Submitted by Frank Rota
Michael Mason brings nearly three decades of Greenwich municipal government experience, including 18 years on the Board of Estimate and Taxation and 12 years as its chairman. He knows that responsible budgeting means scrutinizing expenditures, weighing priorities and finding savings before asking taxpayers to pay more and he expects Hartford to stop and consider the tough decisions before just rubber stamping the state budget.
Connecticut’s $55.8 billion 2025–27 state budget presents a clear test of that principle. His opponent, Hector Arzeno, voted for the budget, which became Public Act 25-168. The Connecticut Business & Industry Association characterized it as increasing spending by approximately $2.6 billion over two years and adding $357.6 million in business taxes.
The contrast is straightforward: Mike wants Hartford to prove spending is necessary and affordable; his opponent’s vote
supported a budget that increased spending and taxes on
homeowners and businesses.
Government has legitimate responsibilities, and not every expenditure is wasteful. But taxpayers deserve to know whether legislators seriously challenged proposed spending, considered less expensive alternatives and pursued savings before approving a budget of this magnitude.
Mike will bring a focused set of questions to Hartford: Can programs be consolidated? Can services be delivered more efficiently? What future obligations are we creating? And why should taxpayers pay more if government has not first exhausted opportunities to control costs?
These are not abstract questions. They affect household budgets, business investment and Connecticut’s ability to remain
affordable.
Mike’s experience taught him that fiscal discipline begins with asking tough questions before the money is spent—not explaining afterward why more was needed.
Greenwich taxpayers know the value of making every dollar count. A vote for Michael Mason on November 3rd will make sure that Hartford is held to the same standard.
Respectfully,
Frank Rota
Editor’s note: Letters to the editor about candidates in the Nov 3, 2026 election, we will accept letters for consideration from Oct 1 to the 27. The deadline is a week before the election: Oct 27 at 12:00 noon. There is typically a backlog of letters received right up to the deadline, so we will continue to publish some of those letters after the deadline.