2023 Greenwich Election Profile: Stephen Selbst For BET

GREENWICH, CT — Election Day on Nov. 7 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Greenwich.

Patch reached out to candidates for local office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the town.

Name

Stephen Selbst

How old will you be as of Election Day?

68

What city or town do you live in?

Old Greenwich, CT

What office are you seeking?

Member of the Board of Estimate and Taxation

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education.

JD, University of Michigan Law School -- 1980, BA, University of Michigan -- 1976

What is your occupation?

Attorney -- 43 years of experience

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

I am married to Kristine Stahly. We have three children, Elizabeth 37, Jeremy 34, and Michael 31

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

None

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

I am currently a member of the Board of Estimate and Taxation. I am running for re-election

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I am a 30-year resident of Greenwich, and my three children went through the Greenwich public school system. In my professional career, I specialize in troubled debt restructuring, which centers on making difficult financial choices. I believe the combination of my long tenure in the community and my professional skills makes me highly qualified for the BET. I enjoyed the challenges and responsibility of my first term on the BET and look forward to the upcoming term.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The most urgent issue is the schools: we need to approve funding for the construction of Central Middle School and the renovation of Old Greenwich School. Despite support for both projects from the Board of Education, BET Republicans have been unwilling to provide adequate funding for CMS and unnecessarily delayed the Old Greenwich School project. With construction inflation running at 8-10% per year, each year of delay costs taxpayers money. Moreover, because the needs of the schools are urgent, other necessary spending has been crowded out. Public safety is a core mission of government, yet we’re underfunding our police and fire departments. It is not prudent to neglect our assets in service of false economies.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The Democratic candidates for the BET believe that our responsibility is to find fiscally prudent strategies to meet the Town’s capital needs while avoiding sharp tax increases. While our first priority is to complete the process of funding CMS and Old Greenwich, we also intend to implement sustainable long-term planning that will allow the Town to protect its assets and provide necessary services for the benefit of all residents.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

As a community, we need to focus on planning to address climate change and sea level rise. We also need to complete the process of bringing all Town schools and other properties into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have chaired non-profit organizations in the past, including the Old Greenwich-Riverside Community Center. I also serve on the Old Greenwich School Building Committee. I believe my ties to the community, coupled with my professional experience managing financial disputes, makes me highly qualified to continue to serve on the BET.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Fight for what you believe in, but respect the opinions of others who disagree.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Although I am running as a Democrat, as a member of the BET, I will represent all citizens and all viewpoints of our wonderful community.