Two Republican Board of Education Candidates have dropped out of the November municipal government election.
Greenwich Republicans originally endorsed five candidates: Dr. Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony, Karen Krause, Paul Cappiali, Shawn McDonnell and Granit Balidemaj.
McDonnell and Mr. Balidemaj have withdrawn.
Mr. McDonnell said in an email Monday it was a difficult decision but he dropped out last week due to a health issue and felt honored to have been nominated by his party.
Mr. Balidemaj said in an email Monday he decided to step aside from the race this cycle due to work obligations. He said he would continue to stay involved in ways that support the community.
The BOE is comprised of eight members – four Democrats and four Republicans. Members have four year terms and elections are staggered every two years so the entire board doesn’t turn over at the same time.
The Republicans had a similar scenario in 2023 when there were only two openings for Republicans on the Board of Education, but the RTC’s nominating committee picked four candidates: Karen Kowalski, Wendy Vizzo Walsh, Adele Carroll and Rich Niemynski.
After Mr. Niemynski and Ms Carroll dropped out, the remaining candidates were Karen Kowalski and newcomer Wendy Vizzo Walsh.
After the two departures of Republican BOE candidates from the ballot this November, the remaining candidates are Dr. Mercanti-Anthony, Ms Krause and Mr. Cappiali.
In addition to Dr. Mercanti-Anthony running for another term, the other two openings are created by Cody Kittle’s soon-to-expire term, and the remainder of Karen Kowalski’s term after she resigned in July 2024 citing a family move out of town.
Kowalski was replaced by Republican Jen Behette, who was elected during an emergency BOE meeting on Oct 21 to fill Kowalski’s slot in the interim leading up to the November municipal election.
The following day, Oct 22, the Board of Selectmen, led by Camillo held their own meeting where they voted 2-1 to appoint Greenwich Harbormaster Paul Cappiali, who at the time was also running for State Rep in the 150th district.
Behette’s election in that special meeting led to a lawsuit with Camillo and the Town as Plaintiffs and the BOE Democrats, Ms Benette and the BOE named as Defendants (CAMILLO, FRED Et Al v. HIRSH, KAREN Et Al).
On Oct 30, the Board of Selectmen voted 2-1 to file a FOIA complaint about the legality of Greenwich Board of Education meetings on the Oct 21 and Oct 23 when they ratified the vote on Ms Behette. The FOIA commission was asked by the attorney for Camillo and the Town, Ben Bianco, to expedite procedures for a quick ruling on the complaint back in October, but nearly a yet later, there is no ruling.
With the conflicting appointments, both Mr. Cappiali and Ms Behette Zoomed in for the Oct 24, 2024 BOE meeting, but Mr. Cappiali was removed as a panelist and has not been seated to date.
At a Finance Committee meeting this month, during discussion of a possible RTM Sense of the Meeting Resolution about town spending on litigation, First Selectman Camillo was asked about the status and cost of the BOE litigation.
“I put in a call again to the attorney representing the town and will do it again tomorrow to see if you can, again, if you can pump the breaks,” he said.
“They should have ruled on this last year. We’re kind of baffled by the inaction here.”
“There’s still going to be bills mounting when they call,” Camillo said. “My point is I’d like to stop it now, and just glide into the election, and when we get the opinion, to stop the hemorrhaging of the spending.”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, there are three Democratic candidates for Board of Education for two openings.
After the DTC did not endorse Laura Kostin to run for another term, she petitioned onto the ballot.
The two endorsed Democratic candidates are Veronica Chiavaroli and Bob Chaney.
The League of Women Voters of Greenwich are hosting a debate for the BOE candidates on Monday, October 6 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
REGISTER HERE FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DEBATE
See also:
League of Women Voters of Greenwich Announces Candidate Debates 2025