2023 Greenwich Election Profile: Lucy von Brachel For Town Clerk

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

Lucy von Brachel

How old will you be as of Election Day?

50

What city or town do you live in?

Greenwich

What office are you seeking?

Town Clerk

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education.

Greenwich Public Schools; BFA in Photography, Parsons School of Design

What is your occupation?

Fine Art Appraiser

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

My husband, Michael, a Greenwich native, works in the tech industry. Our children, Helen and Edward are GHS students.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

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

I have served three terms on the RTM (2018-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?

My parents were very active in the Greenwich community, and they instilled in me that if I see a need or a problem, I should take ownership and address it to the best of my ability. When I learned that my RTM district had vacancies and was underrepresented in votes that had a huge impact on my neighborhood, I ran to fulfill that need. Over the six years I have served, I have learned a great deal about local government and would like to have a greater impact. I am genuinely excited about taking on the responsibilities of the Town Clerk. It is the perfect marriage of my commitment to good local governance, the RTM, well-run elections, preservation of historical records, and public service.

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

Greenwich is a diverse community, and our constituents have any number of pressing individual needs. In the context of the Town Clerk position, I see an opportunity to make it easier for residents to have a voice and hold their elected officials accountable. Informed and engaged residents are better able to advocate for their needs, whether directly with town officials or at the voting booth, and greater engagement supports a healthier government. I intend to take every opportunity to educate and engage my neighbors.

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

The Town Clerk is a full-time, salaried position and I see our candidacies as a job interview. Voters should hire the candidate that will produce the best results. My experience in town government and my professional background, as well as my collegiality and diligence, are a perfect fit for the Town Clerk position. I put 110% into everything I do and do not shy away from challenges. Although some elected positions in Greenwich are seen as ceremonial, the Town Clerk’s responsibilities are largely administrative. Taxpayers should hire a Town Clerk that can contribute the sweat equity and know-how necessary to increase productivity, improve efficiency and customer service, and save money. I know I can do this job well and take it to the next level.

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

I see room for improvement and priorities being overlooked that I plan to address. The Town Clerk has a few politically sensitive responsibilities, such as the handling of absentee ballots during elections and being the repository for municipal campaign finance records, including their own. The Town Clerk is also the clerk for the RTM, which has become increasingly partisan. Given that Town Clerk candidates are placed on the ballot by the Republican and Democratic Town Committees, the elected Town Clerk needs to go the extra mile to avoid any semblance of bias, favoritism, and party influence. I will review policies and procedures and put more checks and balances in place to strengthen the public’s faith in the integrity of our elections.

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

Feedback I have received from voters about their experiences with the Town Clerk’s office is focused on moving more services online, providing clearer instructions on how to use services, and making it easier to find information on the Town Clerk’s website. I am already trained to update town webpages, have written numerous instruction manuals and handbooks, and have reviewed Town Clerk websites throughout the state to identify best, and worst, practices I can apply to ours as soon as I take office.

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

I have been an active member of the RTM for six years, including four years as my district secretary. I am currently a delegate on the Legislative & Rules Committee and have served as the secretary on the Transportation and Land Use Committees, as a member of a special committee that wrote and passed a blight ordinance, and on the Community Development Advisory Committee. When the RTM pivoted to remote, and later to hybrid, meetings, I became one of only three “vote tabulators” and Zoom hosts to stay in the role until we began using an electronic voting process.

With a group of neighbors, I helped revitalize my neighborhood association, which has been successful advocating for pedestrian safety improvements, land use issues, and blight. My volunteer work has also included being a site liaison and tutor for Reading Champions and answering phones for the United Way’s Community Answers service. These efforts have helped me better understand how to navigate the town’s bureaucratic processes to see projects to fruition and how much local non-profits supplement and support town services.

I have substantial administrative and technical skills honed over my 30-year career in the art business that I can take advantage of as the Town Clerk. I have managed large archives; developed operational standards, policies, and procedures; rolled out new technology; managed large-scale projects; and written professionally. For 12 years I have run a successful art appraisal business, working on donation and estate appraisals for tax purposes as well as insurance claims and legal disputes.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

You catch more bees with honey than vinegar. Approaching everyone with respect, empathy, and humility is especially important in public service.

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

My husband and I made a deliberative choice to move home to Greenwich to raise our family. Greenwich has so much to offer and I will fight to protect and enhance what we have to ensure that future generations love this community as much as we do.