Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo Seeks 4th Term In Office

GREENWICH, CT — First Selectman Fred Camillo has officially announced his plans to run for a fourth term as Greenwich's chief elected official.

Camillo, a Republican and Greenwich native who was first elected to serve as first selectman in 2019 after several years as a state representative in Hartford, held a campaign announcement event on Monday outside of the Board of Education building on Greenwich Avenue.

In a phone interview on Tuesday, Camillo spoke about his time in office and his accomplishments, and his vision for the future.

"I still love the job of public service and serving my hometown. We're in the middle of continuing to work on several projects that will enhance the town even more, and so that just gives me the enthusiasm I had when I approached my first term," Camillo said. "As I said back in 2019, I would take it one term at a time and check to see if the energy, emotion and enthusiasm were still there, and if I did a good job, I would run for another term."

Camillo said a focus on pedestrian and public safety have been hallmarks of his tenure in office, and he highlighted the creation of several committees that have yielded positive results for the town.

He noted the Sustainability Committee, which addresses sustainability and other environmental concerns; the Active Transportation Task Force, a group that supports and assists in matters related to all human-powered and low-level electric assisted modes of transportation; and the Energy Management Advisory Committee, which has worked on Greenwich's first energy policy.

Another accomplishment Camillo mentioned was Greenwich Crossing, a $30 million revitalization project that will feature a new restaurant, a redesigned train station and renovated retail spaces in the downtown Greenwich area.

Camillo also mentioned an ongoing effort to communicate more with the community.

"I try not to come at the people, I come from them. Many ideas and worthwhile endeavors come from the people, and that's how you really want to approach things," Camillo said. "You want to be present and be around, and have people know you're available. We're really proud of so many of these things we've completed and that we continue to work on."

A big proponent of public/private partnerships, Camillo said such endeavors have increased under his watch. He said they engage the public, give taxpayers a break, and get projects done in a more timely fashion.

Notably, the town received a large donation from the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation that helped spur on construction of the new Cohen Eastern Greenwich Civic Center that opened earlier this year.

Camillo is pursuing public/private partnerships to reimagine the Havemeyer Building, which houses the Board of Education, as well as for a new ice rink in town.

"We've gotten projects that were standing still, done. We're in the middle of doing some other ones that promise to be transformational," Camillo said.

Additionally, Camillo said the town is in the process of modernizing its online permitting process, and will soon address ADA compliance and security at Town Hall.

Running alongside Camillo will be Republican Selectwoman Lauren Rabin. The two officials grew up in town together and have run successfully and convincingly together at the top of the ticket since 2019.

"It's a very big contrast with our opponents, who don't have much of a history here and a record," Camillo said. "[Lauren and I] combine a record and a vision... We actually do like each other and we're great friends. I think it shows, and I think the people of Greenwich know that."

Camillo praised Rabin for helping to beef up the number of volunteers for Greenwich's many boards, committees and commissions.

"We've worked really well together, and I can't speak highly enough of her. I always tell people she's the best selectwoman or deputy mayor in the state of Connecticut, and I truly believe that," Camillo said.

Challenging Camillo and Rabin will be Anthony Moor and former state Rep. Rachel Khanna, who are running for first selectman and selectman respectively. The pair formally announced their campaigns, along with a Democratic slate of municipal candidates, last month.

Moor is a former local news reporter and the current chair of the Representative Town Meeting's Transportation Committee.

Khanna lost a re-election bid in 2024 to return as state representative for the 149th District.

"After three terms at the head of Town Hall, it’s clear that Mr. Camillo is not who our residents need now," Moor wrote in an emailed joint statement with Khanna on Monday. "Imagine a Greenwich with real leadership that listens, collaborates, and delivers solutions that reflect values of our entire community. Our Democratic ticket includes a world-class team of professionals in business, law, finance and public service. We will bring Greenwich into the 21st century."

The 2025 municipal election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4.