Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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Town Treasurer Andrew Brooks told members of the Town Council on Wednesday night that New Canaan’s General Fund balances as of Dec. 31 were up about $8 million over the prior year—an indication, he said, that many residents prepaid their tax bills to take full advantage of a deduction to be capped now at $10,000. ***

The Police Commission on Wednesday night voted 3-0 to approve April 22 and Sept. 16 dates for Caffeine & Carburetors. Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said the auto enthusiasts’ gathering “runs very well.” The Parks & Recreation Commission is scheduled to vote Feb.

Government

Kevin Moynihan Wins New Canaan First Selectman Race by 33 Votes [UPDATED]

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Kevin Moynihan, a longtime resident and community volunteer who has served for four years on the Town Council, won election to New Canaan’s top municipal office on Tuesday by 33 votes. The Republican earned 2,684 votes in a widely anticipated first selectman race against Democrat Kit Devereaux, who received 2,651 votes, according to figures supplied by the New Canaan Registrars of Voters. The .6 percent margin of victory —a math-defying outcome, given the party makeup of New Canaan’s electorate—narrowly beats the state-mandated recount figure of .5 percent. Moynihan said he felt “wonderful” though “we expected to do better, quite honestly.” “I am surprised it was so close,” he told NewCanaanite.com.

Government

Election 2017: New Canaan Hub [UPDATED]

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What follows is a digital voter guide for Tuesday’s election. Voter Turnout

As of 6 p.m., 4,986 New Canaan residents had cast their ballots—322 by absentee ballot and 4,664 at the polls. The number of residents casting ballots at Saxe and NCHS represents a 42 percent increase over the last local election through the same hour. If voters turn out this year at the same rate as they did in 2015, New Canaan will see a 39 percent turnout. Here’s a table detailing total voter turnout in recent local elections:

 

And here’s a table that compares hourly voter turnout two years ago—when there was no truly contested first selectman race—to this year:

 

Kit Devereaux, Democratic candidate for first selectman, said minutes before she entered Saxe to cast her own ballot that she was “feeling really good” about the campaign and election. “I think I’ve done absolutely everything I can, and so now it’s just a matter of waiting to see what happens,” she told NewCanaanite.com.

News

NewCanaanite.com Endorsement for Treasurer

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As with its first selectman race, New Canaan is fortunate to have two highly qualified candidates—though with different professional experience—for town treasurer. Andrew Brooks, a financial consultant and two-term Republican incumbent, faces Democrat Rob Fryer, a retired CPA whose background includes decades as senior partner with a Big-Four accounting firm. While both could be expected to do a very good job in a role that only recently evolved from that of a ceremonial functionary, Brooks has earned re-election—not only through his responsible stewardship of tax dollars to date, but also his conscientious navigation of Town Hall politics. A state-mandated position, the town treasurer oversees New Canaan’s receipts and expenses as its “cash manager,” as well as signing off on bond issues and acting as treasurer of municipal trust funds. Brooks, after succeeding a 24-term incumbent four years ago, has been proactive in a role that he continues to define even as he works within it.

News

Letter: Re-Elect Town Treasurer Andrew Brooks

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The Town of New Canaan is fortunate to have Andrew Brooks as its Treasurer, and we deserve to have him continue in that position. During his tenure as Treasurer, Andrew has transformed the office from an honorary role into one of significant substance. He has applied his financial experience and leadership skills to implement real changes in the way our tax dollars are managed. Among other contributions, Andrew has enriched the Town’s treasury by increasing income from investments, strengthening scrutiny and containment of the Town’s expenditures, reducing fees and protecting our AAA bond rating in spite of Connecticut’s multiple rating downgrades. He has collaborated closely with our Audit Committee, external auditors, and Finance Department officials to propose and implement enhanced internal controls.