2023 Greenwich Election Profile: Karen Fassuliotis 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

Karen Fassuliotis

What city or town do you live in?

Greenwich

What office are you seeking?

Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET)

Please give us your party affiliation.

Republican

Education.

Law degree, doctorate degree, Greenwich Public Schools graduate

What is your occupation?

Attorney with over 20 years experience

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Not currently. My mother served on the RTM and my father was an elected Town Constable.

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

I have served on the Board of Estimate and Taxation for three terms and am seeking re-election; serve as a Justice of the Peace and served on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM)

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?

The secret to Greenwich and our community strength is great volunteers. I’ve been serving as a community volunteer and elected representative in Greenwich for more than 20 years. For me, continued service on the town’s finance board is the best place for me to support everything great about Greenwich.

I have lived in Greenwich for over fifty years. I am an attorney who has my own law firm and I understand what it takes to run a business in challenging economic times. In addition to the BET, I also served on the RTM. As an incumbent member of the BET who is running for re-election, I will continue to advocate for sensible spending, while balancing the needs and wants of our town’s residents. I will also continue to advocate for local control and will challenge our state representatives to seek opportunities to return tax dollars from Hartford to our town.

I will also continue to work with our First Selectman and will look to build consensus with members of the Board of Education to fund critical town and school projects and seek efficiencies in our town’s government.

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 pressing issue facing my constituents is balancing taxation while providing great services, including excellent public schools. Increasing property taxes and user fees are the concern that is most often heard from those who live in our town. Many wealthy residents don’t worry much about big jumps in taxes. But there are many young families and elderly residents, often unheard, who cannot tolerate annual tax increases of 5% or more. A $100 tax increase to fund our town government doesn’t seem so bad when it is taken on its own.

You often hear that this type of increase is “only costing taxpayers a cup of coffee every month.” But many small increases, when added up over time, can lead to thousands of dollars in additional tax burden to our residents. My Democrat colleagues propose expanding town services and expenditures to near Westchester County, NY levels. Over time, this would decimate our real estate values and drive out more moderate-income neighbors.

I stand for a fiscal approach that moderates tax increases and fully funds our quality schools, parks, police, fire and other town services.

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

For the past 100 years, Republicans leadership in the BET have helped create one of the most desirable communities in the country if not the world. The cornerstone is funding town services and infrastructure without overburdening our taxpayers. Our town has wonderful facilities and amenities including great parks, schools, and services. Whether it is our robust villages throughout town, our roads, fabulous beaches or schools, Republican fiscal leadership and discipline have made Greenwich a premier destination to live without sacrificing the quality of services our residents have come to expect.

Democrats propose to radically overturn this successful formula by expanding government services and beginning a construction binge all funded with long-term debt and tax increases. Democrats fiscal plan would make Greenwich like high-tax communities in Westchester County, NY. Republicans have avoided the problems seen by excessive long-term borrowing that has plagued Hartford and Washington DC. Our funding approach using cash and short term borrowing have resulted in the town having the highest ratings and financial standards for municipalities in the country and has made Greenwich the envy of the rest of the State.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

We live in a diverse community with many middle class families and others who have retired and are living on fixed income. With inflation soaring, the premise that our residents pay too little taxes is not the reality.

Republicans have always funded our town’s needs, all while ensuring affordable taxes and mill rates. Our opponents want an unlimited credit card. The policy of taking on millions upon millions of long-term debt with high interest rates will result in future higher taxes and bring us in line with our Westchester neighbors. Republicans have and will continue to fund all of our capital needs without taking on high interest, long term debt, which will allow us to pay back these loans and continue to maintain affordable taxes. It is poor fiscal management to excessively tax or overtax for money that cannot be expended, which long term borrowing will ultimately do.

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

Our caucus has continued the legacy of Republican financial leadership that has made Greenwich the envy of our state. Republicans have funded multi-millions in operating and infrastructure. As part of the BET Republican team, we will continue to provide the facts necessary to give our constituents the information they need so they can make an informed decision to vote for all six of us on Row B on Election Day.

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

Under Republican leadership the town navigated COVID-19 and emerged from the pandemic fiscally strong due to the tough decisions made, in part, by the BET. Prior to becoming an attorney, I worked for almost 20 years in the chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries as a regulatory specialist. In my various capacities I ran various departments and managed multi-million dollar budgets, constantly balancing the needs of the department versus the nice to haves.

As part of a team, I advised corporations on Super Fund clean ups and assured compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, as well as Environmental Protection and Food and Drug Administration laws and regulations. I regularly met with executive leadership and the regulators. As an attorney, I have run my own law practice and have the perspective of what it takes to be successful in business. All of these are invaluable experiences in running a town budget.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Listen more than you speak. I have always tried to take that to heart with not only listening, but I also listen intently. There may be a reason why human beings have been given two ears and only one mouth!

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

I am asking that you vote for me and all the Republican BET members on Row B this November so that we can continue to work for you to provide excellent schools and the services you expect in a fiscally responsible way. As part of the Republican team, I will continue to ensure we prepare budgets that fund our schools, public safety, great parks and recreational resources and our town’s infrastructure, all while maintaining a superior credit rating and affordable taxes that continue to draw people to Greenwich to live, work, raise a family and retire.