Submitted by Rachel Khanna, Greenwich
As a former State Representative for the 149th District, I know first-hand that having a seat at the table as part of the majority party in Hartford makes a big difference. That influence allows us to successfully advocate for projects that might otherwise go unfunded. And, it’s not just the money that matters. Having a seat at the table means being in the room when legislation is being crafted and having the influence to impact bill language before it comes to the floor for a vote.
When I served, Representatives Steve Meskers, Hector Arzeno, and I met regularly to discuss district priorities. Jill Oberlander and Amiel Goldberg will do the same. And, like most things, there is power in numbers: When three or four representatives advocate for something, the impact is far greater than when it’s just one or two from the minority party.
That’s the reason Greenwich got $22 million for the new Central Middle School construction, about $15 million for Old Greenwich School improvements, state support for the Glenville Corridor traffic safety project, and funding for the renovation of the Greenwich Boys and Girls Club, to name but a few.
I am confident that Jill, Amiel, Steve and Hector will do the work to find practical solutions to address the issues facing our district, such as aging infrastructure, traffic and pedestrian safety, and the high cost of living.
Jill, Amiel, Steve and Hector have consistently demonstrated their commitment to their communities by serving on the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting, the Stamford Board of Representatives, and local non-profit boards that serve our communities; they’ve consistently demonstrated their commitment to their constituents and will advocate for us; and they’ve consistently demonstrated that they are ready to roll up their sleeves, work hard and make sure that they leverage their seat at the table in Hartford to benefit all of us.
Rachel Khanna is the former State Representative for the 149th District and current Selectwoman of the Town of Greenwich.
Editor’s note: Letters to the editor about candidates in the Nov 3, 2026 election, we will accept letters for consideration from Oct 1 to the 27. The deadline is a week before the election: Oct 27 at 12:00 noon. There is typically a backlog of letters received right up to the deadline, so we will continue to publish some of those letters after the deadline.