Democratic candidates bring Wall Street expertise and a commitment to community
This is the first in a two part series profiling the Democratic BET candidates
This November, Greenwich voters will choose who controls the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET), the body that manages town spending and taxes. Though the board is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, whichever party wins more total votes in the town election gains the chairmanship and the extra tie-breaking vote — and with it, control of the town’s finances.
Democrats are fielding a unified slate of six candidates with deep experience at the highest levels of finance and law, including Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and Morgan Stanley. They argue Greenwich needs rational budgeting and long-term planning to break free from decades of Republican mismanagement.
“We stand for fact-based decision-making, multi-year capital planning, and cost-efficient maintenance of town infrastructure,” says David Weisbrod, a BET veteran running for a fifth term after nearly four decades at JP Morgan. “It’s about listening to the voices of our community and restoring responsible, bipartisan collaboration.”
Democrats will keep the town engine running smoothly
Republicans have long leaned on the town’s reputation for some of the lowest taxes in CT. But Democratic candidate Laura Erickson, a former commercial banker and 21-year veteran of local government, says that image masks deeper problems. “People have a false sense of security that everything is running well,” she says. “But you only discover how badly things are managed when something you care about falls apart.” She points to dilapidated athletic fields, aging schools, inadequate fire response in parts of town, and even basics like sidewalks and park bathrooms.
Erickson has served two terms on the BET, chaired the Board of Education, and sat on the RTM for more than a decade. Her conclusion: Greenwich is falling behind because Republican leadership makes even the most basic projects harder and ultimately, more expensive, than they need to be.
We will use fact-based analysis
For Weisbrod, the problem is not so much ideology but incompetence. He recalls an instance in 2023 when Republicans on the BET, without consulting the police chief, tried to cut funding for equipment that turned out to be vital to the town’s 911 system. More recently, Republicans voted to cut $4 million from public schools with no clear rationale — a move that led to staff layoffs and disrupted start times. “It wasn’t fact-based,” Weisbrod says. “They never anticipated the consequences.”
Smart finance saves you money
That lack of rigor also extends to debt policy. Elliot Alchek, a former Goldman Sachs managing director who headed municipal bond sales, warns that Republicans’ refusal to issue long-term bonds for long-term assets is costing taxpayers dearly. “This is simply bad finance,” he says. “We’re one of the few municipalities financing 50-year assets with five-year debt.” The result: current taxpayers shoulder the entire cost of projects like Central Middle School (CMS), while future residents get to enjoy it at no cost.
And because of Republican delays in authorizing the project, the price tag for CMS swelled by millions of dollars. Thankfully, Democratic State Representatives Hector Arzeno, Rachel Khanna and Steve Meskers worked tirelessly to secure over $20 million in state reimbursement, much higher than originally projected.
It’s time for change
Republicans have controlled the BET for 98 of the past 100 years. Once known for bipartisan pragmatism, the party now uses its tie-breaking vote to push through cuts that ignore facts and community input. When Democrats held the BET chairmanship in 2018, tax increases averaged just 1.4% — lower than under Republicans.
The choice this November is clear: more chaos, delay, and hidden costs from a Republican BET, or steady, professional leadership from Democrats who bring both expertise and a commitment to the community.
Why local elections matter in Greenwich
Greenwich voters have a proud tradition of turning out at the polls, but the numbers tell a revealing story: enthusiasm dips when it comes to local races.
Although Greenwich turnout in the 2024 presidential election was a whopping 81%, that number was only 51% for the 2023 town elections. We’re not saying Greenwich voters are slacking. After all, we far outpaced the statewide average of 34% for local contests, and 76% for the 2024 presidential race. Still, this November 4, we must do better.
Why does it matter? Because local elections shape the decisions that most directly affect you: community safety, schools, home values.
With fewer voters participating, each ballot carries outsized influence. Consider that in 2023, a razor thin margin of victory (51% to 49%) gave control of the powerful Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) to Republicans. That body decides how your tax dollars are spent—on traffic improvements, public safety, or making sure schools avoid larger class sizes from teacher cuts.
Local elections set the tone for national ones
The stakes ripple outward. Local elections often set the tone for national politics. They influence party priorities, test policy ideas, and can shift the broader political mood. Your vote in Greenwich this November, can resonate far beyond town lines.
One way to increase participation is for college students to mail in their ballots. “It is important for students to vote because they have the numbers and voices to make a difference,” said Austin Janssen, a Greenwich student at the Catholic University of America. “Good leaders need every single one of our votes to achieve the change we need.”
Early voting begins Monday, October 20, at Greenwich Town Hall and runs through Sunday, November 2. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. To find your district and polling location, use the Registration Lookup tool.
Action calendar
September 14. Picnic.
Join us for our Campaign Kick-Off Picnic, an informal afternoon of food, conversation, and community. Meet local, state and federal leaders, connect with neighbors, and help us build momentum for a better Greenwich. Tod’s Point clambake area. Tickets here.
September 17. Meet.
Greenwich Democrats monthly meetings are open to all Democrats in town. Join us in the Town Hall Meeting Room at Greenwich Town Hall, 101 Field Point Road, 7:30 p.m.
| Volume 4, Number 10 • August 28, 2025 |
| Paid for by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee. |
| Greenwich Democratic Town Committee P.O. Box 126 Greenwich, CT 06836 |