Submitted by Brian Raabe, Greenwich
In a bid to disassociate themselves from school cuts, certain Republican candidates are calling themselves “New.”
In their letter they, “…respond to the latest false claim that “we” have slashed teachers and funds from next year’s school budget. We have not even been elected yet. [emphasis added]. What was issued this week by the BET were GUIDELINES.”
If I were on the receiving end of cutting school funding another $3.7 million – on top of last year’s $4 million, a week before voting – I would engage in a game of Twister too.
First, “We have not even been elected yet” speaks to 100 years of arrogance running Greenwich.
The election strikes this crew as an inconvenience.
Hubris from this quartet as they see their election as foregone, while also throwing Harry Fisher and Leslie Tarkington under the bus.
Curious omission of Harry and Leslie (as BET incumbents guiding to cuts) when you’re all in one big smiley campaign photo together.
The four of you are “new” and they are what?
They were part of last year’s cuts and cuts to come. Yet we’re to believe somehow you four will act differently and aren’t part of all this.
You’re “new.”
You four are like the guy who is being patted down and has contraband in his pocket – and responds with, “Officer, these are not my pants.”
Calling yourselves “new” is not credible.
Also not credible are the “guidelines are not budgets” pabulum you’re spoon feeding.
No different than Fred Camillo first calling last year’s school cuts, “cuts that he respectfully disagrees with,” then calling them “a reduction in the increase,” and then calling them a “communication issue.”
Double-talk.
Now your new crew is going with, “Guidance is not a budget.”
Some of you “newbies” are from the finance profession.
If you were “guided” to cut your year ahead budget $3.7 million, what would you come back with?
You would come back with a $3.7 million cut, or more. That’s what you were told the parameters were. The BET is telling you to cut.
You KNOW that is how this works.
And if you secure office, voters know that will happen. Sadly, some will be happy about that.
In pre-election campaigning, the only truly new person in your fantastic four has said about last year’s cut:
“I support the decision to reduce the BOE requested 2025–2026 budget by $4 million.” (Sally Bednar)
Now you write in your letter:
“We are committed to building budgets collaboratively with the BOE and the Town Departments that meet the expectations of our citizens at as reasonable a cost to taxpayers as practicable.”
Here with all your horn blowing and capital letters I thought you were going to say something like,
“These are ill-advised guidelines that call for school cuts– we commit to fully funding education!”
But that’s way off your brand.
Nope – instead, a throwaway line of drivel and double talk committing to nothing, saying nothing – waiting to get past this inconvenient election.
The “collaboration and reasonable cost” that you commit to are minimum expectations regardless of party. That you cite it as a big deal says more about your style of governance that anything.
But congratulations on jumping over the brick there.
Row A has strongly condemned the cuts to the school budget.
They were implemented to the detriment of students; they were sealed by Harry Fisher and his tie-breaking vote.
In your smiley group photo with ALL of you running for the BET (new, old – whatever) he is the one with the bow tie.
Anyway, I can appreciate your letter, what with tasing yourselves with another school cut and a week to the election.
But look – they’re your Row B pants and they’re not “new”; it’s your team – your cuts – we all know that.
Vote Row A. Fund education. No double talk.
Elliot Alchek
Matt DesChamps
Laura Erickson
Doug Fenton
Stephen Selbst
David Weisbrod
Note: The deadline to submit letters to the editor about candidates for consideration in the Nov 4, 2025 municipal elections is Oct 28, 2025 at 12:00 noon.