Submitted by Jill Kelly, RTC Primary candidate
Dear Greenwich Republicans:
When I first wrote this letter, I fully expected the current management of the Greenwich Republican Town Committee (RTC) to attack me personally after releasing the letter to the public, and they did. But, I have always stood up to bullies throughout my life and I continue to stand up for what is right now. I’m a working mom of four, town volunteer, member of the RTM, former PTA President, and only want what’s best for Greenwich.
I am running to represent Republicans in District 2, mostly the Harbor part of town. The Republican Primary Election will be held next Tuesday, March 5th from 6am-8pm. District 2’s polling place is Town Hall. Absentee ballots can be obtained from the Town Clerk’s office. Call 203-622-7897 or email [email protected].
A group of good Republicans is striving to get back the heart and soul of the Greenwich RTC. We are supported by Fred Camillo and Lauren Rabin, just to name a couple of our Republican leaders who have publicly spoken out against the current leadership, without placing a target on elected officials serving our community right now who also support us.
I believe everyone has good in them, but there are just a few who are misguided. Some of those misguided people are running the Greenwich Republican Party at this time. It’s their way or the highway, and they are strongly trying to push a national agenda on our town, which most of us do not want.
They attack anyone who doesn’t agree with them completely, including many of our fellow neighbors who are PTA volunteers, RTM members, other town volunteers, and often those who are loyal hardworking Republicans. I was named fifteen times in a negative letter by my opponents in District 2, my husband ten times. This immature behavior with personal attacks, name calling and criticisms without suggested solutions needs to stop. This will deter any intelligent, reasonable, level headed person from getting involved in our community.
Our group wants people who will work together and collaborate in a civilized respectful manner, and who know how to get things done.
The RTC’s job is to nominate local candidates for public office and then make sure they win. The RTC must represent all Republicans in Greenwich and encourage their involvement, wage campaigns that will attract all Republicans and most unaffiliated voters, and when we win the RTC should support and encourage our Republican elected officials in the hard decisions that they make as they govern.
During the last two election cycles the present RTC board:
-Proceeded to lose all 3 Greenwich State Representative races in the 2022 election, including one never held by Democrats. The worst performance in the 160 year history of the Greenwich Republican Party!
-Ran efforts in districts throughout Greenwich to replace the long standing strong Republicans who had won elections over and over.
– In the 2023 election, Republicans won, despite efforts by the heads of the RTC to undermine First Selectman Fred Camillo’s candidacy. Republicans can be grateful for Fred Camillo’s coattails.
– The RTC Chairman solely collected signatures in District 9 to force Greenwich’s most senior Republican woman elected official, Lauren Rabin, out of the RTC.
-Regularly sent out misleading and false messages to the public
We Republicans need to get Greenwich right and get our Republican candidates elected. We need Republicans in the State House of Representatives in Hartford, alongside our senator Ryan Fazio, to communicate the interests and needs of Greenwich and fight hard against things like 8-30g which may change our town forever.
Our elected officials should not be criticized and disrespected by the current management of the RTC. They should be supported. The current management’s bad behavior and use of the RTC machine to send out false and misleading messages has to be stopped.
They will have you believe they were an integral factor in Fred Camillo’s and Lauren Rabin’s wins in November. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. The campaign efforts for the two were next to nothing. Believe me when I tell you, the Greenwich RTC needs a refresh to get rid of the toxic people in power. Our group will institute new, inclusive leadership to win elections.
Please join us in making the Greenwich Republican Town Committee RIGHT.
If you’re not registered or registered as Unaffiliated, and you agree with our mission, you can register as a Republican to vote until the day before the election. For this very easy process go to:
https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/prefix.do (https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/prefix.do)
Thank you for your support.
District 2
Joe Kelly
Jill Kelly
Jill Barile
Nicholas Barile
Scott Diddel
There will be Primaries in 5 of the 12 districts throughout town (2, 4, 5, 8, 9). Our candidates are people who are good for our Republican Party, good for Greenwich, good for Connecticut, and ultimately good for the USA.
For more details on our candidates in districts 4, 5, 8, 9 go to:https://www.united-rtc.org/district-2
Jill Kelly
Candidate for RTC District 2