Democrat Laura Erickson Announces Bid For Greenwich First Selectperson

GREENWICH, CT — Laura Erickson, a Democrat and current member of the Board of Estimate and Taxation, has announced her candidacy for first selectperson of the town of Greenwich.

Incumbent Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan is seeking a second term and will run as a slate with Erickson in November's municipal election.

"I am running for first selectperson to bring needed change to Greenwich," Erickson said in a news release. "We need responsible stewardship of town and public school infrastructure; solutions to improve traffic, parking and public safety; and leadership and vision to preserve neighborhood character and address affordable housing for our town workforce and most vulnerable residents. "

Erickson is in her second term on the BET, and currently serves on the budget committee. She is a former chair of the Board of Education, and a past member of the Representative Town Meeting where she served for over a decade on both the finance and health & human services committees.

She is also on the board of the Norwalk Community College Foundation and is a prior board member of the Greenwich Alliance for Education and the Greenwich United Way.

"I’ve had a front row seat for the past four years on the BET, and I’m done with kicking the can down the road," Erickson added. "Our town can meet the needs of our residents and taxpayers. It’s time for thoughtful, prudent planning. This is what my campaign, and the campaign for the BET, is going to be about: a referendum on bringing leadership to solve our challenges versus sidestepping them."

A 39-year resident of Greenwich, Erickson's three children attended Greenwich Public Schools from K-12. She is also a former PTA co-president at Greenwich High and Riverside School.

Professionally, Erickson was a commercial banker in the technology sector, and is a graduate of Middlebury College.

Fellow Democrat and resident Jim Finn recently announced that he's seeking the first selectman's office, the Greenwich Time reported.

On the Republican side, First Selectman Fred Camillo announced in May that he is running for a third term alongside Selectwoman Lauren Rabin. Town Clerk Jackie Budkins is running with Camillo and Rabin and seeking a second term in office.

Stone McGuigan currently serves as selectperson and is the co-chair of the Greenwich Sustainability Committee and Board of Selectmen liaison to the Energy Management Advisory Committee, the Harbor Management Commission and the Old Greenwich School and Julian Curtiss School Building Committees.

She is currently a board member for Barbara’s House, (formerly Community Centers, Inc.). Stone McGuigan is a prior board member of the League of Women Voters of Greenwich and PTA Council. She also served on the RTM and continues as an ex-officio member.

"Greenwich is a gem, but to keep it shining we need to make responsible investments in our community. Like Laura, I have invested countless hours to develop good working relationships with our incredible town professionals and volunteers and to understand the many issues facing our town," Stone McGuigan said in a news release.

She went on to say that climate change is an issue that needs attention.

"Climate change is real and as a coastal community, Greenwich needs to address both rising sea levels and inland flooding. Our harbor is a treasure but we have let it become almost unnavigable in places," she said. "We need to make schools our highest capital priority. To make sound decisions we need to promote transparency and public input. I have and will continue to embrace these values. We are running on our records."

Stone McGuigan has lived in Greenwich since 2006. Her two children and spouse attended GPS from K-12. A former environmental policy analyst and mediator, she holds degrees from Cornell and Harvard University.

"We will lead our campaigns on a platform of ideas, based on our vision and years of collective experience in local government and non-profit organizations," the two said in a news release.

This year's municipal election is scheduled for Nov. 7. Greenwich's Republican and Democrat Town Committees are expected to endorse candidates in July.