Council debate centered on candidate commitment, experience and timing of interest

Council members spent much of the meeting describing their impressions from candidate interviews and weighing two competing criteria: whether a candidate had demonstrated prior commitment to run and whether the candidate had operational knowledge of town business.

Councilman Carroll strongly endorsed Rob Stevenson, citing multi‑generational residency, Stevenson's 38‑year Morgan Stanley career and an earlier expressed intent to run in November 2026. Carroll said Stevenson's early interest and professional background made him the preferred choice and said he would "cast my vote for Rob Stevenson."

Other members emphasized continuous local experience and committee work. The vice mayor highlighted Peter Tedesco’s long service on the finance committee and steady attendance at meetings; the presiding official said that institutional knowledge and the ability to "hit the ground running" were key tie-breakers. The presiding official also stated timing of a candidate’s filing was a factor but "not a determining factor" for his decision.

Those contrasting assessments determined how members voted: Carroll’s nomination for Stevenson received no second, while Tedesco later secured a second and the majority vote.