Party Caucus Time in Greenwich: The Republican & Democratic Town Committee Elections

Now that the Iowa caucuses are history, Greenwich gets down to the true kick-off of its political season: the biennial election of members of the Republican and Democratic Town Committees. Everything starts from these caucuses where members of the political parties meeting by district select the members of their respective town committees. Becoming a member of the or the opens up the political process to the elected members since it is the town committees meeting as a body or by convention which will elect the parties' chairmen and officers and will nominate the parties' candidates for public office.

The caucuses represent democracy as its most basic. Registered party members who show up at the right time and place vote to elect those who will represent them in their respective party town committee. Most years the party faithful dominate the caucuses. Sometimes there is a sea-change in leadership as organized groups of friends, relations and neighbors flood the caucuses to take over control. Some years ago large crowds of caucus goers struggled for control of the RTC. 

The Republicans will select 60 members of the RTC on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. at the following locations in each of the 12 districts: District 1 - Town Hall, Probate Judge Conference Room;  District 2 - Town Hall, Town Clerk's Office, downstairs;  District 3 - Town Hall, Town Clerk's Office, back vault;   District 4 - Sokol Club;  District 5 - Riverside School (cafeteria); District 6 - Old Greenwich School (cafeteria);  District 7 - Town Hall (Hayton Room);  District 8 - Cos Cob School (cafeteria); District 9 - Glenville School (cafeteria); District 10 - Glenville School (media center); District 11 - North Street School (cafeteria); and District 12 - North Mianus School (cafeteria).

The Democrats will select 75 members of the DTC on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. at the Greenwich Town Hall. For the first time all the Democrats who appear for the caucuses will meet in a central location, presumably the Town Hall Meeting Room, and then will break out into separate rooms to vote by district. 

If you have ever wondered who wields the true political power in our town show up to caucus with your party and you too may experience our most democratic elections: the party caucuses. Show up with enough friends, relations and neighbors and you may become the new party chairmen. Isn't that right, Frank and Jim?