Melissa Kane has distinguished herself as a successful businessperson, public servant, volunteer and advocate, respected for her ability to set a vision and build the support necessary to make it happen. Her strong communication skills, collaborative approach and leadership capability have resulted in many successful community and civic endeavors. She is known to roll up her sleeves and work effec
tively on behalf her constituencies. As a result, she has held many key elected and appointed positions. Melissa currently serves on Westport’s Board of Selectmen. She is an ex-officio member of the Westport Net Zero 2050 Committee and the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee, which she previously Co-Chaired. Prior to this role, she was the Chair of the Downtown Steering Committee, where she successfully shepherded the creation of a new Downtown Master Plan for Westport. Melissa was elected to and served Westport’s District 3 on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) for two terms. Additionally, Melissa was the Chair of the Westport Democratic Committee (DTC) from 2015 until she resigned to run for First Selectman in June of 2017. She was previously elected as its Secretary in 2014. Melissa is also one of the organizers of the Women’s March on Washington, Connecticut Chapter. She was recently honored by the Democratic Women of Westport and awarded its first scholarship to the Yale Campaign School for Women, which she completed in June 2017. Melissa has held leadership roles in numerous local and not-for-profit initiatives for many years. Her involvement includes work on behalf of the Westport Public Library, where she served on the Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2011. She has also served on the boards of Green Village Initiative, The Norwalk Symphony and A Child’s Place Preschool, and has been active with Earthplace, the Westport Arts Center and Regional Plan Association (RPA) Connecticut Committee. She currently serves as President of the Board of Connecticut Against Gun Violence (CAGV), and as a member of the boards of NARAL Pro Choice CT and The Democratic Women of Westport. Melissa Kane is running for First Selectman of Westport. Rob Simmelkjaer is running for Second Selectman of Westport. Melissa was elected to, and currently represents, Westport’s District 3 on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM). Melissa is also the Co-Chair of the Downtown Implementation Committee, a position to which she was appointed by the current First Selectman. Additionally, Melissa has been the Chair of the Westport Democratic Committee (DTC) since 2016. She was recently honored by the Democratic Women of Westport and awarded its first scholarship to the Yale Campaign School for Women, which she completed in June. Rob Simmelkjaer has served as Senior Vice President of NBC Sports Ventures since September of 2011. Simmelkjaer has been active as a volunteer coach for Westport Soccer and Westport Softball, a parent volunteer at Kings Highway School and Landmark preschool, and is the Vice Moderator of the Northfield Congregational Church in Weston. He also has served on the Westport Zoning Board of Appeals since January 2016 and is on the Board of Directors of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSVG), a Washington, DC based organization which seeks to secure freedom from gun violence through research strategic engagement and effective policy advocacy. Simmelkjaer also serves on the Board of Advisors of the Child Study Center or New York. Simmelkjaer is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School. He lives in Westport with his wife and two daughters.
