Democrats Pick Selectman Rob Richards to Contest First Selectman Office with Incumbent Jayme Stevenson

First Selectman Candidate Rob Richards’ Acceptance Speech to Darien Democratic Caucus

Compromise Proposal on Sports Lights Released by Selectman Richards & Neighbors of DHS

Selectman Candidate Rob Richards: Let’s Station Full-Time Paramedics in Darien

Darien Democrats Hold Campaign Kickoff Reception on Sunday, Oct 4

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Selectman Rob Richards was chosen by Democrats on Wednesday as their candidate for First Selectman, opposing incumbent Republican Jayme Stevenson. “My ability to solve problems and smile often has brought our community together and put to bed many longstanding issues,” Richards said in his acceptance speech to the town Democratic Caucus. Richards said he worked with both sides in two of the most contentious community disputes in the past couple of years: The conflict over bringing lights for night games at Darien High School and the battle over whether to have paramedics based in town full-time. In both cases, Richards said he sought out people from both sides, listened to their concerns and worked to promote a compromise or a settlement. “Rob is a listener, a thinker and problem solver,” said Democratic Town Chairman David Bayne in nominating Richards for the job.

Here’s the full-text of Rob Richards’ acceptance speech, delivered at the Democratic Town Caucus on Wednesday night:

First I would like to thank the Darien Democrats for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. Serving our community as a Selectmen has been an honor and a joy. None of this would have been possible without your support (the Darien Democrats) and the community that elected me. The privilege of serving my community has allowed me to meet many new and wonderful people, forged new alliances, and connect to the community in a way I never thought possible. My love for my neighbors, friends and community has guided me as I worked hard to solve Darien’s most contentious issues.

At Monday night’s Darien Board of Selectmen meeting, Selectman Rob Richards released a letter saying that neighbors of Darien High School were willing to accept permanent lighting for sports, provided use of the lights was closely regulated. Richards said he had been talking with neighbors to see what kind of compromise proposal might be worked out with them, the school district and others supporting more lighting, particularly for night sports games. ____________

— See also: “Superintendent Brenner Recommends Permanent Stadium Lights at DHS” (March 14)

____________

Here’s the statement Richards, one of two Democrats on the five-member board, read near the end of the meeting, and the text of a proposal signed by 14 neighbors living in eight homes near the high school:
Richards’ statement
Dear BoS, BoE, P&Z, community leaders, and the people of Darien,

Last November I suggested the Board of Selectmen take a leadership roll in regard to DHS Lights. The suggestion was welcome by a group of neighbors who have opposed the lights. They invited me to discuss the issue with them back in January. For the past several months the neighbors and I have been working on a solution. My plan was to present a solution with the neighbors blessing before the Board of Selectmen.

To the editor:

Darien’s Post 53 EMS program is one of the most recognized and well-run volunteer programs in the United States. But because its volunteers are not certified paramedics; whenever an emergency requires a paramedic we have to call on an outside EMS service, Stamford Emergency Medical Services (SEMS). However, I believe if we leased fulltime SEMS Paramedics and stationed them at one of Darien’s firehouses our EMS system would be improved and Post 53 would benefit as well. Did you know a subscription to Netflix is more expensive than having Paramedics in town? The estimated cost of full time Paramedics leased from Stamford would be less than $8 per month per household.

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The Darien Democrats invite all voters to meet their candidates for the municipal election at a Campaign Kickoff reception on Sunday, Oct. 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the home of Martha and Gary Banks at 17 Harbor Road in Darien. [Correction: Organizers originally gave an incorrect address.]

Candidates for election November 3rd are Marc Thorne and Rob Richards for Board of Selectmen, Diana Maguire for Board of Finance and Kathrine Stein for Board of Education. Marc Thorne and Rob Richards will be new faces on the Board of Selectmen. Thorne has lived in town for almost forty years and has been an active member of the Representative Town Meeting with years of service on the RTM’s Rules and Finance and Budget Committees.