CT Patch Candidate Profile: Allyson Stollenwerck For Board Of Finance

WESTPORT, CT — The 2025 election is heating up in Connecticut and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Connecticut Patch asked local candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Candidate's Name:
Allyson Stollenwerck

What office are you seeking?
Westport Board of Finance

What town do you live in?
Westport

Campaign Website
https://stollenwerckwhitney.com

Party Affiliation:
Democrat

Occupation:
Nonprofit Executive - 20 years

Family:
Married to my husband, Jeff. I have two sons, ages 16 and 19.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
N/A

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
I am a sitting member of the Westport Board of Finance. I began my current term in 2024. I also served on the Board from 2005-2011. Prior to that, I served on Westport's Board of Assessment Appeals. Earlier in my career, I was appointed Special Assistant and then Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General of the United States.

Why are you seeking this office?
I am seeking to retain my position on the Westport Board of Finance. Throughout my tenure, the Board has preserved Westport’s best-in-class public services, schools and recreational facilities while remaining focused on fiscal discipline, smart spending and stable property taxes. I look forward to continuing to serve and maintain that commitment.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
Ensuring that we make strategic investments in our town, balancing the need for top-notch community resources with fiscal constraints in a time of economic uncertainty. In addition to ongoing operating expenses, there are numerous potential capital projects on the horizon. We need to ensure that Westport remains an attractive community for all of our residents including our seniors. I will work diligently to scrutinize and prioritize all funding opportunities.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I am fortunate to be part of a collaborative Board where we are not focused on our differences but rather on how we can work together to make the best decisions for the town and our constituents. This race is uncontested (there are three candidates for three seats), and I am excited to serve with current Board members and those who will be joining the Board post-election.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
In a fractious political environment, particularly at the national level, I am focusing on the need for collaboration, transparency and working respectfully and effectively across all of Westport’s boards and commissions.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
First, I’d cite my performance on this job to date and my commitment to Westport governance. In my eight years on the Board of Finance (including a term as Vice Chair), I’ve helped strengthen an already vibrant community but never lost sight of affordability and the needs of our seniors. Our mill rate has remained competitive with other towns in the area. Prior to my tenure on the Board of Finance, I served on Westport’s Board of Assessment Appeals. Second, in my professional life, I’ve had a mix of private, public and nonprofit experiences - viewing complex problems from numerous vantage points. Shortly after my graduation from Yale Law School, I served as Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General of the United States. I’ve spent the last two decades at international nonprofits managing multi-million dollar budgets and building strategic plans that support the world’s most vulnerable people and ensure efficient use of donor investment.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
When working with others, you can get more done if you aren’t concerned with who gets the credit.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I’ve lived in Westport for 23 years with my husband, Jeff, and our two teenage sons.