Party Lines: Campaign Trail Notes

Birthday wishes ... and one question reporters shouldn't ask

As the Greenwich Republican party faithful showed up to fete of its Greenwich Avenue storefront headquarters, there was time for another celebration. Well, make that two celebrations.

Not long after US Senate hopeful and backcountry resident slipped into the crowd, she and incumbent Tax Collector Tod Laudonia were presented with a homemade birthday cake by Republican Town Committee Chair Jim Campbell and Vice Chair Steve Warzoha, who's also First Selectman Peter Tesei's campaign manager.

Laudonia commented that he had two reasons to celebrate - Oct. 4 was his 58th birthday and the 30th wedding anniversary for he and his wife Jane.

The usually unflappable McMahon, in a black suit and white shawl-collared blouse, bristled when a reporter asked her age. After a bit of a pause and an icy stare, she replied, "You don't ask a lady her age."

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Tom Foley's not getting much sleep these days

Arriving as the crowds were leaving was last year's GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Foley of Greenwich.

Foley said that he and his wife Leslie aren't getting much sleep since the birth of their twins last week - daughter Grace and son Reed. He said Grace will sleep about 5 hours between feedings, "but we're trying to build his weight ... (Reed) is still on the three-hour feeding schedule."

The twins were born Sept. 26 at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.

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A GOP Who's Who

It was a veritable Who's Who in Republican politics on both the local and state levels attending the Oct. 4 opening of Republican campaign headquarters.

Besides McMahon and Foley, other attendees included state Sen. (R-36), state Reps. (R-149), (R-150) and (R-151).

Former First Selectman stepped up to voice her support of incumbent Peter Tesei. Chris Thurlow was there too - she's Selectman Dave Theis's campaign manager.

Retired car dealership magnate Malcom Pray, who's honorary chair of Tesei's campaign, and his wife Nathalie, were seen mingling in the crowd, as was former Selectman Peter Crumbine and his wife Bea, and former RTC chairs John Raben and Ed Dadakis.

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She wasn't wearing it on her lapel

While many in the crowded sported campaign stickers for each of the candidates, incumbent was not wearing one for Tesei. It was Tesei who pushed for the nomination of more than two Board of Education candidates, prompting a four-way race for the two available seats. At the RTC's , he made an unsuccessful attempt to nominate a replacement of Ponns Cohen.

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The debates continue

On Friday, October 7 at 10:15 AM, GCTV will broadcast a live forum with the Board of Education candidates. The forum is co-sponsored by the Greenwich PTA Council and the League of Women Voters of Greenwich. The forum will be open to the public, and all questions will be submitted in advance by the PTAs of the Greenwich Public Schools. It'll be held in the Town Hall Meeting Room of Greenwich Town Hall.