Submitted by Nicole Wittenberg, Campaign Treasurer, Elect Michael Mason 2026
When I agreed to serve as treasurer for Mike Mason’s campaign, it wasn’t because I was particularly political or had any experience working on a campaign. Quite the opposite.
I have two young children, ages 3 and 5, a full-time job, and a handful of volunteer commitments. Most days, I’m lucky if I get five minutes to myself. I barely have time to read the news anymore, let alone follow the intricacies of state politics.
But I grew up in Greenwich, and now I’m raising my own children here. This town has always been home to me, and I care deeply about its future.
I’ve known Mike for years, and I’ve listened to him talk about the importance of local and state government, civic involvement, and protecting the community we call home. To say Mike is passionate about Greenwich would be an understatement.
His knowledge of Town Government is extraordinary.
He knows the history, the budgets, the policies, the personalities, and the countless details that shape how our town operates. Ask him a simple question about almost anything involving Greenwich government, and within minutes the conversation is likely to go completely over my head. Not because he makes it complicated, but because he knows that much about it.
I may not know as much about politics as some people, although after working with Mike these past several months, I’m catching up quickly.
What I do know, however, is the importance of teamwork.
The strongest teams aren’t made up of people who all think alike. They’re made up of people with different backgrounds, experiences, and opinions who challenge one another, ask difficult questions, and ultimately find ways to work together. An echo chamber might be comfortable, but it rarely produces the best results.
That’s one of the reasons I believe Mike would bring something important to Hartford.
Mike has spent 30 years serving Greenwich through the RTM and Board of Estimate and Taxation, including 12 years as BET chairman. Beyond his years of public service, I believe one of his most valuable qualifications is his professional experience negotiating labor contracts on behalf of the town.
Negotiation is fundamentally about bringing people with competing priorities and perspectives together. It requires listening carefully, understanding what matters to each side, knowing when to stand firm, and recognizing where compromise is possible. Mike does this professionally, working through difficult issues to find practical solutions.
However, successful negotiation involves more than simply getting two sides to agree.
It requires understanding precisely what they are agreeing to, and what those decisions will mean down the road.
Mike knows the importance of examining every provision of a contract, evaluating its financial implications, and considering how those terms will actually play out years down the road. A decision that sounds good today can have significant consequences tomorrow. He understands that because he’s responsible for working through those details.
That experience is directly relevant to Hartford, where legislators must negotiate competing interests, evaluate complicated legislation, and make decisions with long-term financial consequences for our communities.
Connecticut’s Democratic supermajority would benefit from more voices with different perspectives. Not simply for the sake of disagreement, but because good government requires debate, scrutiny, a willingness to challenge assumptions and a genuine effort to consider different points of view.
Mike knows how to work with people who don’t share his views. He understands the
value of compromise without abandoning his principles. He recognizes that the details of legislation can be just as important as the intentions behind it.
I didn’t get involved in this campaign because I love politics. I got involved because I know Mike Mason, I’ve seen firsthand how much he cares about Greenwich, and I believe his experience, dedication, and perspective are exactly what we deserve in someone representing us in Hartford.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from working with him, it’s that his passion for our town is contagious.
Nicole Wittenberg
Campaign Treasurer, Elect Michael Mason 2026
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.