By Anne W. Semmes
The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Greenwich held their Holiday Party last Thursday evening with 120 members and friends present at First Presbyterian Church with the highlight an unveiling of the results of the League’s first ever Holiday Survey. Cited as “anonymous and unscientific” the survey addressed, “How Well Do our Representatives Know Us.” To guess the answers given by 74 participants in a “Family Feud” team style, nine elected representatives were invited, then divided into three teams to compete on choosing the answers to the curious Survey questions.
Guest contestants included First Selectman Fred Camillo, with his fellow Selectwomen, Janet Stone McGuigan and Lauren Rabin, Town Clerk Jackie Budkins, Democratic Registrar Mary Hegarty, State Reps Rachel Khanna (D-149), Steve Meskers (D-150), Hector Arzeno (D-151) and State Senator Ryan Fazio (R-39).
LWV President Sandy Waters addressed the crowd expectant with their sushi, wine and cheese, with some post-election findings. “This year, each voter had to personally consider as many as 40 or 50 candidates per office…This challenge can be frustrating for someone who’s new to town and does not know the players for the peculiarities of Greenwich governance.” But thanks to the League’s, “hardworking and dedicated volunteers,” those newcomers are helping voters “understand what candidates think, what the issues are, where to register, how to vote, and how to access more information if they need it.”
She noted also that “The League never supports or opposes any political party or candidate for office. We support democracy by encouraging civic engagement of our residents. And we advocate as we have for over 100 years to ensure that all American citizens in our community have full access to their most basic right to vote in fair elections. (In conversation prior to her comments she shared that the League’s growing 360 members includes a 17-year-old board member. “We need more young people to join to understand the importance of voting. They go away to college then come back, start working and having a family before they revisit that importance of voting.”)
Waters pointed also to the significant competition posed this past election with “the RTM having 336 candidates run for 230 seats. Democracy works best when competitions give voters the choice.” She added, “Several community volunteers retired this year as well from service on the BET, Board of Education, and RTM,” noting that “Serving the public is hard work often, but not always rewarding, and we are blessed with many who step up to volunteer.”
Then it was survey show time as she welcomed the invited elected officials, now divided into their tables of three. She explained: “There are 20 questions with multiple-choice answers (to choose from) in 15 seconds. Each team provides one collective answer to each question by holding up a card with the A or the B or the C answer that they think is correct. Correct answers get five points for each team. And the team with the highest points wins.”
The first question: “How did the largest number of respondents describe their high school selves? If you think it’s A, nerd. If you think it’s B, it’s nice. If you think it’s C, it’s popular.” Tick, tick, tick. “Okay. We have an A, a B, and another B. The correct answer is B. Great group of nice people!”
Next question, “What percentage of respondents have admitted to sneaking into the dump without a permit?” Choices were “A is 1%, B is 5%, and C is 10%. Tick, tick, tick. “We got three 5 %. You need to not copy each other, because you all bombed out. It’s 1%. Only one person is trying to sneak into the dump without a permit. At least he or she is honest.”
Next up: “What percentage of respondents were pro-dogs at the Beach? 50%, 70%, or 90%? Time’s up. We’ve got a B. We got a C. We got an A…Well, I just have to say the correct answer is C, 90% support dogs, an expanding policy for dogs at the Beach with 10% a little less enthused.” And next up, “What percentage of respondents say return the policemen to Greenwich Avenue? Nearly 30%, nearly 40%, or nearly 50%? Fred [Camillo], you might know the answer to this…Times up. Everybody, just saying, you all bombed out. It’s 40%, and I consider them all dreamers, because we know it’s never going to happen.”
And a little surprising the next answer: “What percentage of respondents went to Great Captain’s Island on a ferry last summer? 0%, 5%, or 10%. What is it? Okay, we got an A, we got a B, and a B. The correct answer is A. Not a single person with the survey went on a Great Captain’s Island trip this past summer.”
Next up, “What percentage of respondents don’t exercise regularly? 11%, 19%, or 27%? We got a C, an A and, a B. The correct answer is B. Nearly 80% do some form of regular exercise either daily or three times a week. Exercising monthly or never cannot qualify as regular exercise. It’s my judgment call.”
And another surprising answer comes with, “What percentage of respondents have contested a moving car violation in court? 20%, 30%, or 40%? You all answered A. And you think nobody contests? Its 40%, and they didn’t all win. 32% said the effort was worth it, because they won. There’s a lesson in that.”
And perhaps there’s a lesson in this answer as well. “How many respondents either have a gas-powered leaf blower, use one themselves, or have a landscaper that uses one? 68%, 78%, 88%? Come on, friends. We got an A, and two Cs. The answer is almost 88% C.”
With time running out and 18 of the 20 questions guessed, the winning Team 3 was declared of Steve Meskers, Mary Hegarty, and Lauren Raben. “Thank you, everybody,” concluded Waters. “And please continue talking. I really regret that we’ve interrupted your conversations.”
The question echoing afterwards with Louisa Greene, who chairs the League’s membership, was of the amount of regular exercise. She thought she said, “how great it would be to have our elected leaders workout at the YMCA monthly to enhance teamwork among our officials!” Greene had grown up in Washington, DC “when U.S. Congressmen and Senators and their staffs played baseball together in the heat and humidity of Washington! The goal was to get to know each other better socially and build cordial relationships.”
“Fred would make a great baseball or volleyball team captain for a Greenwich match-up! What a fun opportunity as well for the LWV of Greenwich to register voters to prepare for the 2024 elections! Popcorn, peanuts and voter registration – what a blessing to have the freedom to vote – God Bless the USA!”
