Gordon Joseloff was re-elected for a second term to the position of first selectman against Republican Gavin Anderson.

Joseloff, who has been Westport’s first selectman since 2005, has many plans for the future.

“I am going to continue to make Westport the greatest place to live and retire to,” Joseloff said.

The race was close, with Joseloff winning 56 percent of the vote.

“It wasn’t too shabby,” Joseloff said. “We won by four to five hundred votes.”

This year had a significantly smaller voter turnout than last year, which was a presidential election year. Only 30 percent of eligible voters came to vote this year, while 50 percent came last year.

“Generally, people are satisfied,” Joseloff said, explaining why there were so little voters this year.

Joseloff, who is a former Representative Town Meeting (RTM) member and Emmy-Award-winning television journalist, has several plans for Westport’s future.

“I have a number of initiatives,” Joseloff said. “Senior housing is especially important.”

One of Joseloff’s priorities is to continue to increase Westport’s technology, such as streaming town meetings live online, allowing Westport citizens to have easier access to what their local government is doing for them.

“We are promoting protection of the environment,” Joseloff said. He plans to go “full-steam ahead” with employing the use of hybrid technology for town vehicles. He also wants people to take care of their septic systems and wants to continue the use of fewer pesticides on town property.

Joseloff recognizes the fact that Westport is in the midst of an economic crisis. It isn’t about budget cuts, Joseloff said, but it is about efficiency.

With a more efficient town government, Joseloff believes that there will be a decrease in town costs, leaving more money to be spent on schools.

However, Joseloff says he is not in charge of school budgets.

“We plan to change,” Joseloff said. “We are not going to do things because we have been doing it the same way before.”

Technology can greatly help decrease spending, according to Joseloff.

Compared to surrounding towns such as Trumbull, Monroe and Stratford, where their newly elected first selectmen are now Republicans, Joseloff, a Democrat, seems to be an irregularity.

“I’d like to think people vote for the people, not the party,” Joseloff said. “Most Westporters are not affiliated with a party.”

Although Joseloff supports Westport Public Schools, he says that he would appreciate more involvement of young people and interest in town affairs.

“The need to be willing to participate,” Joseloff said. “I welcome their input.”

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    Mike SchneiderNov 15, 2009 at 2:08 am

    What is a P.R. piece like this doing on Inklingsnews.com? It's well written and all, but why don't you just do a brief if you're only going to talk to the winner?

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