Board of Selectmen

Letter: Nick Williams Will Not Seek Re-Election to Board of Selectmen

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Dear Friends,
It is with mixed emotions that I write to announce that after sixteen consecutive years of public service—12 as selectman and four as a member of the Board of Education—I will not be running for re-election to the Board of Selectman this November. 

It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve the Town of New Canaan, the place my family and I have been fortunate enough to call home for the last 30 years. I am incredibly proud of what we have all accomplished together: a world-class public education system, an extraordinary new library, increased police, fire, and EMS funding, a renovated Town Hall building, an expansion of Saxe Middle School, updated playing fields, natural gas, improved cell service, and many other infrastructure achievements. Make no mistake, none of these successes would have been possible without the unwavering support of this community and my constituents, who always told me what was important and necessary, even when it wasn’t an easy conversation. 
Constant engagement is a necessity in public service, and I express my deep gratitude to the residents of New Canaan for the valuable feedback and trust they have given me over the last 16 years. 
The decision to not run for re-election was not an easy one, requiring much contemplation and consultation with my family and friends. 
And while I don’t preclude seeking additional public service in the future, for now I’m going to take a break from government and from politics, recharge my batteries, and enjoy the company of those same family and friends. 
Why the decision today? For one, I am a firm believer in the importance of bringing fresh perspectives and new ideas to the table. Second, I fear that the toxicity, partisanship, and polarization that we’ve seen at a national level has entered into the local level, starting at the top. 
It feels that politics now has become about picking every battle, instead of picking the necessary battle. 
I am hopeful that change will lead to more measured conversations and increased civility in town, and in Town Hall itself (for the benefit of our hugely talented yet beleaguered staff).

Government

Letter from Selectman Nicholas Williams: Next Board of Selectmen Should Also Be Effective

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Dear editor,

I’m writing to thank the many supporters who helped me secure the endorsement of the New Canaan Republican Party for selectman recently. 

I am honored and privileged at the prospect of serving New Canaan for a fourth term as your selectman, and am excited to work with the prospective two new members of our board, Kevin Moynihan and Kit Devereaux.  Their fresh ideas are welcomed, and working together, I believe that our board will continue to have a positive impact on our community in the years to come. Discourse and debate are vital to democracy, and I was so glad to hear from many of my fellow New Canaanites during the election cycle.  Your views are critical to identifying and understanding the issues that impact our town, and I thank you for your input. I have enjoyed working with Rob Mallozzi and Beth Jones immensely during the last six years, and I’m proud to call them both my friends as well as my colleagues. I will miss the quiet strength, dignity and wisdom of Selectman Jones.  While we may not have agreed on all matters coming before the Board, my respect for her as a public servant and as a person is boundless.

Government

Op-Ed: Selectman Nick Williams on ‘Why I Want to Continue to Serve New Canaan’

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I believe our community has enjoyed tremendous success in recent years. This year we were ranked as the #1 town in Connecticut to raise a family by the highly regarded Niche.com. Our schools are well-funded and have an outstanding administration and staff, and its unquestioned excellence benefits all of our citizens. Our emergency services are second to none. Our infrastructure is improving every year. Our parks are magnificent, and our downtown village is the envy of Connecticut.