Tesei Excites Crowd at HQ Opening
Oct 5, 2009, 8:05 p.m. — Speaking to an overflow crowd, First Selectman Peter J. Tesei ignited the party faithful at the grand opening of the Republican Headquarters this evening.
The theme of his extemporaneous remarks can be summed up as “Greenwich should not gamble on who its Chief Elected official should be.” Calling it “performance over platitudes” he pointed to his record of accomplishment in providing a vision of preserving and enhancing the quality of life in our Greenwich and working towards that vision.
The incumbent First Selectman reminded the enthusiastic crowd, which spilled out on to Railroad Avenue, that he has led a competent team in Town Hall which is responsible for low taxes, educational excellence, public safety, maintaining neighborhood character, respect for the environment and open and transparent government.
Tesei gave specific examples of how, in his first term he acted decisively to keep taxes low, improve our Greenwich’s neighborhood schools, improve our coastal resources, provide for enhanced public safety, such as the recently announced “save yourself” initiative and a “reverse 911?-type system.
He shared credit for these accomplishments with his party’s Selectman Peter Crumbine, the B.E.T., and others. He lauded the qualified people he has brought into our Greenwich government, mentioning his running-mate David Theis in particular.
Theis, was also on hand to exhort the room full of supporters to campaign hard for the next four weeks for the entire Republican ticket: Tod Laudonia (running in a three-way race for Tax Collector); Carmella Budkins (the incumbent Town Clerk, running unopposed), Board of Estimate and Taxation candidates (Mike Mason, Jim Campbell, Leslie Tarkington, Art Norton, and Joe Pellegrino), Board of Education candidates, Steve Anderson and Peter Sher, and candidates for the Board of Assessment Appeals (Dick Kriskey, Phil Skidmore and William Reardon) and Constable candidates ( Siegrun Pottgen, William Fassuliotis, Paul O’Gorman and James Clifford) –most of whom were present at the festivities.
Other elected officials were also on hand to support the ticket, including State Senator Scott Franz, and State Representatives Fred Camillo, Lile Gibons, and Livvy Floren who served as Mistress of Ceremonies.
[OurGreenwich.com photographer John Ferris Robben. His photos are below.]
David Theis and 1st Selectman Peter Tesei
Scott Franz and Chris vonKeyserling
vonKeyserling with Sen. Franz and State Rep. Livvy Floren.
vonKeyserling with the “First Lady” of Greenwich, Jill Tesei and The Tesei’s son James Peter.
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Tax Collector candidate Tod Laudonia with supporters.
Dynamic Hartford Duo: Sen. Franz and State Rep Fred Camillo.
Franz, Laudonia and Camillo.
vonKeyserling, William Gregory, Sen. Franz and State Rep. Livvy Floren