Moderate, community-minded candidates prevail across town districts
On Election Day, Greenwich voters overwhelmingly backed moderates from a bipartisan coalition for the Representative Town Meeting (RTM), reaffirming a shared commitment to practical leadership and cooperation in town government.
The RTM, Greenwich’s 230-member legislative body, is one of the largest in the United States. Rooted in the New England tradition of direct, decentralized governance, its power comes from the willingness of neighbors to work together.
This year, voters rallied behind candidates across the party spectrum known for protecting public schools, exercising fiscal prudence, and taking a long-term view of planning and investment.
The RTM serves as a cornerstone of Greenwich’s checks and balances. It holds final authority to approve or reduce budgets prepared by the First Selectman, the Board of Education, and the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET). It also decides on town expenditures over $5,000, determines whether to accept state or federal grants, enacts ordinances, grants municipal improvement status for development projects, and confirms appointments to town boards and commissions.
New energy joins familiar leadership
This election brings both continuity and fresh perspective to the RTM. Notable returning members include State Representatives Steve Meskers and Hector Arzeno, former First Selectman candidate Anthony Moor, and outgoing BET member Scott Kalb.
Fifth-term RTM representative Victoria Martin Young reflected the enthusiasm of many returning members: “I’m excited to serve as we usher in a new era of collaboration, tackle long-neglected infrastructure needs, prioritize educational excellence, and demonstrate that fiscal responsibility means investing wisely in our community’s future—not deferring hard decisions.”
At the same time, several well known candidates will not be serving, including current and former Republican Town Committee chairs Mike Hahn and Jerry Cincotta, and outgoing BET member Lucia Jansen, who voted to cut funding for our public schools and lost her BET re-election bid after not receiving her party’s endorsement.
Among the many newcomers joining the RTM is Dr. Jen Barro, a gastroenterologist moved by Greenwich’s civic spirit. “I’ve been inspired by the volunteerism of so many neighbors and friends—people offering their time and talents to help keep our town government functioning,” explains Barro.
With a strong blend of experience and new ideas, the incoming RTM class appears ready to continue Greenwich’s long tradition of citizen-led, collaborative local government.
SNAP snafu highlights Lamont’s compassion vs. Trump’s cruelty
By now it’s no surprise that D.C.’s bully-in-chief spent the last couple weeks trying to snatch food from hungry families and children. Even after his own USDA authorized partial payments and some states like CT made up the difference with state dollars, he still tried to “undo” the transfer.
Fortunately for our state’s neediest, including 817 SNAP households in Greenwich, Gov. Ned Lamont had their back. “No,” he wrote on X. People who depend on SNAP “should have never been caught in the middle of this political fight.” That stand is all the more courageous given that the Trump regime warned that states who help recipients would be “responsible for the consequences” of their actions.
Democrats stand for compassion and with Gov. Lamont when it comes to our most vulnerable residents. “The country as a whole is supportive of the government doing its part to provide assistance for our neighbors,” said Neighbor to Neighbor Executive Director K. Brent Hill, who noted that they’re already seeing a slight uptick in requests and donations.
Now entering the breech, Greenwich’s non-profits have been calling on our generosity. Neighbor to Neighbor, which offers three-days’ worth of emergency food each week for any family meeting income guidelines, is asking for donations. The United Way is looking to raise $150,000 in 30 days for SNAP. Both organizations point out that even though this month’s SNAP benefit was paid, next month stricter eligibility rules will bar one-in-four families from the program permanently.
You can thank another cruel act for foisting that additional indignity on the poor: Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” What’s next? Substantial new healthcare costs and eligibility restrictions on states after next year’s midterm elections, expected to cause millions to lose their coverage.
WHAT WE’RE READING
CT special session to approve emergency funds
Governor Lamont and the state assembly are working to approve an emergency state response fund to enable Connecticut to offset some of the millions of dollars in federal cuts from the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” to health and human services. The Connecticut House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the measure Wednesday 126-20. Greenwich Rep. Tina Courpas notably voted against the assistance. The state Senate is poised to approve the contingency fund in a special session today. Read more here.
Action calendar
Donate.
Greenwich High School teachers launched Folsom House Care Closet, a project to supply food and basic essentials to students who receive free/reduced price meals. Drop off non-perishable food and hygiene items like dried rice or beans, canned tuna, pasta, tomato sauce, granola bars, shampoo, and soap/body wash. Folsom House, 10 Hillside Drive. Financial donations can be made to the PTA.
November 19. Join us.
Come to our monthly DTC meeting open to all Democrats in town. 7:30, Town Hall Meeting Room. 101 Field Point Road.
December 1. Attend.
Join the swearing in of the Board of Selectmen. 5:00 p.m. Cohen Eastern Greenwich Civic Center.
| Volume 4, Number 22 • November 13, 2025 |
| Paid for by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee. |
| Greenwich Democratic Town Committee P.O. Box 126 Greenwich, CT 06836 |