Submitted by Janet Stone McGuigan, Democratic incumbent Selectperson running for re-election
It has been an honor and privilege to serve you as a Greenwich Selectperson. As another election nears, I appreciate the opportunity to share why I’m running again. I’m thrilled to be running alongside Laura Erickson, the Democratic candidate for First Selectperson.
She and I want to preserve our quality of life, prioritize our community’s needs, and plan for the future.
The Democratic BET slate will make sure we do this in a fiscally responsible way. None of us want high rises or high tax increases. I invite you to go to www.GreenwichDemocrats.org to learn more about the impressive Democratic slate of candidates on the ballot November 7.
The race for the Board of Selectmen, the Town’s executive body, is important. More than a parade brigade – fun as that is – the Selectmen make decisions with potentially big impacts on everyday life.
The Selectmen make legal decisions on behalf of the Town, of which there are many. The Selectmen nominate candidates to the appointed bodies overseeing much of the Town’s governance, most of the time unanimously, but not always – witness the recent debate over nominations to the Nathaniel Witherell board and CMS building committee to which I objected.
The Selectmen serve as the fire and police commission and local traffic and parking authority. The Selectmen are responsible for putting forward ordinances, such as the fair rent commission ordinance I put forward that otherwise would have been ignored. The Selectmen are the faces of Greenwich. As such they need to exemplify our community values.
Last year in the debate over a climate resolution, I championed the efforts of our local high school students to see this passed. In the recent debate over the Town flag policy, I spoke out to make sure our inclusive values and cherished traditions were honored.
If reelected, I would continue to advocate for greater transparency and more public discussion. I believe the community should know who is being considered for nomination to the Town’s appointed bodies. I thought it was important that the Greenwich community learn about a legal option to restrict the public use of cannabis. I was disappointed that there was no discussion about a public art policy before it became an administrative policy, and similarly disappointed that there was no public conversation about whether the Town should purchase the Rockefeller property. For the sake of public notice and feedback I’d continue to insist on second reads before voting.
I co-chair the Greenwich Sustainability Committee (GSC) and liaison to the Energy Management Advisory Committee (EMAC), Harbor Management Commission (HMC) and the Old Greenwich School and Julian Curtiss School Building Committees.
The GSC, EMAC, and the Active Transportation Task Force (on which I’m a regular attendee) need more support so they could move the needle to make Greenwich more sustainable and safer.
On behalf of the HMC I helped get approval to dredge Greenwich Harbor (last done 50 years ago), then helped secure funding from the US Army Corps of Engineers to test the dredge material, the next step in the dredging process.
We must fix our schools, and the school building committees have devoted countless hours to this task; we need to let them get on with their work.
I’m not a natural politician, but I am a natural servant leader. I’m committed to good governance, transparency, and public engagement. Temperamentally I am well suited to this office, and I run on my record of collegiality and civil discourse. It isn’t always easy but I say what needs to be said to make sure decisions are balanced, fair and all perspectives are heard.
I want our Town government to reflect our inclusive and forward-thinking community. I’ve had a front row seat to the contentious debates to renovate our schools and adequately invest in our gem of a Town; my commitment to serving our community in order to see this happen has only grown. This is who I am and why I’m running. Please vote for Row A on election day.