In order to reach the Town’s collective goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050, it is critical that we elect officials that prioritize, understand, and are committed to reducing Westport’s carbon footprint to create a greener, healthier community. Leading up to the 2023 election, Sustainable Westport sent a survey to candidates running for the Town of Westport’s RTM, Board of Education, Board of Finance, and Planning & Zoning Commission to better understand their perspectives and priorities as it relates to sustainability.

Overall, 36% of candidates responded to our optional sustainability survey. When reviewing candidate responses below, remember that many candidates did not participate. However, out of those that responded, the overwhelming majority felt that sustainability was either very or extremely important compared to other town priorities.

As part of our survey, we asked candidates to rank six sustainability priorities that are critical to the Town of Westport’s success in reaching its goal of becoming a Net Zero community by 2050, or sooner:

• Community Outreach (Education/Events)
• Buildings (Energy efficient infrastructure, Electrification, Decarbonization, Healthy/High indoor air quality) 
• Energy (Clean, Renewable Energy Sources)
• Transportation (Biking, Commuting, Etc.)
• Preserving Natural Resources
• Waste Management (Recycling, Reuse, Repair, Food Scraps, etc.)

Please note that we do not include candidate rankings for sustainability priorities below, however some reference their rankings in their written responses.

Most importantly, please review the responses from the candidates and make a plan to vote on Tuesday, November 7. Local elected officials have a major impact on our community, daily life, and our collective future. Happy Voting!

RTM CANDIDATES

DISTRICT 1

Rick Jaffe
RTM, District 1

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
Sustainability, and our long-term best interests, are fully intertwined. Sustainability should be a top priority for our Town, after public safety, which comes first, Westport’s financial health, and maintaining our excellent school system. As a community, we should both *implement* what we can, and *advocate* for action by entities larger than our community. The most important things we can implement to improve sustainability are energy efficiency, especially in our buildings; transportation improvements – for bicycles and walkers, and for traffic control; renewable energy; and waste management – reuse/recycle/compost. We implement as above for those issues we control, while we advocate for wider issues such as better preservation of natural resources.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
The RTM enacts the ordinances of the town. Our 2008 ban on single-use plastic retail checkout bags, the first such action in Connecticut, and, I believe, the first by any municipality east of the Mississippi River, was a powerful move to enhance sustainability. Our RTM’s more recent attempt, for which I voted, to promote the use of biodegradable plastic containers by banning single-use plastics, is another example of how the RTM uses its power to improve sustainability. When our RTM works progressively, enacting ordinances with practical value, we become leaders for other Connecticut communities, for the whole state, and even for our United States of America. Working with Bike Westport https://www.bikewestport.org/ will lead to better, more practical ideas and actions to encourage biking and walking. Our RTM Finance Committee for years has thrown its full support behind public transportation. The RTM also can use its power to review certain decisions of other Westport governmental agencies to help contain traffic, or to contain overdevelopment, or to protect town-owned land for public use. Not a formal power of the RTM, but RTM members and committees work closely with both our Selectperson’s office and our state representatives in support of sustainability issues.

Matthew Mandell
RTM, District 1

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
I voted for the RTM resolution and am a firm believer in sustainability. In addition to being on the RTM Environment Committee, I am also on the Board of Trustee of Earthplace.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
Ensure that money is spent in the right way. The RTM approves all major expenditures and it is there that we can make sure things are moving in the right direction. As to the above sustainable priorities. As someone who has saved open space, preserving natural resources is a personal priority, but the Town really can’t and needs to focus on the direct issues in this matter. Thus my order of items.

DISTRICT 2

Mike Perry
RTM, District 2

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
Sustainability should be an important consideration in every decision we make on the RTM. We need to factor our progress toward Net Zero alongside the effectiveness and cost efficiency of any town endeavor.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
Net Zero needs to be a consideration for every proposed ordinance and budget we vote on. We need to ask the question whether or not a given proposal takes us closer or further away from the Net Zero goal. Likewise, in our RTM committees, sustainability needs to be an important consideration in all decision-making. The greenest solution may not always be the chosen course but we need to always be mindful of our progress toward the 2050 Net Zero goal.

DISTRICT 3

Ross Burkhardt
RTM, District 3

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
I believe that sustainability is an extremely high priority for at least three reasons: First, global warming is getting worse, and faster. September 2023 was the hottest month on record with an average world temperature increase of 1.8 degrees Celsius which is well above the objective of 1.5 degrees agreed to in the Paris climate accord. All evidence shows that global warming is now accelerating faster, rather than increasing gradually. I believe that Westport’s objective of reaching net zero should occur in 2035, rather than 2050. Both the public and private sectors in town cannot wait passively for national, State and private actions to solve the challenge of global warming. Second, climate change is threatening wildlife and plant habitats around the world. While this is a global phenomenon, I have become increasingly aware that our landscaping plans and maintenance have been contributing significantly the loss of biodiversity locally. As a community, we need to act locally to change this unstainable future. Third, recent studies have shown wealthy communities are contributing much more to global warming than lower income communities. As a very wealthy community, Westport should take steps to change its contribution to global warming sooner, rather than later.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
Meeting this challenge will require an all-hands-on-deck response from the town. This should be led by the Board of Selectwoman, and we should start with allocating enough funds ($175 to $200,000) to create a Climate Action Plan. Preparing this plan will require increased planning and public works staff and should involve in-depth participation from the other boards and commissions including the RTM. At least, the action plan should include the conversion of all our public buildings to sustainable sources of energy and recommendations for commercial property conversion. The plan could also explore the feasibility of establishing community solar and backup storage on public open spaces that could provide power to properties unable to build their own facilities. In addition, the community must study and invest in alternative ways to improve public transit services and continue to prepare and implement resiliency plans for our waterfront, rivers and streams. Yes, this will require money, some of which could potentially come from federal and state sources. Over the short run it will mean higher taxes to cover capital improvements and public services, but long-term, outcome these investments could lead to lower costs to the town and its businesses and residents.

James Anthony Izzo
RTM, District 3

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
Westport, long before other communities created a plastic bag ban ordinance, accepted by all businesses in our community. Other ordinances, like limits on Gas Leaf Blowers, and Plastic utensils and styrofoam cups in play today. Education is the key to extending our sustainability goals. Understanding what “NET ZERO” means…ways to get there…limitless potential in federal and state grants if we do the work..

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
I believe I answered above. The key is education. Many of us do not even know what “net zero” is, or how to best get there. When it comes to our buildings, old and new, we must prioritize chasing state and federal grants to offset costs. I would encourage a work session – presentation by Sustainable Westport for all elected officials and residents. This would give us the opportunity to ask questions, and learn how we can move forward in helping to reach our 2050 Net Zero goal.

Don O’Day
RTM, District 3

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
It’s never too late to make our environment healthier and more livable.  Everyone has to do their part and not worry about why some will not.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
Look at each decision we are required to make and determine if a more sustainable option is available, even if it is a more expensive option.  That mindset should be part of the process from the beginning, not a last minute question.

DISTRICT 4

Clarence Hayes
RTM, District 4

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
It is a false choice to imply the six pillars are in conflict. Each one is an aspect of the same challenge – action on any one is supportive of the others. Some are more amenable to local town action

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
Support move to electric HVAC systems when required investment for conversion of existing systems (oil/gas) will not itself generate more negative carbon impact than continuation of current systems

Jeff Wieser
RTM, District 4

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
The RTM has committed to sustainability. We have to deliver. For no less than the planet, and in the meantime to save municipal funds through better recycling, waste management and energy conservation.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?

1. Encouraging education with regard to household waste. 
2. Helping Sustainable Westport lead us in advancing the Net Zero goal 
3. Working with energy companies to help make their activities more efficient.

DISTRICT 5

Dick Lowenstein
RTM, District 5

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
For this question and the priorities question below, I’m still in the learning stage, trying to better understand what sustainability means.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
The RTM is the last step, as most appropriations, budget, and ordinances move through the approval process. If we are going to take Net Zero by 2050 seriously, everything that comes to us should have a sustainability impact statement from the get-go. I suggest that such a statement be linked to the six priorities (or pillars) listed by Sustainable Westport. And for each priority, a statement could be self-rated as positive, neutral/no impact, or negative. Before we vote, an agenda item goes to one or more RTM committees for review and recommendations to the full RTM. Proposed ordinances have an extra step; they go to the ordinance committee where an ordinance checklist is completed. Perhaps the sustainability impact statement could be added as a checklist requirement. To make this work, Sustainable Westport will have to apply its first priority – community outreach – to educate Town employees and officials (including me) on how we can all move toward Net Zero by 2050.

Claudia Shaum
RTM, District 5

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
Sustainability is a critical issue – I chose “very” rather than “extremely” because I feel that sustainability as a consideration should not be separate from, but rather integrated into most other Town goals. So, for example, we need to think about and prioritize environmental issues as we consider other critical issues such as building (schools, retail projects, condos, etc.) and traffic (increase in cars on the roads, etc.).

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
I want to speak to the rankings rather than the question about the roles of Town bodies: I don’t think the priorities can/should be ranked because they are all important, all necessary. As a former Comms person, of course I gravitate to the community outreach/comms as a goal not only in and of itself but as a catalyst and support system for all the other goals. If we get the communications right, we can educate residents on exactly what they can do to help us reach our goals.

DISTRICT 6

Candace Banks
RTM, District 6

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
Reducing the rate of carbon emissions both at the individual household level and as part of town infrastructure projects is critical to mitigate the impact of climate change. Sustainable Westport plays a key role in helping residents embrace changes in daily habits; I have experienced this firsthand in my own house. We keep the “What’s In/What’s Out” recycling guide (published by SW last March) by the cans in our kitchen after learning about the downfalls of wishcycling and how it leads to cross contamination of the recycling stream. We also began collecting virtually all of our food scraps in compostable bags and delivering them to the town’s composting bin after learning from SW about the magnitude of the food waste problem in landfills. Most of Westport’s 10,000+ households, when armed with reliable information, will endeavor to do the right thing for the environment. Sustainable Westport is an excellent resource in identifying common problems and proposing solutions that are efficient and accessible. Elected officials in Westport should partner with them more frequently and publicize their information more broadly in order to help them empower our residents to effect the change that is most essential for our planet’s survival.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
All elected officials should tap their community networks to promote the efforts to recycle effectively, reduce food waste and increase the rate of composting. It is also important to keep in mind that any RTM candidate who wins a seat this election cycle will have the opportunity to vote on the new Long Lots school building and perhaps other school and town buildings as well. I am so gratified that there is finally meaningful momentum for a new Long Lots School. It is so important and past time for the young school age children in Districts 6,7 and some of 9 to have a modern building that will be a vast improvement over the status quo in terms of energy efficiency, air quality and in any number of other measures. I was also glad to see that the consultants hired by the Long Lots Building Committee priced out “enhanced sustainability” options for each building concept presented in the feasibility study. I am eager to hear SW’s perspective on the benefits of these sustainability options and help amplify their voice as a stakeholder in these important discussions with respect to Long Lots and other future school and town building projects.

Seth Braunstein
RTM, District 6

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
All of humanity shares a single planet. There are limited resources and we must work diligently to protect our planet, maintain clean and healthy air and water and provide future generations with a hospitable and welcoming environment. While near term priorities often garner greater attention we must not lose focus on the long term necessity to hold the actions and decisions of our town to a high environmental standard.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
I will continue to press all town bodies to consider all options and not just the most expedient or cheapest. A few more dollars spent today when purchasing a piece of equipment or building a new structure or addressing the business in the town in an environmentally conscious manner should be thought of as a wise investment for our town’s and the planet’s future. Acting locally and taking a consistent approach will help us achieve our goals

Louis D’Onofrio Jr.
RTM, District 6

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
Our town can financially benefit by going green. With better use of Green building and utilization of solar, along with town wide water bottle filling stations, we can reduce town spending while improving our footprint.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
The RTM has the ability to create special committees and vote on financial expenditures. With the proper RTM in the voting body, a clean and green agenda can be moved forward. I am aligned with this vision.

David Rosenwaks
RTM, District 6

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” – Robert Swan I am proud that Westport has a rich history of being a leader in sustainability. In our efforts to become an even greener and more energy-efficient community going forward, we must continue to educate our residents as to why we’re undertaking such an important task. In order for any of our efforts to have an impact, we, as a town, must focus on community outreach and engagement. In an ideal future, all Westport residents will share the common goal of focusing on living sustainably in our beautiful town.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
In its efforts to become a Net Zero community by 2050, Westport will inevitably grapple with weighing town priorities and balancing costs as it sets out on achieving its sustainability goals. As an RTM member, I would make it a priority that we don’t lose sight of the original goal of the resolution and continue on the path that was set forth in 2017. This is a serious goal that impacts all of our lives and the future of our town. We must consider any new town project or undertaking with our original sustainability goal in mind.

DISTRICT 7

Wendy Batteau
RTM, District 7

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
Westport faces serious imminent issues, but the need for sustainability is persistent. Setting environmental policy and practices is critical for our future. I helped write and pass our NetZero Policy and frequently remind town bodies to consider environmental and social outcomes of decisions. During my 10+ years as Chair of the RTM Environment Committee, Westport became a model for forward-thinking communities. I negotiated aquifer regulations with DEEP; co-wrote our fracking-waste prohibition; wrote our crumb-rubber turf ban; edited our single-use plastics ban and more, and supported valuable measures created by other representatives and committees. I cofounded Wakeman Town Farm and was a member of our Green Task Force. Decades ago I co-founded Sierra Club Books. There and later at major publishers, I published acclaimed books on subjects including residential and community sustainability; edible gardens; small-scale farming, the politics and economics of cancer industries; the intertwined health of the ocean, safe water, and our lives; the politics of environmental protection, and many others. I’ve worked with the Boards of the Sierra Club, Audubon Society, Friends of the Earth, Ocean Alliance, Environment and Human Health, CTLCV, CT Coalition for Climate Action, and others. There is always more to do.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
Working with creative ideas, civil discussions, and targeted actions should move us toward balancing the needs, priorities, and assets of our community ecology. I hope to continue working with my longtime committees: Environment, Health and Human Services (current chair), Planning and Zoning, and Library, Museum, Arts, with town and state entities (like Conservation P&Z, Parks and Rec, Public Works, DEEP), and town residents to protect our environment and health. Sometimes we need prohibitions, but creating positive choices is important. To that end I’d like to incentivize tree and garden planting (for carbon sequestration, increased habitat, stormwater capture, cooling, improving soils, and just plain beauty). I’d like the RTM to work with P&Z and the Selectwomen to enable the creation of microforests, gardens, and pocket parks, and incentivize renewable energy installations in residences. We also should focus on water – the vulnerability and decreasing quality of the Sound, oceans, rivers, and underground aquifers jeopardizes us all. Other potential initiatives: Move away from non-emergency pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer use, reduce impermeable surfaces. Improve public transportation. Reduce state and federal preemptions of local ordinances. In all situations be mindful of initiatives’ impacts on other projects and town finances.

Lauren Karpf
RTM, District 7

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
[No Response]

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
As an RTM Member, I believe my role is to further initiatives designed to meet our goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050, and to question steps taken that do not prioritize that goal.

DISTRICT 8

 [No Responses]

DISTRICT 9

Nancy Kall
RTM, District 9

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
It’s not a choice anymore. We have to consider sustainability and Net Zero by 2050 goals in every aspect of our work in local government – in every town priority, financial allocation, decision and vote. Keeping Sustainable Westport’s pillars front and center benefits all of us in town and is the most cost-effective and quality-of-life-effective way to maintain and improve Westport. I appreciate Sustainable Westport and similar organizations’ efforts and am always happy when they show up to educate, advocate and inspire ideas and action. Whether they attend RTM and other meetings on transportation, Reinventing the Riverfront or Long Lots School Building projects, or they are at the Farmers Market or Transfer Station or anywhere else, their involvement is important. Much of my work on the RTM is aligned with Sustainable Westport’s and I look forward to continuing to work alongside the organization.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
If re-elected to the RTM in District 9, I will continue to support Sustainable Westport’s mission and goals by: – Co sponsoring ordinances such as the Leaf Blower and Traffic, Transit & Parking Committee ordinances (I co sponsored both during my first RTM term) – Ensuring budget and capital investment items include a sustainability lens on the Finance Committee – Advancing work on public transportation, traffic, parking, safe sidewalks and bike paths on the Transit Committee – Hosting Community Conversations on housing and other topics that incorporate sustainability matters – Advocating for D9’s many wonderful natural resources: the Saugatuck River and Baron’s South, Grace Salmon, Winslow and Riverside Parks, to name a few – Working with neighbors and the town to mitigate Dead Man’s Brook flooding – Collaborating with town bodies and departments, Sustainable Westport, Aspetuck Land Trust, Sound Waters and other organizations as well as D9 residents to understand sustainability ideas and concerns and determine solutions – Communicating sustainability related issues and projects via my District 9 Newsletter, which is distributed monthly to over 1,000 subscribers.

Sal Liccione
RTM, District 9

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
I will support anything they need I will meet with them anytime if am lucky from the voters of district 9  to back on the rtm again

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
I will do everything in my power and more to help sustainable Westport move forward I as a rtm member will do more they can ask me to help them we need to recycle more in Westport. In town we all groups at town hall should work together

Kristin Schneeman
RTM, District 9

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
It’s in the name! If we’re committed to sustaining our quality of life in Westport over the long term, we can’t meet the needs of the present by compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It’s easy to make short-term decisions that are expedient or cost less, but in the long term, those decisions can actually cost us more and will erode our assets for the future. I would like to see Westport start to consider how to adapt its budgeting and land use practices for a future in which climate continues to change and sea levels continue to rise. We are a coastal community, and trapped in a high-pollution corridor, so these issues are very real and present for us. The sustainability priorities below were incredibly hard to rank, but I tried to do so in an order that considered the town’s ability to most directly impact them through its decision-making. Community Outreach is certainly very important, in part because it’s a means to give the community a voice and to help education and change behavior, which is so necessary for a sustainable future to take root.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
The RTM has two mechanisms that it can leverage to support sustainability goals: passing ordinances and approving expenditures. I was lead sponsor of the ordinance restricting the use of polluting gas-powered leaf blowers in Westport; since I joined the RTM in 2017, I’ve also supported ordinances banning crumb-rubber turf fields and single-use plastics. I am currently a co-sponsor of an ordinance to create a Traffic, Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee to help drive holistic solutions to our unsustainable reliance on cars. The RTM can use its budget authority to support greener options when, for example, vehicles are purchased and building projects are undertaken. The RTM can advocate with other decision-makers for sustainable approaches to projects such as the Parker Harding Plaza redesign and the Long Lots School rebuilding. (I led an effort in the RTM to have a representative of Sustainable Westport included on the Long Lots Building Committee – unfortunately unsuccessful – and have supported the effort to preserve the Community Garden.) RTM members instigated the town-wide traffic and flooding community meetings that resulted in plans for mitigating some of those issues. While we can’t do it alone, the RTM has a number of tools to help Westport become more sustainable!

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Lee Goldstein
BOE Candidate

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
Protecting our environment and mitigating climate change is more critical than ever. Westport has a goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050, and that will take all of us working together and a commitment to investment to achieve this end.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
We need to continue to listen to and partner with Sustainable Westport in connection with our capital improvement plan. This extends to construction of new school buildings, renovations of existing school buildings/spaces, energy resources and recycling/composting education throughout Westport Public Schools.

Nell Phillips
BOE Candidate

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
Protecting our environment and resources are more critical than ever. This extends far beyond the classroom, but certainly important to teach in school to give students real life skills necessary to continue to care for the world they will inherit. As a board and community, we need to model a sustainability-mindset in the work we do, from curriculum to infrastructure concerns.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
We need to continue to listen to and partner with Sustainable Westport in connection with our capital improvement plan. This extends to construction of new school buildings, renovations of existing school buildings/spaces, energy resources and recycling/composting education throughout the WPS. I have volunteered in town through activities held by the Zero Waste Club at SHS as well as through Sustainable Westport. I will continue to encourage the board to seek input from Sustainable Westport, and other appropriate resources, to make sure we stay on track to meet our goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050.

BOARD OF FINANCE

Liz Heyer
BOF Candidate

How important do you feel sustainability is compared to other Town priorities?
I believe it is important for governing boards, local departments and town organizations to explore and consider sustainability options both in current operations and future projects.

What do you believe your role should be in helping the Town of Westport meet its goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050? If elected, what would you do to progress this effort?
The Board of Finance can support Westport’s focus on sustainability by ensuring town bodies explore and evaluate sustainability options in budget proposals and appropriation requests whenever applicable. The Board of Finance should also assist town bodies in analyzing the costs and return on investment associated with sustainability components of budget and projects, while being cognizant that critical benefits of sustainability investments may not always be measurable.