Submitted by Doug Fenton
I’m running for the Board of Estimate and Taxation in November because I truly believe Greenwich can—and should—do better. I decided to run after the school budget was reduced by $4mm+ this year by the 6 BET Republicans. It wasn’t just the size of their budget cut, but (1) their lack of diligence leading up to Decision Day, (2) the superficiality of their justifications, and (3) their ignoring the community and a resounding vote by the RTM when their decision could still have been amended. More broadly, the school budget debacle reflects a larger, deeply troubling pattern – that our Republican-controlled BET’s short-term thinking and lack of rigor has led to worse outcomes for Greenwich residents, both financially and in our overall quality of life.
Doug Fenton
Better analysis doesn’t just lead to better decisions—it also will lead to a more efficient local government. That’s how we protect and improve the services we value while also keeping taxes low and sustainable.
A lot of you know how seriously I take this stuff—through my RTM newsletters, the editorials I’ve written, or the conversations we’ve had. I have 20 years of experience in finance, including over a decade as a partner at a hedge fund. I am a delegate of the RTM’s Budget Overview Committee, where I have focused on grounding decisions in data and analysis. My work has earned respect from across the political spectrum (see links below). Further, I serve on the boards of the Greenwich Alliance for Education and the Rocky Point Club, while also co-chairing the Tiger Foundation in NYC. Most importantly, I’ll be the first BET candidate in years with young kids currently in our public schools, which gives me a very personal stake in how we plan for the future.
We shouldn’t be scrambling every year to protect essential services or invest in critical infrastructure. With the right planning and leadership, we can do better—for our schools, our seniors, our neighborhoods, and the future of Greenwich.
If you share this vision, please vote for all 6 Democrats (including me) running for the BET in November. In the meantime, let me know if you would like to get involved ([email protected]).
Thank you,
Doug Fenton
Riverside
Prior Work:
Greenwich Schools & Local Issues Newsletter: Subscribe & Archive
Town Government 101: Why you should vote for all 6 members of one party for the BET and other Greenwich election minutiae. Link here.
School Budget Overview Presentation to RTM BOC (1/9/25), PTAC (2/5/25), and shared with full BET (Feb-Mar ’25) – Link here.
“Use of Fund Balance” Presentation to RTM BOC (4/03/25) – Link here.
Letters to the Editor:
FENTON: RTC $4mm school budget cut plan was based on flawed analysis | Greenwich Free Press (4/9/25)
Letter: BET should fully fund Greenwich schools | Greenwich Time (3/21/24)