We’ve officially entered election silly season and the intrepid volunteers at the League of Women Voters are half way through hosting their series of candidate debates.
To date the debates have been cordial and audiences well behaved. Nevertheless, there are differences between the candidates that will inform your votes.
The debates for Board of Selectmen candidates was last week. You can read the highlights here:
Differences Emerge between Selectmen Candidates: Mill Rate, School Infrastructure, Witherell, PPPs
The debate among three of the four Board of Education candidates was Thursday. You can read about it here:
Board of Education Debate is Civil: 3 of 4 Candidates Participate
Next up, the debate among the candidates for Board of Estimate and Taxation is set for Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 6:00-7:30 pm. You don’t need to be a math whiz to follow along. Certainly some of the questions will concern public school infrastructure and the town mill rate that impacts our local taxes. (Audience Questions were required to be submitted by October 13.)
Democratic Party Candidate Slate:
Incumbents: Leslie Moriarty, Stephen Selbst, David Weisbrod,
Candidates: Elliot Alchek, Matt DesChamps, Scott Kalb (not participating in the debate)
Republican Party Candidate Slate:
Incumbents: Nisha Arora, Karen Fassuliotis, Harry Fisher, Leslie Tarkington
Candidates: David Alfano, Lucia Jansen
Moderator: Kay Maxwell, a past president of the National and the Connecticut League of Women Voters. She will be assisted by Greenwich High School student and LWV Greenwich Board member Hanna Klingbeil.
Register to attend the BET debate here.
Those interested in attending any or all of the debates may register on the League Website.
Candidates for Town Clerk Jackie Budkins (R) and Lucy von Brachel (D).
Also, thhe LWV has added a debate for Town Clerk. The candidates for Town Clerk are Republican Jackie Budkins (incumbent) and her Democratic challenge, Lucy Von Brachel.
That debate is Wednesday, October 25, 2023, 7:00 pm until 8:00 pm. It is not in person, but rather on Zoom.
To register for the Town Clerk debate click HERE.
LWV Greenwich is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization. It does not support or oppose any individual candidate for public office. LWV Greenwich debates are designed to help voters understand candidates’ positions on the issues and are conducted in a bipartisan manner, giving all eligible candidates a fair opportunity to share their views.
The BET can be confusing, but the LWV made a video that breaks it down very well:
Last chance….
The Round Hill Association debate is another chance to catch the Selectmen candidates debate in person. The debate is on Thursday, Oct 26.
Refreshments and social time starts at 6:45pm and the debate runs from 7:30 to 9:00pm. The event takes place at Round Hill Community House.
The debate will be moderated by RHA Board of Directors Member, Brendon DeSimone. This will be a single panel debate with all four candidates participating together.
All candidates for the Board of Estimate and Taxation, the Board of Education, Town Clerk, and Tax Collector have been invited to attend and mingle during Social Time. Submit debate questions here by Oct 16.