Westport Select Board Chair Shauna Tease frames service as community work, not politics

Shauna Tease, chairwoman of the Westport Select Board, said she entered local government to stop complaining and start fixing problems, describing a path from the finance committee to the board that she said was driven by community-building, practical skills and a desire to help neighbors. "If you really feel strongly that something needs to be done, what are you doing about it?" she said.

The interview on the public-access program "What's Buzzing in Westport" focused on Tease's personal background and how that shaped her public service. Tease, who said she has lived in Westport for 23 years, spoke about raising two daughters and drawing on professional experience in software project management to analyze root causes, organize stakeholders and chair meetings. She said those skills helped her adapt to municipal roles even when she did not initially consider herself qualified: "You don't have to be an expert in everything, but find your thing," she said.

Tease also discussed health and caregiving experiences that informed her perspective. She said her mother, who she described as 82, recently had a stroke; Tease volunteers on the Westport Commission on Disability. She disclosed a 2023 lymphoma diagnosis and chemotherapy and told the host she has been cancer-free for a little over two years. Tease contrasted the public reaction to different conditions, noting that chronic illnesses such as migraine — she said her daughter previously had 20–25 severe migraine days per month before treatment — do not always generate the same public sympathy as a cancer diagnosis.

The chairwoman emphasized volunteerism and the modest financial compensation for local office. She cited the select board stipend at about $7,000 a year and said most work in town is driven by volunteers whose sustained effort can grow small projects into large community events. She praised long-term volunteers and local efforts such as a town "Clean Our Westport Day" that began with a handful of people and expanded over time.

Tease encouraged people — especially women and younger residents — to get involved. She described her participation in Elect South Coast, a nonpartisan group promoting women in office, and said local races and town meetings concentrate influence in smaller electorates: "When you get down locally ... your sphere of influence is bigger," she said, noting town meeting votes that decide a $59 million budget.

On criticism and accountability, Tease said she evaluates complaints by their source and knowledge of the issue, and listens to those "in the arena" doing the work. She rejected broad accusations of corruption directed at select board members, saying, "I'm absolutely not" lining pockets and asking critics to present evidence.

Tease closed by urging informed participation in local elections: seek out a candidate's record, ask questions and, when appropriate, show up at town meeting. The host thanked her and the program ended with an invitation for viewers to engage with local public-access programming.

The interview combined personal reflection, practical advice for potential volunteers and reminders about the tangible power of local civic engagement.