Greenwich Time (Sunday)

Standing strong: A response to misguided criticism

- Beth MacGillivr­ay is chair of the Greenwich Republican Town Committee.

As the first female chair of the Republican Party in Greenwich, I find it dishearten­ing to read the recent articles that question my leadership skills. It’s crucial to set the record straight and shed light on the genuine efforts being made to unite our party and Greenwich Republican­s to represent the hard-working, common sense Republican­s in our community.

First and foremost, I am not a career politician, but a proud mother of four who, like many Greenwich residents, is deeply invested in leaving a better future for our children. It is this perspectiv­e that I bring to the table — one free from political baggage and driven by a sincere desire to make a positive impact on our community.

We are committed to upholding the values of the Republican Party, and this includes not cozying up to Democrats or engaging in backroom deals. While such practices may be the agenda of career politician­s, I stand firm in representi­ng the voices of those who seek a genuine alternativ­e — an alternativ­e that is not a “uni-party” but a united force for the common sense hardworkin­g Republican­s in Greenwich.

It is true that the Republican Party in Greenwich faced challenges with their slow demise becoming most evident in 2018. We lost two crucial long establishe­d seats, Senate and House while still a majority party in Greenwich. Now we are making a remarkable comeback despite being a minority party in town, 29 percent. Our party is now uniting, noted by our endorsemen­t of a full slate of incumbents in November, record turnout, and exploding number of volunteers with a clear vision to win elections.

I am proud to lead a Republican Party that is making a difference. We are not fooled by the so-called “bipartisan” or voting moms, political players and schemes. Instead, we are focused on the issues that matter to our residents — decreasing crime vs defund the police, fixing flooding infrastruc­ture vs bumpouts, implementi­ng moratorium­s on high rises like Darien, New Canaan, and now Westport, promoting fiscal responsibi­lity instead of excessive spending such as a $150 million Central Middle School before the shovel. Of course, we want the best schools but are perplexed by the price tag, hands down the most expensive in Connecticu­t.

It is dishearten­ing when a top-endorsed Republican official condemns the very party that is actively working to revive itself and support him. We want a voice that is independen­t and refuses to be part of the divisive rhetoric that characteri­zes the “uni-party.” True bipartisan­ship is a two way street, and not a function of relinquish­ing our principles and agreeing to every Democrat excess. We are the platform that genuinely cares about our community and its well-being.

Let’s put an end to dirty politics and focus on what truly matters — taking care of our community. It’s time for Republican­s to chair the selectman’s committees and contribute to positive growth of Greenwich. Together, we can address the real issues facing our residents and ensure a brighter future for our town of Greenwich.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States