Current Republican Registrar of Voters and Town Clerk Candidate Fred DeCaro released two new endorsements this week from individuals who led the Greenwich Association of Realtors (GAR) and the Greenwich Multiple Listing Service (GMLS) for more than two decades.
Both former leaders laud DeCaro for the accuracy of data he produced for the real estate community, as well as his ability to maintain relationships with multiple firms and agents in a very competitive environment.
Former GAR Executive Director Tracy Chester writes that DeCaro was always pro-active in initiating improvements to systems and processes he reviewed. “He is someone who is constantly making things better. Sometimes that is through technology. Sometimes it is through a better process.”
Chester also lauded DeCaro’s ability to provide customer support across the landscape of multiple firms simultaneously because of his discretion and trustworthiness. Said Chester: “Although his client base included dozens of Realtors and firms, Fred’s discretion and independence gave all concerned tremendous confidence in a business where competition can be fierce. Fred was a maestro at keeping so many Realtors satisfied at one time.”
Also released was a letter of endorsement from Diane Ivey, MLS Director for 20 years. Ivey highlighted DeCaro’s work providing impartial data to the real estate community. His record of Greenwich real estate sales become a database of record for more than a decade.
“Fred was never a Realtor,” Ivey said. “But he was the independent source upon which hundreds of Realtors relied for quality data.”
Ivey went on to say that after retiring from the MLS, she worked part-time at the Registrars’ Office, where she saw first hand the transformation of the office through innovation and technology.
“Fred turned the Registrars’ Office into the gold standard in his industry,” she said.
“If you have been involved in Greenwich real estate transactions for any significant period, you know these two ladies are highly regarded professionals,” DeCaro said in a release. “I’m thankful for each of their endorsements. I’m appreciative of endorsements from real people who use the services of the Town Clerk’s office, as opposed to members of the political elite.”
Tracy Chester’s Full Endorsement Statement
“Fellow Republicans,
My name is Tracy Chester. From September of 1991 until January of 2010 I was the chief executive in charge of the Greenwich Association of Realtors, which on average served about 1000 realtors a year in Greenwich.
For more than a decade I worked with Fred DeCaro to improve our technical infrastructure and bring additional technology into our offices, and how we communicated to residents and to our Realtors. Fred is always pro-active. He is someone who is constantly making things better. Sometimes that is through technology. Sometimes it is through a better process. Fred built the first Greenwich Association of Realtors website. He then added on features to enable Realtors to exchange data about their advertising.
When it comes to accuracy, data, record-keeping, there is no-one better. When a newsletter specifically serving the Greenwich Real Estate community disappeared without warning, Fred picked up the ball and began collecting the data and disseminating it electronically, filling a vital need. In addition to working with the Association, Fred also worked with most of the major boutique real estate firms in town. Although his client base included dozens of Realtors and firms, Fred’s discretion and independence gave all concerned tremendous confidence in a business where competition can be fierce. Fred was a maestro at keeping so many Realtors satisfied at one time.
You have the opportunity to put Fred in charge of your most important land and vital records. I can think of no one better suited to the task.
Sincerely,
Tracy Chester”
Diane Ivey’s Full Endorsement Statement
“To the members of the Greenwich Republican Town Committee:
I am writing to wholly endorse Mr. Fred A. DeCaro, III for the position of Town Clerk. I do so not as a person of politics. I have known and worked with Mr. DeCaro for twenty-five years.
First, I was the director of the Greenwich MLS for twenty years. Consolidating and safeguarding data was the primary reason we hired Fred in 1996. During Fred’s entire tenure we maintained a pristine record for safeguarding of valuable information. Fred was never a Realtor. But he was the independent source upon which hundreds of Realtors relied for quality data.
In 2003, when a notable service in Greenwich called the “Greenwich Record of Real Estate Sales” suddenly stopped publishing, Fred was approached by some of the top agents in the field at the time and asked if he would start something similar. Fred transformed this paper newsletter into “searchgreenwich.net” which covered all real estate sales in Greenwich (including non-MLS sales) and which became a database of record for more than a decade. He enhanced the service by providing agents and office rankings. His knowledge, his customer service to hundreds of Realtors, and his
professionalism were exemplary and the product he created was beyond our expectations. Since Fred retired the product due to changes in the industry in 2017, no one has produced anything similar. After retirement from the MLS, I had the privilege of working part-time for Fred at the Registrars office. He was also innovative and forward thinking in that position. Fred turned that office into the gold standard in his industry.
I believe, based on the above, and more, that the RTC will be well served by endorsing Fred DeCaro to be the next Town Clerk. He works with deep passion and knowledge. When his employees need him, he is always there and the people of this Town will benefit greatly from his leadership. I thank you in advance and I look forward to having the privilege of voting for Fred in the November election.
Respectfully,
Diane Ivey”