OLSSON: I’m a Write-In Because Carl Higbie is Otherwise Guaranteed a Spot on the RTM

Letter to the editor from Jonathan Olsson

Some of you may know me from growing up in Glenville 40 years ago, as the husband of Board of Education Member Meghan Olsson, or as your neighbor in District 8.  I had not planned to run as a write-in candidate for the RTM, but I feel compelled to because without more choice on the ballot, Carl Higbie, a divisive figure in our town politics is guaranteed a spot on the RTM.

All you have to do is look at Mr. Higbie’s Twitter feed, do a google search or read local news coverage about him and you will invariably find evidence his values don’t align with yours. There are headlines about the controversy surrounding his use of Town Hall in contravention of Town policy for a veritable media circus. You will also learn that Mr. Higbie was forced to resign from the Trump administration after his offensive comments on race, sexual orientation and the religion of Islam came to light.

I am not running to re-litigate these issues.  I don’t know Mr. Higbie but I do know that divisiveness and controversy have followed him in Greenwich.  At a time when our Selectman’s race is dogged by misleadingly edited videos and our BET is paralyzed by partisan maneuvering– do we really want to add members to our RTM that will inflame partisanship in an elected body that is supposed to rise above all that nonsense?   I, for one, do not and that is why I am running as a write-in candidate for the District 8 RTM.

If you want an alternative to Mr. Higbie on November 5, you can write me in, Jonathan Olsson for District 8 RTM.

The deadline to submit a letter to the editor regarding candidates in the Nov 5 municipal election is Tuesday Oct 29 at 5pm.