The Tax Collector's Race: Study in Contrasts

I have long thought one of the most interesting races this election is about one of the least interesting positions, Tax Collector. Bill Grad is challenging incumbent Tod Laudonia to a rematch of their 2009 race. Then Tod was running as the third "T" on the Tesei-Theis-Tod ticket. This year it appears the other T's are running their own race with Tod on his own, perhaps because he is vulnerable to an upset. 

Bill Grad likes to joke that he and Tod are both running on Tod's record, which has featured some historic snafu's in tax collection. Six months after he took office the tax bills went out weeks late, which Tod blames on a vendor error. Recently, he blamed his predecessor Lou Caravello for choosing the vendor. Perhaps that is why Lou, a popular guy elected by historic margins and long known as "the Mayor of Cos Cob", has now endorsed Bill. Rick Novakowski, who ran as an independent last time, has also endorsed Bill and published a highly critical letter to the editor in the GT attacking Tod's competence. 

Tod has stressed his community roots as president of the St. Lawrence Club founded by his grandfather. Tod has remarked that he would have more compassion for delinquent tax payers. Bill attacked Tod for failing to show compassion by refusing to allow extra time for tax payers to pay taxes when the bills went out weeks late. The BET stepped in and granted an extension.

Regarding sending out bills and granting an extension, Mr. Laudonia said, “The answer is pretty simple: The state statute says the taxpayer is responsible for their taxes. It’s not the requirement for the tax collector to send bills.” (Greenwich Time, July 12, 2010). In debates Bill's response has been:yes, he is required to send out bills; yes, he is required to grant 30 days for payment.

Bill also points to lost checks, including one for $41,000 and another for $10,000, as another sign that the Tax Collector's office needs to tighten up its operations. Bill, a Princeton grad with an MBA from Stanford with private sector managerial experience, says he is in better position to modernize the operations.

Tod's decision to do away with January bills as "frivolous niceties" was criticized by the Greenwich Time in a July 30, 2010, editorial: “It is somewhat mind boggling. After a month that set a new record for poor customer service, the town’s tax collector is consciously choosing to lower service even more.”

It remains to be seen whether voters have sufficient buyers' remorse to overturn the results of the last election and replace Tod with Bill on Nov. 8.