To the Editor,
Non-residents, and their money, have entered local Greenwich politics with a clear objective to influence our election for town offices, and by extension, policy for years to come. In over 30 years of local involvement, I have never witnessed anything like it. If successful, the attack would have a negative impact on your tax bill.
Hard evidence can be found in filings by the campaign for Sandy Litvack, Democrat for First Selectman, whose campaign took in 62% of contributions through Sept. 30 from non-residents, versus zero for Republican Peter Tesei. We not know how much went to the two parties in town, but my bet is a similar pattern. And all should watch for the next set of reports due this week.
That money is being spent. Make no mistake, these are highly coordinated and expensive efforts utilizing print, pre-recorded robo calls, social media, video and banner ad insertion to your computer and phone, and activists interacting to a high degree. I wish we could follow the money to determine who is paying, and who is being paid, but we do know some things.
In a recent mailing, residents received a solicitation from the Democrat party under its “Change for a Better Tomorrow” brand. This obviously expensive mailing included an absentee ballot application, an addressed, stamped return envelope and a letter. The claims in the letter to solve problems by “telling the truth” are fanciful at best. The advocacy to “stop piling on the debt” runs against the very grain of what the Democrat party does in every legislative body or government office in which it takes power.
Examples abound in our state, all due to long-term mismanagement by Democrat strangleholds. Hartford teeters on bankruptcy, Bridgeport begs for a casino, New London might get saved again by Electric Boat, and many towns and cities at the brink due to our Democrat Governor having a temper tantrum and withholding funds for education. The root cause of all this? Decades of Democrats piling on debt and labor obligations at all levels of government.
Just in time for the early September filing deadline, applications to get on the ballot to fill empty RTM seats flooded the Town Clerk’s office. While competition is good, we should look very carefully at who motivated this unprecedented move. It is no secret that a new group called “Indivisible Greenwich” was behind it all, and it is affiliated with similarly – named groups nationwide. Laughably it claims to be independent, but these “Indivisible” groups are closely aligned with, and funded by, those who identify with other leftist, progressive, socialist organizations such as Moveon.org. A major source of funding is bad boy George Soros, labeled as such because he has thrown his considerable resource at Hungary to influence elections there.
When you cast a ballot for any candidates for the RTM, please ensure you know each person, or have recommendations from trusted sources. One does not have to vote for all candidates permitted on any ballot.
Recently I have noticed a significant increase in geo-targeted video and banner ads on my mobile phone, and robo calls to home, all for Democrat Sandy Litvak, and either by him or on his behalf. This is a sophisticated modern campaign. These ad insertions are well produced and slick, read expensive, but lack substance.
Greenwich is the wealthiest town in the state, but much more diverse, economically and ethnically, than its peers. With the added challenges of the budget crisis at the state level, now is not the time for a change in leadership. We do not need vague promises of hope and change. If you would like to keep the town moving forward, I urge you to vote Republican. Experience you can trust and leadership that works.
Harry Fisher
Former vice-chairman, Board of Estimate and Taxation
