Selectman Marzullo Announces Bid for 3rd Term

Democrat Selectman Drew Marzullo has announced he will seek a third two-year term on town's governing board.

The lone Democrat on the three-member Board of Selectmen, Marzullo, says, "I still have a zeal and an energy for this job."

He added, "When I was discussing this with (his partner) Reynold (Jaglal) the last couple weeks, I concluded that in the end I still have something to offer. I still have an energy and passion for this job, if I didn’t I wouldn’t be running again."

With Marzullo's announcement Wednesday morning, all three selectmen are running for reelection in November 2013. First Selectman Peter Tesei has said he will seek a fourth term as the town's chief elected official and Selectman David Theis also is seeking reelection to a third term.

The 42-year-old paramedic supervisor for Greenwich Emergency Medical Service, said, "I'm not running for sake of running and hope people would agree that I’ve done some good things and have tried to anyway. I would be grateful if the voters would extend my contract for two years."

He added, "It’s been exciting and rewarding."

Marzullo said there is much work to be done in the coming year, specifically with the annual budget process. While the first selectman proposes the budget for review and approval by the Board of Estimate and Taxation and ultimately, the Representative Town Meeting, Marzullo said it is a selectman's responsibility to scrutinize and question it such as he did during the Dec. 5 selectmen's meeting regarding proposed increases to Parks and Recreation user fees.

"Obviously the issue is whether there should be a cap in spending in town," Marzullo said. "There are the challenges of three major capital projects—Nathaniel Witherell, MISA and the Central Fire House—to fund on top of a backcountry of fire station and a backcountry GEMS station."

Marzullo added, "The sheer notion or mention of increasing the mill rate, I can hear the guillotine sharpening—off with the selectman’s head...you can’t talk about that in an election year. But there are only so many places you can cut. ... and then there's the everday maintenance of the town's infrastructure, a $140 million Board of Education budget, the senior center...there's a never ending list of projects. What do we want Greenwich to look like in 5 years, 10 years from now?"

Marzullo said of his tenure, "Over the last 2 years, I think I have had a responsibility as the Democrat selectman or in the minority to elicit debate — elicit challenge and I think I have done it in a way that is respectful. It means offering a differing opinion and discussion when necessary."