Election Day 2015 is just under three weeks away. On Thursday, night the candidates for Selectman and First Selectman faced off in a debate at Town Hall.
Republican Selectman incumbent John Toner and democratic incumbent Drew Marzullo were first given six minutes each to speak to the crowd.
Then it was on to the First Selectman debate hosted by the League of Women Voters. Republican incumbent Peter Tesei faced off with democratic candidate Frank Farricker and petitioner James Reilly.
Questions were generated by citizens in attendance and covered topics like bike lanes, land preservation, and education, and the budget and town spending.
“Finding new sources of revenue other than taxes. I have some program ideas, that if implemented, would create revenue in a creative way. The creative thinking in the U.S. has gone down exponentially and we need to do something to turn it around,” said Reilly.
“I really believe that in the Town of Greenwich, we have to get control of our costs. We have done a fantastic job, our friends on the BET on both sides of the aisle, have done a great job at keeping the tax rates to something that gives me, as a realtor, the opportunity to sell to my clients and tell them that this is a great place to live,” said Farricker.
“I’ve had numerous meetings with non-profit organizations who are facing reductions in resources, donations. That’s not happenstance. It’s a direct result of migration of people out of Greenwich. Businesses leaving, different types of businesses replacing them. We clearly need to do more to educate those who remain as to the importance of contributing to these not for profits who provide essential services to our most vulnerable population,” said Tesei.
The candidates also discussed the hot button issue of soil contamination.
“I would not proceed with doing wide spread testing in town. i think it’s a fool’s errand. Unless you have some meaningful reason or phase I information to validate that. I think as we go fourth and undertake construction projects, we’ve instituted new practices that exceed a phase I that govto a high standard, and if a problem is identified, we set fourth a plan to address it,” said Tesei.
“The coast line, the east coast, Connecticut was a big industrial area, active area for several hundred years. We have to deal with the toxins in the ground. I wouldn’t suggest looking where we are not working right now because we’ve got too much on our plate,” said Reilly.
“No, I don’t in any way, shape or form endorse the idea of letting our kids run around on fields until we are obligated to stick a pole in the ground and find out that we’ve made a huge mistake. No, absolutely not. We clean our fields, we bite the bullet, we do what we have to do,” said Farricker.
In the end, the candidates debated many issues and topics that residents care about in different areas of town government.
“People don’t know there’s an election going on, and we’ve all heard that. I’m so gratified to see all of you here who care about Greenwich and how this Town is governed,” said Farricker.
“Now is not the time to gamble on Greenwich’s prized legacy by turning the reigns of the First Selectman’s office to a volatile hand. Therefore I ask for your support on November 3 to continue to serve this beloved Town as your chief elected official, putting the interest of Greenwich first,” said Tesei.
“I’m sitting here because I feel America is the greatest institution and I don’t want to see it pass away,” said Reilly.
Stick with the Sentinel for continuing election coverage.
