Submitted by Beth MacGillivray
I am honored and pleased to follow in the footsteps of trailblazer Dolly Powers as a female Chair of the Republican Party in Greenwich and am excited to build upon her legacy. It’s crucial to set the record straight and shed light on the genuine efforts being made to unite our party and Greenwich Republicans to represent the hard working, common sense Republicans in our community.
First and foremost, I am not a career politician, but a proud mother of four who, like many Greenwich residents, is deeply invested in leaving a better future for our children. It is this perspective that I bring to the table – one free from political baggage and driven by a sincere desire to make a positive impact on our community.
We are committed to upholding the values of the Republican Party, and this includes not cozying up to Democrats or engaging in backroom deals. While such practices may be the agenda of career politicians, I stand firm in representing the voices of those who seek a genuine alternative – an alternative that is not a “uniparty” but a united force for the common sense hardworking Republicans in Greenwich.
It is true that the Republican Party in Greenwich faced challenges with their slow demise becoming most evident in 2018. We lost two crucial long established seats, Senate and House while still a majority party in Greenwich. Now we are making a remarkable comeback despite being a minority party in town, 29%. Our party is now uniting, noted by our endorsement of a full slate of incumbents in November, record turnout, and exploding number of volunteers with a clear vision to win elections.
I am proud to lead a Republican Party that is making a difference. We are not fooled by the so-called “bipartisan” or voting moms, political players and schemes. Instead, we are focused on the issues that matter to our residents – decreasing crime vs defund the police, fixing flooding infrastructure vs Bump outs, implementing moratoriums on high rises like Darien, New Canaan, and now Westport, promoting fiscal responsibility instead of excessive spending like $150 MM Central Middle School before the shovel. Of course, we want the best schools but are perplexed by the price tag, hands down the most expensive in CT.
It is disheartening when a top-endorsed Republican official condemns the very party that is actively working to revive itself and support him. We want a voice that is independent and refuses to be part of the divisive rhetoric that characterizes the ‘uniparty”. True bipartisanship is a two-way street, and not a function of relinquishing our principles and agreeing to every Democrat excess. We are the platform that genuinely cares about our community and its well-being.
Let’s put an end to dirty politics and focus on what truly matters- taking care of our community.
It’s time for Republicans to chair the Selectman’s committees and contribute to positive growth of Greenwich. Together, we can address the real issues facing our residents and ensure a brighter future for our town of Greenwich.
Beth MacGillivray is chair of the Greenwich Republicans
NOTE: This LTE was updated with a correction from the letter writer to clarify she was not the first female RTC chair.