Board of Education Election 2021
ballot GOP Caucus 2015

Official Darien Vote Count, Including Representative Town Meeting

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At 4:38 p.m. the Darien Registrars of Voters Office released the count of both absentee ballots, ballots from newly registered voters and votes cast at polling stations around town. The vote count had been stopped by the head moderator for the vote count on Tuesday night. Both Susan Gray, the Democratic registrar, and John Visi, the Republican registrar, said they didn’t know why the count had been stopped, but the Secretary of the State’s Office had consented to it. At that time, the two registrars expected the vote count to resume late the next morning and perhaps be over by 12 noon. Instead, the count stopped again by the head moderator, who left the registrars office for a time.

Darien Elections 2021
McNally Stevenson tweet GOP win election night 2021

GOP’s McNally Wins First Selectman Race, Republicans Win Board of Ed Seats

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Although official vote totals from the Darien Registrars of Voters Office were not available Tuesday evening, joyful Republicans said they won the first selectman race and the contest for Board of Education seats. A dejected official in the town Democratic Party said the same. First Selectman Jayme Stevenson tweeted that Monica McNally, the GOP candidate to replace her, had “won in a landslide.” This article, originally published at 10:33 p.m., Tuesday, was updated at 11:11 p.m., with new information. Susan Gray, the Democratic registrar of voters said absentee ballots were not expected to be counted until late Wednesday morning.

Board of Education Election 2021
Letter to the Editor two cents' worth

Julie Best Has Demonstrated an Ability to Connect with Students, Teachers, Parents, Administrators

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To the editor:

On Nov. 2, I hope you will join me in voting for Julie Best for Board of Education. Her leadership, experience, and dedication make her an ideal choice to guide our school system as we continue through some exciting but challenging times. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Julie since our oldest daughters entered Tokeneke Elementary School almost eleven years ago. In that time, I’ve seen Julie get involved in almost every facet of the school community.

Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor Washington brown

For Years, Julie Best and Stacey Tie Have Each Been a Go-To Person for Info About Our Schools

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To the editor:

When I first heard that Julie Best and Stacey Tie were running for seats on the Board of Education, I was surprised — because I assumed they were both already on the board. For years, each has been a go-to for information about our schools. Both are active and very visible volunteers in schools and in the community. I watched Julie testify in Hartford to maintain local control of schools and worked with her on the Tokeneke PTO. Stacey has selflessly provided hours of advice to help me navigate the special education system and regularly reminds local parents to attend and participate in the critical BOE meetings and budget discussions that shape our schools.

Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor Columbus

Stacey Tie and Julie Best Have Testified in Hartford About the Need for Local Control of Education Decisions

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To the editor:

It’s hard for me to express how much I support the candidacies of Julie Best and Stacey Tie for the Board of Education. We were all on the Council of Darien School Parents together for years, and no one was more dedicated and enthusiastic in representing the parents of Darien. Many people don’t know how much work being a great parent representative is; CDSP members attend a fair number of Board of Ed meetings. Julie and Stacey attend all of them. Being a member of the Board of Education requires absorbing an enormous amount of information — these two are ahead of the game!

Darien Elections 2021
Town Seal Room 206 Town Hall

2021 League of Women Voter’s Guide to Candidates — PART TWO: BOARDS OF EDUCATION, FINANCE

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Compiled each year as a public service by the League of Women Voters of Darien. This Voters’ Guide is designed to provide information about the candidates to the public in a nonpartisan and balanced way to assist them in casting an informed vote on Election Day. Questionnaires were submitted to candidates for local offices, asking one or more office related questions. Responses were limited to a specific word count and are printed exactly as submitted by the candidates. For every ballot position, a voter may write in the name of someone who is not listed as a candidate on a separate line at the bottom of the ballot for “Write-In Votes.”

In the State of Connecticut for those votes to be counted, the individual whose name is being written in, must have registered with the Secretary of State.

Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor Swords WWII

Stacey Tie and Julie Best: Tireless Leadership, a Firm Grasp of Education Issues

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To the Editor:
As we have seen over the past 18 months, public service in support of our schools can be a challenging and thankless endeavor. That’s why I am so thankful that Stacey Tie and Julie Best are willing to step forward and serve our students as members of the Darien Board of Education at such a pivotal time. Our students would be so fortunate to have Stacey and Julie as advocates at the table on their behalf. For years, Stacey has been my “go-to” when navigating school issues — particularly as my son’s special education journey began. She has an uncanny way of getting to the heart of any matter with reasoned logic and an impressive level of patience for details.

Education
Letter to the Editor Horse brown

Stacey Tie Has Integrity, a Strong Urge to Help Darien Educate Its Kids and Is Familiar With the Budget

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To the editor:

I write in support of Stacey Tie’s candidacy for a seat on the Board of Education. Stacey has so many qualities that will make her an ideal BOE member. Topping the list: integrity. Stacey’s decisions will be principled and rooted, above all else, in what’s best for our children. Stacey brings to bear a unique array of relevant experience that will guide her service on the BOE.

Board of Education Election 2021
Letter to the Editor Pilgrim

Ignore the National Culture Wars, Stacey Tie and Julie Best Have a Pragmatic Focus on Darien’s Needs

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To the editor:

We’ve all sought out new activities during the pandemic as we’ve all had so much more free time at home. For me, I spent more time paying attention to our local government. Zoom enabled viewing town council and school board meetings with an ease that didn’t exist before. Mostly, I was interested in how the pandemic was affecting Darien, and especially how town officials were managing and planning school activities. I’m not a particularly political person, and when we moved to town a decade ago I was impressed by the moderate pragmatism that defined both the Democratic and Republican politicians in town.

Board of Education Election 2021
Letter to the Editor Train

On the Board of Education, Julie Best and Stacey Tie Will Ask the Hard Questions

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To the editor:

On Nov. 2, we, the Darien community, have the opportunity to elect two experienced and passionate Board of Education candidates, Julie Best and Stacey Tie. I am able to share a unique perspective as I have worked closely and served on the Tokeneke Elementary PTO Board as well as the Council of Darien School Parents (CDSP) Executive Board with both of these dynamic women. From our years of working together, I can tell you firsthand they are natural leaders who have the drive and dedication to be instrumental members of the Board of Education. Julie has held numerous volunteer positions such as Tokeneke PTO co-chair, Tokeneke Pumpkin Carnival co-chair and most recently as the co-chair of the CDSP.

Board of Education Election 2021
Letter to the Editor Farming

Former Selectman Barbara Thorne: Board of Ed Candidates Best and Tié Have Deep Experience Helping Schools

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To the editor:

DPS IS BACK!!! This represents a total community collaboration and two candidates  — Julie Best and Stacey Tié — have demonstrated how to accomplish this. Years of volunteering have resulted in strong connections to the community beyond boundaries of school and the Representative Town Meeting. Their actions and words create a positive platform for exchange of information and ideas. Beyond special interests and single issues they encompass the entire education system with a goal to build even better.

Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor coin USA 2 CENTS

Board of Ed Candidate Julie Best Is Smart, Sensible, Fair and Has Put in the Work

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To the editor:

I encourage all my fellow Darienites to support Julie Best for the Board of Education. I have known Julie for over a decade and have seen first-hand her dedication to our town, its families and schools. Since 2009, Julie has served our town in many capacities. She has traveled to Hartford more than once to advocate for our schools and students. Most recently, she served for three years as co-chair of the Council of Darien School Parents.

Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor Abraham Lincoln

In Support of David Brown and Tara Wurm for Board of Education

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To the editor,

I’m voting for Dave Brown and Tara Wurm for Board of Education this fall, as they will represent our entire community, including the best interest of our children. This past fall many parents spoke up with concerns on how the schools were opened. It is our duty and privilege as citizens to question our elected officials. I shared the personal impacts quarantine had on our family. When I shared my concerns with Dave, he really listened to my concerns.

Board of Education Election 2021
Letter to the Editor Thomas Jefferson

RTM Member Endorses Julie Best, Stacey Tie for Board of Education

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To the editor:

Darien voters will have a once in a decade opportunity to vote for two senior leaders of the Council of Darien School Parents (CDSP), Julie Best and Stacey Tié, as new members of the Board of Education this November. Julie, who has served on the executive board of the CDSP for the past four years has worked with three past superintendents, two Board of Education chairs and through one global pandemic. She has helped improve communications between the parent teacher organizations, served on the Strategic Planning Committee for the district and has three children who have been through the town’s schools for the past 11 years. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and a strong advocate for the value of every student. Stacey who has been on the CDSP for seven years, has worked tirelessly as the chair of the Special Education and Budget Committees in addition to serving on the Town’s Finance & Budget Committee as a colleague to me.