Jul 20, 2007
Tesei, Crumbine get Republican nods; Campbell joins BET slate
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For months now, town Republicans have rallied around Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) Chairman Peter Tesei and Selectman Peter Crumbine as the party’s ticket for the Board of Selectmen.
On Wednesday night, they made it official and demystified the race for the BET as well.
The Republican Town Committee (RTC) unanimously nominated Mr. Tesei to be first selectman and Mr. Crumbine for a fifth term on the Board of Selectmen. Both men had declared their candidacies months ago and no challengers had come forward. Though the floor was opened for other nominations, none were expected and none were made.
The RTC also unanimously supported the nominations of sitting board member Michael Bodson and newcomer Marianna Ponns Cohen to the Board of Education, and another term for Town Clerk Carmella Budkins, who is expected to run with no opposition from town Democrats. It was reported that the RTC was considering putting up a candidate against longtime Democratic Tax Collector Lou Caravalla, but no one ultimately stepped forward.
What suspense there was at the meeting surrounded the RTC’s nominees for the BET. Each party in town has six representatives on the 12-person board and seven candidates stepped forward to be considered. Ultimately incumbents Stephen Walko, Robert Stone, Michael Mason, Arthur Norton and Leslie Tarkington were renominated. Representative Town Meeting member James Campbell was nominated for a first-time run. A nomination for former Board of Education Chairwoman Sandra Waters fell short of getting enough votes.
After the vote totals were in, Mr. Campbell said he was grateful for the RTC’s support.
“The BET is the critical body for controlling spending in our town,” Mr. Campbell said. “We’ve all decided we need to go forward with the capital improvement plan and that just means we have to be more mindful about excessive spending in town and making sure we have responsible taxation.”
Ms. Waters said she was disappointed, but had come in knowing there was a chance she wouldn’t win. All candidates went before the RTC’s executive committee for consideration and the commitee’s recommended slate didn’t include Ms. Waters.
“It was very close before the committee,” Ms. Waters said. “I was one vote off and I figured this was worth a try.”
Mr. Campbell was nominated for the board by town Probate Judge David Hopper, who offered strong words of support for his friend. He said the BET was the most important board in town.
“His dedication, reliability, fiscal responsibility and ability to think on his feet and take on those who might try to take us down the wrong path make Jim Campbell not only a great person for the BET, but the right person for the BET,” Mr. Hopper said, praising him for his commitment to keeping spending down, limiting taxation and continuing the town’s “pay as you go policy” while addressing infrastructure needs.
The board had one Republican opening because Mr. Tesei will be leaving to run for the town’s top elected spot. In accepting his nomination, he said he was proud and humbled by the party’s support and stressed his commitment to preserve and enhance the quality of life in town through public safety, educational excellence, neighborhood character, a respect for the environment, modest and predictable taxes, and open government.
“I will run a positive campaign,” Mr. Tesei pledged. “As Republicans we can be proud of the record we’ve established. We have the power to keep Greenwich the special community envied by so many other communities. We’re going to win this election by working hard, not resting on our existing track record and going out to the community and listening to the people.”
State Rep. Livvy Floren (R-151) nominated Mr. Tesei and said when she met him almost two decades ago she was “immediately impressed with his vast knowledge of our town, his calm demeanor and his consummate courtesy.”
“Peter attained the right to be our candidate the old fashioned way,” Ms. Floren said. “He’s earned it. He has lived a life of public service and has a proven track record of civic leadership.”
Mr. Crumbine was not in attendance at the meeting because he was on a trip to Italy with his wife, Bea. However, he was there in spirit thanks to a cardboard cutout of his picture supplied by State Rep. Lile Gibbons (R-150), who provided the evening’s humorous highlight when she hid behind the cutout to “accept” the nomination in the guise of Mr. Crumbine.
In absentia, Mr. Crumbine got high praise from outgoing First Selectman James Lash, who served with Mr. Crumbine for four years on the board.
“If you’re serving as first selectman, you want someone just like Peter,” Mr. Lash said. “You want somebody who’s really smart, really experienced, works hard, takes the assignments you hand to him and deals with them exactly the way you want them to be — thoughtfully and carefully — while taking input from everybody, listening to what they have to say and considering all the options. When you work with Peter you come away with the sense he has the town’s best interests at heart.”
Mr. Lash joked that since he wasn’t running this year, party members could notice how relaxed he was.
Party members were in high spirits throughout the night as they rallied behind the ticket.
RTC Chairman John Raben said he hoped everyone in the party was as enthusiastic and optimistic about the ticket’s chances in November.
“As a party we should be proud that we are about to nominate a slate of highly-qualified, experienced candidates,” Mr. Raben said. “We are well-funded going into the election. We are organized early in the process and we are ready to meet any challenge ahead.”
Mr. Raben also thanked every candidate who had stepped forward to serve.
“Anyone who has ever served on any board knows the number of hours involved,” Mr. Raben said. “It is a tremendous sacrifice and the party is fortunate to have good people step up and serve the town like this.”
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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