Out: handshakes In: masks
Greenwich politicians adapt campaigns for the coronavirus era
GREENWICH — In an election season like none before it, the Greenwich candidates running for the state legislature find themselves in the position of having to improvise on the campaign trail.
The coronavirus pandemic has suddenly made the kind of retail politics and close contact between candidates and voters that are so commonplace in most elections a health risk. Door-to-door handshakes and large gatherings are out; replaced by face masks and virtual meetings as candidates seek to get their messages out while social distancing.
“It has been a challenge,” Republican state Senate candidate Ryan Fazio said. “I’m doing everything I can to inform voters about the choice
they have in November, but this is something that has to be done in as safe and prudent a manner as possible.”
To run this race, Fazio, a firstterm member of the Representative Town Meeting, said he is taking an “all of the above” approach to his campaign. That means keeping an online presence through social media, making phone calls to potential supporters — and still doing the traditional door knocking and meet and greets, but from a safe distance.
Fazio is challenging incumbent Democratic state Sen. Alex Kasser in the 36th District, which includes all of Greenwich as well as portions of Stamford and New Canaan.
They are at the top of a packed ticket of local races for the State House this year.
In the 150th House District, Democratic state Rep. Stephen Meskers is facing a challenge from Republican Joe Kelly and in the 151st District incumbent Republican state Rep. Harry Arora is facing off against Democrat challenger Hector Arzeno.
The 149th District has an open seat, where Republican Kimberly Fiorello is running against Democrat Kathleen Stowe.
Still campaigning
The pandemic has not stopped Meskers from knocking on doors. On a recent Friday, he reported that he had just knocked on his 1,100th door in the district as he visits his district.
Like other candidates, Meskers is going out in a mask, and he said takes steps back so there are eight to 10 feet of distance between him and residents when they respond to the doorbell.
“I have found that voters are very eager to talk about the issues, especially when they see I’m going to be very respectful of their personal space,” Meskers said. More people are working from home now, he said, which means he finds is creating more opportunities to engage.
As an incumbent, Meskers said he is talking to residents whom he connected with during his first run two years ago. And when it comes to campaigning, he said the door knocking, plus what he’s done in office for the first term, will resonate with voters.
Kelly is in his first year on the Greenwich Board of Education but is well known for his many years as Greenwich High School’s rugby coach.
Campaigning during the health crisis, Kelly said has found himself in the unaccustomed position of having to “passively engage” with potential voters.
“It is extremely hard for me to hold back,” he said. “I love talking to people. I feel like I am in a boxing match with my hands tied behind my back.”
Kelly has been leaving cards hanging on doors and only engaging with those who are already outside their homes and appear willing to talk.
“I feel as though, right now, it’s a bit intrusive to knock on everyone’s door, and so I have tried to condense my efforts into engaging with people in public areas,” he said.
Incumbents, too
The pandemic has had an impact on the incumbents, who are facing a second special session of the legislature later this month. Arora, who was elected in a special vote in January to complete the term of Fred Camillo after he became Greenwich’s first selectman, said he will wait until the special session is over to really begin work on his reelection campaign.
Arzeno is a member of District 8 on the Representative Town Meeting and a resident since 1986. He said he has enjoyed reconnecting with people as he campaigns, but it’s something he prefers to do personally rather than through social media. But he’s had to adapt his approach by wearing a mask and social distancing, and he said he takes into account each person’s personal comfort when talking to them.
“We understand that every resident may not be comfortable at this time, and we respect if they wish to speak or call or email instead, I am happy to do that,” Arzeno said.
If proper precautions are followed, such as keeping enough distance, Arzeno said he has found that voters are comfortable having a conversation about the issues facing the state and his platform.
In 2018 when she was elected to her first term, a key element of Kasser’s strategy was oldfashioned feet on the ground, knocking on doors and introducing herself to people.
But Kasser said that her campaign is not her focus at the moment.
“Since I was elected, I’ve been entirely focused on policies to strengthen our economy and improve people’s lives,” she said. “Given the current crises, I do not have time to campaign. I’m doing my job as state senator, communicating with constituents and resolving their issues such as accessing unemployment benefits, resolving power outages and addressing their concerns.”
Biking instead
To spread the word about her campaign in the 149th District, Stowe, who is vice chair of the Board of Education, has been using a number of methods, including getting on her bicycle and traveling around the district, which includes some of the more spread out areas of the Greenwich backcountry.
“I'm pretty sure people don't go door-to-door in these neighborhoods since they're pretty spread out, but I like to connect with people,” Stowe said. “I'm biking from driveway to driveway. It's both efficient and environmentally friendly.”
Stowe has also been walking the district, sometimes joined by her children. When visiting homes, she said she wears her mask and, whenever she rings a doorbell, backs up six feet.
“People have mixed reactions to meeting in person,” Stowe said. “Many people have different comfort levels, which I appreciate, and so I am flexible. I am talking to people over the phone, on Zoom or meeting in a socially distanced manner.”
Fiorello, a member of the RTM’s District 7, has also been out speaking to voters throughout the district and says she has the mosquito bites to prove it. There has been door-to-door campaigning for her, through a mask and with proper distancing, and she said it has led to good conversations.
“Overwhelmingly, people in Greenwich and Stamford open their doors and are interested to spend a minute or two with me,” she said. “Sometimes it’s 10 or 15 minutes, and I really appreciate those conversations. There’s no better way to understand what people care about, then asking them and listening.”
Fiorello reports she’s seen a “mixed bag” of reactions when she knocks on someone’s door.
“I never know what it’s going to be like when I knock on a door,” Fiorello said. “But overall, voters are curious who is ringing their doorbell, surprised it’s a candidate for political office and gracious to listen to my pitch — and sometimes, we have a real conversation. Those are like gold.”
The work for all the candidates is only going to increase in the weeks ahead.
“I’m not doing as much of it as we would usually, but we go and put our hanger on the door and then back up not just six feet, but 20 feet with a mask on after we ring the doorbell,” Fazio said. “I have not had a single person come to the door and complain about me being there. …
“Yes, it’s more difficult to do this in a mask but I’ve found people are more appreciative to have me come to the door or (even) calling them or emailing them because people want human interaction since they’ve had less of it.”