Election '09: Selectman Voters Guide

Written by Ken Borsuk
Wednesday, 28 October 2009 23:00

For the position of selectman, Republican David Theis will be facing off with Democrat Drew Marzullo. This is the first race for the Board of Selectmen for both men.

David Theis

David Theis, a third generation Greenwich resident, attended Greenwich public schools and earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of New Haven in 1973. A former athletic director at Greenwich Country Day, Mr. Theis has 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He began his work in community service in 1979 when he joined the Board of Directors for the Greenwich YMCA and has served a more than 20-year period. Currently he is vice chair of the Greenwich Republican Town Committee and is a member of the Selectmen’s Nominations and Advisory Committee.

Drew Marzullo

Drew Marzullo is a third-generation Greenwich resident and the son of a union worker. He was raised in Chickahominy and lives in Cos Cob. He attended Greenwich public schools for 13 years and graduated from Greenwich High in 1989. He pursued a career in paramedicine and received his State of Connecticut paramedic license in 1996. For 17 years, he has served the citizens of Greenwich as an emergency medical professional, in volunteer and paid capacities.

As a young resident, he was an active volunteer for Greenwich EMS, ultimately rising through the ranks from an emergency medical technician to his current role as a paramedic field supervisor. In 2008, he spearheaded a charity softball game between the three town emergency services (police, fire and EMS) with the proceeds from the event going to the town parks and recreation scholarship fund. Most recently, he received the Chamber of Commerce Award for Outstanding Emergency Service in 2009. He was elected to the Representative Town Meeting in 2005 and is serving his second term. He serves on the town services committee.

The candidates for selectman were asked the following two questions:

1. How do you think you will best serve the community as selectman?

Mr. Theis: I believe I can serve the community in many different ways since I have been involved in so many facets of the community growing up. I will bring a lifetime of relationships and experiences to the job. Also, I have experience in education and recreation, two very important areas of interest for the people of Greenwich.

My 25 years of experience in finance may be helpful in the current economic climate. One of the most critical roles a selectman plays is to find people willing, able and qualified to serve on various boards and commissions. I have been doing this for the last two years on the selectman’s advisory committee.

Mr. Marzullo: First and foremost, the role of selectman is about people. As a selectman, I will focus on uniting the Greenwich community by ensuring an open-door policy of tolerance, respect and willingness to listen to the needs of the citizens. Whether addressing parking hazards or social services for the elderly, I will pledge to give each Greenwich resident their voice in the selectman’s office. In addition, I will use my relationships with town emergency service professionals to act as a bridge between the three emergency services and Town Hall. For the last 17 years, I have created good working relationships with town officials and public safety chiefs, and I feel that these relationships make me unique and would be enormously beneficial as selectman.

2. What should the town’s priorities be over the next five years?

Mr. Theis: Over the next five years, I believe the highest priorities for the town should be to manage the operating budget to preserve critical services while keeping taxes down. Maintaining the critical infrastructure, including laying the plans for flood control programs and launching programs mandated by the new Plan of Conservation and Development. A selectman can use his knowledge of the town and relationships with citizens to see that these committees accurately reflect the concerns and needs of as many groups as possible. Also, as soon as budgets allow, I would like to see the central fire station, Greenwich High School auditorium and the eastern community center get our full attention.

Mr. Marzullo: The Town of Greenwich should focus its resources in the following areas over the next five years: fiscal responsibility, public safety, education, traffic and seniors. The town should seek to settle long-term and detrimental lawsuits, maintain the current mill rate and ensure that people and employees are protected. Public safety in this town should also remain a high priority, including the use of evidence-based policy to ensure that our town’s public safety is at the zenith of 21st Century technology and trends. Additionally, the town should ensure that our school system has all of the tools it needs to safely and effectively educate our town’s children. Traffic is not just a nuisance but a safety and environmental issue. The town should continue to seek ways to reduce traffic congestion by encouraging dialogue between the highway department, police department and Planning and Zoning. Finally, Greenwich must ensure that seniors are offered safe, attractive and affordable housing that they can be proud of, as well as ensure continued funding for Nathaniel Witherall and the re-establishment of the full senior tax credit.