Stone and Krasnor leave big shoes
Two women whose names have been synonymous with public service for half a century are closing their chapters on the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting (RTM). District 5’s Lucy Krasnor, retiring after 46 years, and District 10’s Louisa Stone, whose first term began in 1971, leave behind a rare legacy of perseverance, institutional memory, and spirited civic engagement.
Lucy Krasnor: The RTM is the place to be
Lucy’s path to the RTM began in 1977, when she served as campaign scheduler for Ruth Sims, the Democratic woman who shocked Greenwich’s political establishment by winning the First Selectman race. During that period, Lucy learned of a vacancy in District 5 and ran as a write-in candidate. “I got 5 votes and the next person got 3!” she recalled. She joined the RTM in 1980 and quickly found her stride.
Initially shy, Krasnor found her voice. “I would often get up and make some remarks, and would sway the body in my direction,” she said. If she could change one thing, it would be encouraging members to return to in-person meetings.“We could have more spontaneous comments and conversation,” she reflects. After nearly five decades, she leaves with simple advice for anyone interested in town issues: if you want to know what’s happening in town, the RTM is the place to be.
Louisa Stone: Five decades of public service
Louisa Stone’s entry into public life came even earlier. In 1971, after the party chose another candidate for the Board of Education, she pivoted to the RTM. “Name recognition is everything,” she said, so she printed bumper stickers reading STONE District 10 RTM, and won. After two terms, she moved on to major land-use roles: five years on the Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals and 15 years on the Planning and Zoning Commission, including three as chair.
The RTM she first joined was a very different body. All meetings were in person, votes were cast by hand or written ballot, and speakers rose from their seats to be recognized; no preregistration, no clickers, no Zoom.
One of her most consequential moments came just three years ago, when she led opposition to a proposal to redesign the Greenwich Avenue/Arch Street intersection. The plan was rejected 114–72.
Louisa’s advice for today’s members is practical and pointed: “Too many,” she said, “read from their notes into the microphone instead of speaking to the audience.” She also urges clearer communication and a more functional meeting environment. Too many speakers, she said, read directly from their notes instead of projecting to the audience.
As both women step back, they leave the RTM wiser, steadier, and indebted to their decades of dedication, an enduring reminder of the importance of public service.
After the BET win, Greenwich faces a high-stakes 2026
Last month, we celebrated the landslide election of a Democratic majority to the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET). These accomplished, capable professionals will bring fairness, transparency, fiscal responsibility, and a long-overdue focus on the needs of all Greenwich residents.
But Democrats can’t rest on our laurels. The crucial 2026 midterm election is already taking shape, and the stakes are just as consequential in Greenwich. Voters here will help decide who represents us in the U.S. House and the CT General Assembly. Those choices will have a huge impact on all of our lives.
Two Republican-held seats will be up for grabs
The race for State Senate District 36, which includes all of Greenwich, as well as parts of Stamford and New Canaan, is on. Sen. Ryan Fazio holds the seat now, but has set his sights on the Governor’s Office with backing from the state Republican establishment. Four short months ago Fazio proudly said this about President Trump, “I voted for the president. I have great respect for his service and patriotism.”
He also sided with the President when he shut down CT’s nearly-completed Revolution Wind project, which promised to reduce energy costs by as much as $500 million across New England. We need a Democrat back in the 36th.
In the 149th State House District, spanning backcountry Greenwich and Stamford, Republican Tina Courpas has followed a similar Trumpian playbook. Just last month, she was one of a handful in Hartford, including Fazio, to vote against bipartisan legislation funding social safety net programs as Trump kills federal support. Courpas is rumored to be considering a run for Fazio’s senate seat, so the 149th needs a solid Democratic contender too.
Democratic Representatives Hector Arzeno and Steve Meskers are hard at work protecting Greenwich values and standing up for common sense and compassion. They are also up for reelection, and we need to keep them there.
Join us and shape how we win in 2026
We also need you to stand up for Greenwich and say no to Trump. This is not the time to stay on the sidelines. Your energy, your enthusiasm, and your fresh ideas can make a difference. Attend our caucuses on January 8 to select voting members of the Democratic Town Committee (DTC) for the next two years. Become a DTC member, consider running for office, and come to one of our regular meetings. Get involved! Together, we’ll keep Greenwich moving forward.
WHAT WE’RE READING
CT budget chief leaves legacy of surplus
CT’s budget chief Jeffrey Beckham gave his last report on the state of the state’s financial picture to a standing ovation. Beckham earned praise for the robust health of the state budget, where he presided over $14 billion in surpluses over the last seven years. Read about the state of our finances under his leadership here.
Take the resident survey
Share your thoughts on how well the town is doing in various areas from road maintenance to health services. The biennial survey is open to all Greenwich residents at GreenwichSurvey.com or via the town’s website. The survey is completely anonymous.
Action calendar
Gift.
Find a waste-free local gift for that special someone from this holiday gift guide curated by the Greenwich Sustainability Committee, Waste Free Greenwich and the Greenwich Conservation Commission.
January 8. Caucus.
Plan to join fellow Democrats in your district for our biennial election of Democratic Town Committee members (exact time and locations TBD). Any Dem can self-nominate and/or vote. This is what Democracy looks like! Details will be posted here.
| Volume 4, Number 25 • December 11, 2025 |
| Paid for by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee. |
| Greenwich Democratic Town Committee P.O. Box 126 Greenwich, CT 06836 |