Submitted by Pascale Sejean
To the Residents of Greenwich,
For years, local government felt remote. I didn’t grow up here, and I struggled to understand how town politics worked. I began tuning in around 2020, attending meetings and offering public comments, hoping the “smarter” or better-connected folks would handle the hard calls. In March and April 2025, I watched critical cuts made without data and with no listening.
I realized then: talking isn’t enough; our voices must shape outcomes.
What’s Unfolding Now
• In the 2024 election, ~20% of voters aged 50 and up participated. The younger
demographics combined are 6,000 fewer and just ~13.7 % voted. That means many who care deeply about schools, infrastructure, and the future of our town are underrepresented (this is a generalization, yes, but this is the reality of how our BET acted).
• The consequences of that imbalance – we all “saved” ~$140 per household but lost on the Greenwich Public Schools budget which needed a 2% increase, and so much more:
•As a result, 23 staff positions were cut and parents are now asked to volunteer to fill gaps.
– Bus and school schedules were disrupted. Peak hour traffic across town has turned into chaotic gridlock, straining infrastructure and adding excessive commuting time to our daily routines.
– Vital capital projects were pulled—from the geothermal upgrade at Hamilton Avenue to flood mitigation work at West Brothers Brook—often dismissed due to “uncertain estimates” or expense. But planning depends on estimates: refine them, adjust them—not abandon them.
– These decisions passed with minimal public input. Even though rooms overflowed at the final BET meetings supporting the Board of Education’s budget, voices were ignored (it should be noted this was the first time the BET had an audience, so much so they needed an overflow room).
What We Can Do
• Vote November 4. If you’re unsure who shares your priorities, follow trusted local guides (“Voting Moms”) as they break down candidate platforms.
• Learn how the system works. Read a short RTM explainer and watch a short video on how the BET operates—tools to demystify town governance. Important to know, the party whose BET candidates get the most cumulative votes gets to elect the chair, who unlike other boards in town, has a tie-breaking vote.
• Consider running as a write-in. Multiple RTM seats are open in:
– D2 – Greenwich Harbor (4 seats)
– D4 – Byram (4 seats)
– D5 – Riverside (7 seats)
– D8 – Cos Cob (2 seats)
– D9 – Pemberwick/Glenville (5 seats)
– D12 – Havemeyer/Mianus (8 seats)
It may take only 20 to 40 votes to win and be part of shaping change.
• RTM has real power. It can approve, reduce, or reject appropriations over $5,000. BET proposes the budget—but RTM can push back, reshape, or refuse funding.
A Bit About Me (and Why I’m Running)
I’m a working mom who has lived in Greenwich for 15 years. I’ve volunteered, served on the PTA, and balanced raising a family with a career in Corporate America. My experiences have convinced me that good decisions come from data and listening. I care deeply about our schools and infrastructure because strong investments today protect our home values, our community, and our future.
Here’s a data point: towns that invest more in education—like Darien and New Canaan—have seen stronger appreciation in home values than Greenwich. That’s not just politics. It’s math.
Principles I Will Uphold (if Elected in D6)
• Use data and estimates as tools—not as excuses to stall.
• Cut spending on band-aids, duplication, and fixes that don’t solve core problems.
• Invest in durable, high-impact areas: schools and infrastructure.
• Share plans early. Invite feedback. Iterate openly.
• Work across party lines. Our town’s future transcends labels.
If you care about our schools, public spaces, and the future, I hope you’ll join me—vote, get informed, or even run for RTM yourself. Together we can make decisions that meet today’s needs and build for tomorrow.
Thank you for your time. If you have questions, I may not always have the answers, but I will help find them, reach out.
The LWV offers a short explainer about the Representative Town Meeting. and a video about how voting for the BET works.