By Julia Barcello and Beth Barhydt
Standing on the front lawn of the Board of Education building on Greenwich Avenue Monday afternoon, First Selectman Fred Camillo formally announced his campaign for re-election, setting the tone for a race that he says will center on progress without losing Greenwich’s character.
“It’s a town, it’s not a city. We will keep it that way,” Camillo told supporters during his speech, emphasizing his commitment to preserving what makes Greenwich distinct while continuing the projects he describes as transformational.
Camillo, a lifelong resident and Republican, is seeking a fourth term alongside Selectwoman Lauren Rabin, his longtime friend and running mate since their days at Cos Cob Elementary. “She’s been a great running mate and great teammate – and to me the best deputy mayor in the state of Connecticut,” he said.
In interviews leading up to his Monday announcement, Camillo described his record as one grounded in collaboration, bipartisan relationships, and long-term vision for the town. “We’ve certainly transformed a lot of the town in several areas,” he said, citing improvements to public and pedestrian safety, increased outdoor dining options, and the completion of projects that had stalled for years. “I not only love the job, but I love serving my hometown.”
Among the top initiatives Camillo pointed to was his administration’s work on affordable housing—a politically sensitive issue statewide. Since taking office in 2019, he said Greenwich’s affordable housing stock has grown by over 14%. “We have plans on the table that will get us to 7% overall in the next few years,” he added. Camillo emphasized that these gains have come through local solutions, not state mandates.
“As Ned Lamont, our governor, says, Greenwich is doing the right thing. We’re leading on it,” Camillo said during his announcement. “So if other towns are looking at how to solve it locally, we’re happy if they could take some of the things we’re doing here. But it has to be solved locally.”
That sentiment—of local control and bottom-up leadership—echoed through Camillo’s remarks and campaign framing.
“Even something as controversial as [housing policy], if you have open lines of communication where a lot of people don’t, that helps,” Camillo said. “I do, and I’m proud of that.”
During his campaign launch, Camillo spoke in detail about future plans that would further reshape the center of town, including the redevelopment of the current Board of Education building, where he stood Monday. “We’re looking at transforming the building behind me,” he said.
Also on the horizon is the long-awaited Greenwich Crossing project, which Camillo said will be completed in about four months. The initiative will create a new transportation hub around the Greenwich train station, connecting a revitalized Greenwich Avenue to a new waterfront via the Bruce Museum expansion. “You’re not just going down Concrete Boulevard,” Camillo said, “you have a beautiful blue Greenwich Avenue that will be connected to a new waterfront.”
Camillo also highlighted planned improvements to Bruce Park and the relocation of Parks and Recreation operations, freeing space for community use. He referenced a planned statue of President George H.W. Bush, to be installed near the Avenue. “It cries out for a statue,” Camillo said, citing Bush’s World War II service and leadership. “He served our country not only as president in many other different roles… We’re proud to honor him.”
Throughout his remarks, Camillo returned to a central message: balancing Greenwich’s legacy with innovation. “We are proud of our record and we’re going to continue to transform Greenwich, which marries the very best of what we love about Greenwich with a bright, bold future,” he said. “We evolve. We keep Greenwich, Greenwich.”
Reflecting on the campaign ahead, Camillo said he intends to focus on substance, not negativity. “You have two things when you run: your record and your vision,” he said. “That’s it.”
