2023 Greenwich Election Profile: Leslie Moriarty 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

Leslie Moriarty

How old will you be as of Election Day?

67

What city or town do you live in?

Greenwich

What office are you seeking?

Board of Estimate and Taxation

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education.

MBA Harvard Business School, BA Wesleyan University

What is your occupation?

Former financial and strategic planning executive for multinational corporation

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

Husband John, 3 adult children, all of whom attended and graduated from Greenwich Public Schools K-12.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

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

Elected member of Greenwich Board of Education 2005-2013; held position of Chair 2011-2013, Vice Chair 2006-2011, Secretary 2005-2006. Elected member of RTM 2014-2015 from District 11. Current elected member of Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation 2016 to present.

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 have been a member of the BET since 2016, but the work isn't done. I bring experience and knowledge to address Greenwich’s challenges. As a Democratic member of this Board, I have watched the Republican-led BET under-invest in our capital assets so that a large backlog of projects has developed. I believe it is imperative to tackle the backlog, which can be done while meeting another key goal of maintaining low tax rates.

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

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is the failure to invest in necessary town facilities. Greenwich needs to maintain the quality of life expected by our residents in order to remain a vibrant and attractive community and to maintain our property values. The Republican-led BET has ignored the needs of funding the fire and police departments vehicle replacement program, improving playing fields, fixing sidewalks, and offering school facilities that are accessible to all with secure entrances and good air quality. This can be accomplished with low tax rates and appropriate financial planning. A Democratic-led BET will do this.

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

The control of the BET is determined by the party that gets the most cumulative votes for their six candidates. Democratic candidates for the BET support action rather than delays, support proactive steps to address future needs, like school facility renovation, flooding mitigation, energy management, active transportation. This can be done with better planning and collaboration while keeping taxes low.

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

The Democratic BET slate is challenging years of Republican leadership which has ignored community input, ignored the facility needs of the schools, risked public safety by deferring equipment for fire and police departments. The Republican leadership continues to focus on one-year budgets, ignoring the challenges identified in future year forecasts. This is exacerbated by the increase in interest rates and construction inflation over the past several years, leading to millions of dollars of higher costs for Greenwich taxpayers. This was avoidable. Change in leadership is needed to stop the delays. Voters need to vote for all six Democratic BET candidates.

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

The BET needs to improve its processes for better long range planning. The current Board tends to focus on the challenge of the month rather than developing a viable and responsive long term financing plan. This short term focus has resulted in project delays and higher costs for taxpayers. I believe all stakeholders would benefit from a stronger understanding of the town’s goals, opportunities and challenges. The BET should operate in a more transparent, more accessible, and more responsive manner.

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

I have proven myself to be a dedicated and productive member of the BET, taking the time to become knowledgeable on the issues brought before the Board. I have chaired the Debt and Fund Policy Committee which identified improvements to the financial parameters around the bonding program. I have participated in crafting the town budget for the past 7 years, advocating for our seniors, our children, our residents in need as well as supporting necessary funding for our capital program. However, the consistent underfunding of capital projects and underfunding of the public schools operating cost adopted by the opposing party with their tie-breaking vote has caused me to vote against the proposed budget in each of the past 4 years.