RTC leadership battle underway as petitions to force primaries filed.
By Tom Williamson
The Greenwich Republican Town Committee (RTC) is in the throes of a leadership crisis, with different groups vying for control in an escalatingpolitical drama that has divided the local party. The dispute, which came to a head during the RTC caucuses on January 9, has set the stage for a series of contentious primaries across the town’s voting districts to take place on March 5.
The conflict centers on differing visions for the party’s future, particularly regarding the effectiveness and direction under the current leadership of Chairman Beth MacGillivray and Vice Chairman Joe Montanaro.
Michael Hahn, an RTC member-elect, openly criticized their stewardship, highlighting a need for change. “Beth MacGillivray and Joe Montanaro are passionate advocates, however, lack the operational knowledge to run a political party. There needs to be wholesale change to ensure proper procedure is understood, visible and transparent,” said Hahn. Critics of the current leadership cite the fact that in their first year Republicans lost all three seats in the state House of Representatives: the worst loss in the history of the town.
In response to the division, and in anticipation of a potentially close vote at the March election to determine the RTC leadership, the current leaders, including MacGillivray and Montanaro, initiated petitions for primaries in voting districts 4, 5, and 9. These districts represent areas where support for their leadership is perceived to have weakened.
The current leadership’s decision to petition signaled to challengers a strategic move to consolidate power. In response, those opposing MacGillivray are challenging members in districts 2 and 8.
Fred DeCaro, the Greenwich Republican Registrar of Voters, provided insights into the unfolding situation, “Petitions have been requested in five districts, requiring the signatures of 5% of registered Republicans in each to force a primary.”
The primary elections are scheduled to take place on March 5, following the verification of signatures on the petitions. DeCaro confirmed that the necessary signatures for districts 4, 8, and 9 have been received preliminary verification, signaling that primaries will likely proceed in these districts. The validation process for districts 2 and 5 is still ongoing as of press time.
These primaries are essential for determining the RTC members who will, in turn, select the local party’s leadership. “The elected RTC members will have the responsibility to endorse candidates for state elections later in the year,” DeCaro explained.
Additionally, DeCaro highlighted the logistical considerations of the primaries. “The primaries will be held in the same locations as our regular elections to maintain consistency for voters. However, this means using schools as polling places, which can be disruptive. We are working closely with the Town Clerk, Jackie Budkins, to minimize this disruption,” he added.
Despite the divide within the RTC, those aligned with Chairman Beth MacGillivray and Vice Chairman Joe Montanaro are pointing to this year’s local election victories as justification for maintaining the status quo. “The current leadership feels they have per formed exceptionally, citing recent elections where Republican candidates won by wide margins,” a source familiar with the leadership’s perspective shared.
Others in the party attribute those successes to the work of First Selectman Fred Camillo and Selectwoman Lauren Rabin. Of note is that Selectwoman Lauren Rabin is one of the RTC members the current leadership is now working to replace.
Editor’s Note: See next week’s issue for more on this unfolding story.
