Submitted by Sarah E. Mickley, Sacred Heart Greenwich ’21, Rider University ’25, B.A. Elementary Ed & Political Science
As the November 2 election grows near, it’s impossible to miss the surplus of political signs placed at every corner and intersection. Among these signs is one in particular that always catches my eye. “Fred”. People who have lived in Greenwich for several years know who this is for, and the absence of any more information on these signs besides the position he is running for and the words “re-elect” goes to show this. This action is a blatant attempt to create a sense of familiarity between candidate and voter, which is to persuade a voter to his side without any other basis of judgment, this is not out of character as these methods are what Fred Camillo has built his entire political career on.
As any successful politician realizes, maintaining the good opinions of the people is one of the most important parts of keeping yourself in office. However, once you peel back the front of the charismatic, philanthropic, German Shepherd loving, traditional Republican, you see someone whose nature and political strategies could be described as Machiavellian. Niccolò Machiavelli, an influential Italian political theorist, writes in his work The Prince,
“Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them.”
Mr. Camillo has made a point in his career of taking philanthropic actions, which thinly veil his record of voting against the basic rights of his constituents.
His slogan “Trusted to lead, Proven to care” is simply performative when you look at his voting records. During his time as a State Rep, he voted against the increase of minimum wage three times, voted against HB 6599 (Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Gender Identity or Expression), and voted against SB 899 (Same-Sex Marriage).
Additionally, one of the ideas he is running on is community health and safety, yet he voted against HB 5246 (Domestic Violence Law Amendments). That is not the only time his voting history is in contradiction to the platform he now runs on. In recent years he has made environmental protection a priority, and while in isolation this is admirable, he previously voted no to SB 493 (Relating to Renewable Energy), a bill that would promote renewable energy. Whether or not this is due to a change of opinions or change in societal pressure, can be debated as even more recently Camillo has displayed inconsistency and irresolution in his statements and stances.
Camillo’s eagerness to appease the Republicans around him leads to vastly hypocritical decisions. While he has defended the use of masks as a precaution to slow the spread of COVID-19, he has appointed and defended his appointment of Megan Galletta to the GHS Vestibule Committee. This appointment is extremely harmful as this was made despite her involvement in maskless gatherings which emphasized the supposed danger of wearing masks. Camillo’s willingness to put his party over his views is extremely concerning, as it makes one question the strength of his own beliefs. Why is it that he values putting those of his party into positions of power over the general safety of the public and his word?
It is not an uncommon sight for politicians to endorse the other candidates running for office who are in their party, however, the extent to which Camillo focuses on helping those in his party is questionable.
Due to his popularity, I can see very little Camillo can do that would make people that support him think less of him.
Growing up, I always liked him. I was raised to believe, and still believe, that you should vote for someone’s character over party, and even if our views align mostly with one party, that should not stop us from voting for someone across party lines if we think they are fit for the job. Fred Camillo used to be someone I believed in, but as I’ve grown older, and have begun to see where his true values lie, I cannot endorse him with the same kind of support.
Greenwich needs someone who leads and cares, someone who will do what is right for us without personal agendas being in the way. We need someone who is going to unequivocally support the needs of the Greenwich people, and Camillo is not that man.
For the future and prosperity of Greenwich, I urge you to cast your vote for someone who is who they appear to be and truly values the well being of their constituents over their political career.
Deadline to submit letters to the editor for candidates in the Nov 2, 2021 municipal election was Oct 26, 2021