By Edward D. Dadakis
“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” Charles Dickens’ words aptly capture what happened to Greenwich’s Republican Town Committee this past year.
Just one year ago, it was the best of times as Greenwich Republicans and the Republican Town Committee celebrated its best year ever. In the space of 4 months, the RTC turned a blue senate seat red as Senator Ryan Fazio garnered national attention for the first flip in a district won by Joe Biden. Following that special election, the Greenwich RTC enjoyed a landslide victory with Fred Camillo at the helm who received the highest vote totals ever by a First Selectman candidate. Camillo’s coattails brought every single Republican on the ballot with him as they all outpolled the Democrats. As RTC members celebrated the holidays they were confident knowing that Greenwich remained a Republican town.
Now one year later, its the worst of times for the Greenwich RTC having lost every single state house seat in its worst performance in history. Senator Fazio was their shining star, effectively fighting the headwinds from the other floundering local campaigns with a traditional Republican message. Fazio is now the only Republican representing Greenwich in Hartford. That was unimaginable just 12 short months ago.
Some may argue since Republicans are now the minority party in Greenwich, its hard to win. But the year over year results prove that argument specious. The Republican message still resonates in Greenwich–if it is the right message.
A strong Republican party is beneficial to our town and state. Greenwich is a great town because it has been well governed by Republicans since the 19th century. They delivered low taxes, safe streets, good schools, a strong local economy and beautiful neighborhoods. In contrast, Connecticut suffers under decades of Democrat dominance in Hartford. Democrats delivered high taxes, no economic or population growth, rising crime and centralized power.
Greenwich voters want a local Republican party which nominates candidates who will appeal to all Republicans— moderate and conservative, as well as a good chunk of unaffiliated voters. The RTC must listen to what the voters want, then craft a message and nominate candidates who appeal to a wide portion of the electorate. This expands the Republican tent and means we will elect Republicans who will protect our town and state. That didn’t happen this past election. So what did happen?
Last January a group of very conservative Republicans staged a coup to take control of Greenwich’s Republican Town Committee. While their margins were slim they nonetheless ousted dozens of long serving members who had delivered repeated Republican wins. The victors proclaimed themselves “The 41” meaning they controlled 41 of the 63 RTC seats. They spent their first months developing a strategy only with themselves. That left the remaining 22 RTC members out in the cold as well as Republican elected officials and those who delivered past success.
Now they have done historic damage to our party. They promised a departure from the way things were done in the winning past. Instead of careful and judicious leadership that voters rewarded for generations they opted for a more boisterous and pugnacious style which voters rejected.
They sure did deliver on their promise to do things differently. Under the new RTC, our party lost more House seats in one night then it did in the previous 100 years. The 151st district in eastern and northern Greenwich, an R+4 district, never elected a Democrat until now. The loss in the 149th district was the only Republican incumbent statewide who lost. So this was a uniquely Greenwich problem.
Greenwich Republican voters are rightfully furious at the failures of this new RTC leadership who promised historic success but delivered a humiliating defeat—the worst in town history. No business leader could preside over such a clear failure of the company’s performance and avoid resigning or being fired. For the sake of the town and party there needs to be accountability. So far we have heard none with party leaders already saying they will double down.
I believe Greenwich voters value the past success of Republican elected and party officials. They likely want that to continue but have clearly rejected how things are currently going. Greenwich RTC leadership must lead with a steady hand. They must reach out to everyone, even those who don’t agree fully with them and they need to stop calling Republicans they disagree with RINOs.
Under the right leadership the RTC should present to the electorate trusted and popular Republican candidates for office. Their campaigns should both listen to unaffiliated voters, who represent a plurality of our electorate, and address their concerns to earn their trust. The RTC needs to provide an infrastructure for new candidates to use when they wage their campaigns. All this can be done while staying true to Republican values.
Greenwich Republicans have had ups and downs in the past, but never like this. Yet I believe its still repairable. There are many Republicans in our community who are committed to keeping our local party strong, united, and winning elections. The Greenwich Republican Party has served our town well in the past and they still can in the future.
Edward Dadakis was elected three times as Chairman of the Republican Town Committee presiding over repeated Republican victories unprecedented since. He has chaired or vice chaired numerous winning Republican campaigns in Greenwich. He served 4 terms representing Greenwich, Stamford and New Canaan on the Republican State Central Committee.
