Greenwich Democrats Endorse Slate Of Candidates For Nov. 2

GREENWICH, CT — On Wednesday night, Greenwich Democrats officially and unanimously endorsed their slate of candidates for the municipal election this fall.

Leading the ticket is Bill Kelly, who will look to knock-off incumbent First Selectman Fred Camillo. Kelly is a longtime resident of Greenwich, and a former member of the Representative Town Meeting, Board of Education, and Board of Estimate and Taxation.

"I have 18 years of experience in town. I have volunteered my time for 18 years. I know this town, I know the players, and I'm ready to go to work," Kelly told a crowd gathered at Greenwich Town Hall. About 40 people were watching online via Zoom. "We will show them that we have management skills, leadership skills and the judgement to run this town appropriately the way Greenwich deserves to be run."

Kelly began his brief remarks by pointing out that Democrats "are aligned with the Board of Education and their capital projects."

Joining Kelly will be RTM member, Janet Stone McGuigan, for Selectperson. She'll run against incumbent Lauren Rabin.

"I am proud and honored to be a part of this very impressive slate of candidates. Together, we can make the Greenwich we all deserve," McGuigan said.

Board of Education

Democrats had a choice to make when it came to the Board of Education.

Democrats decided to put incumbent Board of Ed. Vice Chair Kathleen Stowe, and RTM member Laura Kostin, on the ballot for the two open seats. Democrat Meghan Olsson stepped down recently, and her replacement, Dr. Gaetane Francis, will not run for re-election.

Democratic Town Committee members had debated about whether to put up two or three candidates.

The DTC Nominating Committee recommended the endorsement of Stowe, and either Kostin or Katherine LoBalbo.

BET member and former Board of Ed. member Laura Erickson advocated for three candidates.

"As the party of voter choice and expanding voter rights, I think we should consider nominating all three qualified candidates," she said.

Kelly also asked for three candidates, citing his own personal experience when he ran for the Board of Ed. in 1999.

"I was the third candidate in 1999 when we had three of us run for the Board of Education. I would not be here if this committee had decided on two. I think it's very important," he said.

DTC member Howard Richman voiced his opposition to nominating three people.

"I think it's time to take a page out of the Republicans' playbook. We all know they'd only put up two [candidates]. I'm tired of seeing Democrats give the choice out. I understand the Democratic values are different, but in this instance, I think we should go for two because that's exactly what they would do," Richman said.

Seventy-one DTC members voted, with 36 votes needed for the majority. Members could vote zero, one or two candidates.

Stowe received 66 votes, Kostin had 40 votes, and LoBalbo had 29 votes.

Remaining Ticket

For the BET, Democrats endorsed Erickson, Miriam Kreuzer, Leslie Moriarty, Jeff Ramer, and David Weisbrod — all incumbents. Stephen Selbst, an attorney with experience in finance and restructuring, will in place of Beth Krumeich, who is not seeking re-election.

"We choose to volunteer our time and talents to make Greenwich the kind of town we want to live in. One where the needs of children in our public schools are met with effective teachers and classroom support in accessible and updated school buildings. One where appropriate fire coverage is available to all our residents and businesses," said Moriarty, the Democratic caucus leader on the BET.

"One where town facilities keep people safe and engaged form the libraries to the playing fields to bicycle paths to parks and beaches," Moriarty added, "and one where long term planning is a focus on addressing the impacts of climate change to the challenges to the town's increasing capital investment requirements, and where good financial management accomplishes these objectives with the lowest possible tax rates."

Elsewhere on the Democratic ticket, incumbents Joe Huley and Howard Richman were endorsed for the Board of Assessment Appeals, as well as Bill Grad.

Incumbents Dawn Fortunato and Donnie Romeo were endorsed for the role of town constable.

DTC Chair Joe Angland urged Democrats to get out to the polls.

"We're going to need a lot of help. We finally have more Democrats than Republicans in the Town of Greenwich, but it doesn't matter if we don't actually turn out to the polls," he said. "We have all this enthusiasm today. Let's not waste it. Let's turn it into action as we go forward."