Democrats secured control of the Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) on Election Night, marking only the second time in an century that their party will hold the chairmanship of the town’s powerful fiscal board. The shift in leadership follows a closely contested race in which both parties ran full six-member slates, and voters ultimately handed Democrats an overall victory in cumulative votes across all candidates.
In a post-election statement, the Democratic slate – Eliot Alchek, Matt DesChamps, Laura Erickson, Doug Fenton, Stephen Selbst, and David Weisbrod – thanked supporters and pledged to represent all residents. They emphasized transparency, expanded public engagement, and bipartisan cooperation as guiding priorities.
“We are looking forward to assuming the Chair of the BET,” Weisbrod said in a written comment. “We have a simple mission: to provide competent leadership; to apply our financial expertise to deliver optimal solutions; to listen to all voices of the community whether or not they voted for our slate. We welcome new approaches and will reinvigorate a spirit of bipartisanship and mutual respect.”
Republicans, who have led the BET for nearly all of its history, struck a determined tone after the results. Veteran member Leslie Tarkington thanked campaign leaders and fellow candidates for their dedication, while Joe Pellegrino called for unity and a continued focus on fiscal discipline. Joe Kelly, reflecting on the outcome, said he hopes the new board will “move away from ‘us-versus-them’” politics and instead act as “12 of us working together.” He added that he wants the BET to focus on practical solutions, not obstruction, saying, “Instead of being the BET of ‘no,’ I want us to be the BET of ‘how can we get it done.’”
How the BET Works
The Board of Estimate and Taxation, established under Greenwich’s Town Charter, serves as the town’s financial authority. It reviews and approves the annual budget, sets the property tax rate, manages debt and bonding, and ensures fiscal compliance across all departments.
The board has 12 elected members—six Democrats and six Republicans—who serve two-year terms. While the BET does not set policy or educational priorities, it determines how those initiatives are funded, making it one of the most influential municipal bodies in Greenwich.
Because the BET is evenly divided, the party whose candidates collectively earn the most votes town-wide selects the chair. That chair holds a tie-breaking vote, giving the majority party control over close budget and bonding decisions.
A Shift in Leadership
The Democrats’ cumulative victory means they will choose the next BET Chair, gaining the tie-breaking power for the 2025–2027 term. The last time Democrats held the chairmanship, they led the board for two years before control returned to Republicans. Their current win represents a historic but fragile change in direction for a board that has long defined Greenwich’s fiscal identity.
Democrats framed their win as a mandate for transparency and collaboration, promising to open discussions to more public input and to rebuild trust among residents after years of partisan tension. “We will listen to you,” their statement read. “We will improve transparency, create more opportunities for public input, and ensure that community priorities are heard.”
Republicans, meanwhile, say they will serve as a disciplined minority focused on fiscal prudence and cooperation. Pellegrino pledged that the GOP caucus will “remain united and focused on fiscal responsibility,” while Kelly emphasized a desire to “figure out how to get to yes” on key projects.
Looking Ahead
The new BET will be sworn in later this fall. Its early agenda will include establishing committee assignments, setting budget guidelines, and beginning work on the next fiscal planning cycle. The new chair—expected to be a Democrat—will play a central role in shaping the town’s capital project schedule and in determining how to balance Greenwich’s long-standing “pay-as-you-go” funding tradition with increased calls for investment in schools and infrastructure.
Both parties expressed a desire to lower tensions and work toward common goals. Weisbrod said Democrats “welcome new approaches” and are “committed to serving all residents.” Kelly echoed that tone, saying he hopes the board can focus on “projects that benefit the community.”
