
By Julia Barcello
On July 10, the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee finalized its slate of candidates for the 2025 municipal election. The list, publicly introduced outside Town Hall weeks earlier, includes a former state representative, a journalist, a software engineer, and members of the town’s legislative and finance bodies. With their nominations now official, the Democrats are positioning themselves to challenge Republican control of the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Estimate and Taxation in November.
Rachel Khanna, the former state representative for the 149th District, is seeking election as Selectwoman. “Greenwich is great, but it can be better,” Khanna said. “We deserve leaders who work to make our lives easier. We need safer streets for divers, cyclists, pedestrians and especially kids. We need 21st century services and modern infrastructure. And we need to keep investing in our public schools.”
Khanna is joined at the top of the ticket by Anthony Moor.
“As a team running together, we’re ready to challenge the status quo, because you deserve a better Greenwich,” said Moor, the nominee for First Selectman. Moor, a longtime journalist and RTM member, criticized the current administration’s approach to town planning. “It turns out that at Town Hall here, we don’t plan ahead. We wait for things to fall apart and then we beg donors to bail us out. … There’s no leadership in Town Hall.”
Greenwich’s Board of Selectmen permits no more than two members from a single party. Currently, two Republicans and one Democrat serve. Democratic Selectwoman Janet Stone McGuigan, who will not seek a third term, announced her departure in a statement: “I’m proud of the record and reputation I established, but it’s time for change. I remain committed to serving my community, only my role will change. I hope we can all work together to create the Greenwich we all deserve.”
In addition to Moor and Khanna, the Democratic slate includes candidates for the town clerk, tax collector, Board of Education, and the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET).
Meghan McCreary, a 30-year-old software engineer, was nominated for town clerk. “As a member of the DTC, I’ve found it difficult to find town records,” she said, citing transparency concerns.
Hale Bayram, a longtime Greenwich resident with a background in corporate finance, is running for tax collector. An immigrant from Turkey, Bayram raised her two daughters in the public school system and said she hopes to give back through public service.
The two Democratic nominees for the Board of Education, Bob Chaney and Veronica Chiavaroli, are both active in the Parent Teacher Association. Chaney, a stay-at-home father with two children in the public schools, said he wants to “shore up the schools for the next generation of students.” Chiavaroli, a teacher and daughter of State Representative Hector Arzeno, said she would use her experience to support school staff and parents.
Four Democrats were present at the announcement and later confirmed for the BET slate: current members Matt DesChamps and Stephen Selbst, former member Laura Erickson, and Doug Fenton, a current Representative Town Meeting (RTM) member. Two other current BET members, David Weisbrod and Elliot Alchek, plan to seek reelection.
Many of the candidates—Moor, Fenton, Bayram, and Chaney among them—launched their political involvement through the RTM, the 230-member legislative body that functions as a town council.
The Democratic ticket reflects a blend of newcomers and experienced officials. While Moor and McCreary have criticized the difficulty of accessing public records, others have focused on infrastructure and education. The message across the slate is consistent: Greenwich government, in their view, has grown complacent.
With official nominations in hand, the Democratic slate will hold a public meet-and-greet on July 26 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at a private residence. The event will introduce voters to the candidates and provide early visibility ahead of what is expected to be a competitive municipal election.