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By Jackie Homan
Greenwich Patriots received a number of questions regarding what happened during the Greenwich Republican Town Committee (RTC) meeting last week.
This was the meeting when new officers were elected, and delegates were chosen for key CT GOP conventions in the Spring.
That there has been disharmony in the RTC is not exactly a secret.
All you have to do is look at the RTC v. RTC primary for Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) last year and the eventual loss of the BET to the Democrats to know things are not alright.
The perception to outsiders is this is just another "MAGA Conservatives v. Establishment" fight, though the story is perhaps a bit more complicated and nuanced than that.
The Greenwich RTC leadership has changed numerous times over the last six years -- Dan Quiqley, Beth MacGillivray, Jerry Cincotta, Michael Hahn and now Paul Cappiali.
When the Quigley-led RTC nominated a Biden donor for the Board of Education, it triggered a backlash, causing a group of newly-energized conservatives to orchestrate a take-over of the RTC in 2022 that resulted in the election of MacGillivray as Chair.
The takeover was an important factor in widening the divide between sides, as was MacGillivray's leadership. It was the first time in decades that the Establishment lost control. The various factions didn't work well together, and meetings were often contentious. The MacGillivray-led RTC, however, outperformed at fundraising and getting out the vote.
The RTC caucuses in 2024 resulted in ugly RTC v. RTC primaries in several districts. Election complaints were filed with SEEC (the State Election Enforcement Commission), then came a lawsuit that allegedly prevented RTC members from playing nicely together in the sandbox. Cincotta was elected as Chair, but stepped down mid-term for personal reasons, so Hahn took his place; meetings were still contentious at times. Then came the intra-RTC BET primary, and subsequent loss of the BET in November for which each side blamed the other.
Flash forward to 2026. RTC caucuses took place without challenges in January. The RTC meeting last week led by Hahn included new officer elections and the selection of delegates. A lot of "pre-work" went into the meeting on both sides.
Roughly 44% of Conservative members wanted the Establishment to first conduct Officer elections, and then conduct delegate elections, but that's not what happened. Fights erupted over alleged Roberts' Rules violations, with the minority arguing that Hahn bypassed party and parliamentary rules. People on both sides were clearly frustrated.
Hahn proceeded as originally planned, presided over the delegate election and introduced a slate of candidates that included non-RTC members. The minority expressed frustration over being excluded from the delegate selection process for conventions that will take place during their term. They threw up a list of delegates on the spot that realistically had no chance of winning.
The truth is the delegate election results would have likely been similar even if officer elections had been conducted first, as the minority group originally wanted. But the optics would have been considerably better, and it wouldn't have felt so much like a railroad job / demonstration of power.
The Conservatives thought they were making a genuine attempt at unity prior to last week's meeting. They came to the newly formed RTC, and indicated they were ready to collaborate, unify, and rebuild. They said they were prepared to bury the hatchet and do the work. Instead, they felt shut out from the outset of the meeting.
Burying the hatchet is going to be difficult considering the trust issues, but not impossible, so Cappiali will have his work cut out for him.
The sides need to learn how to trust each other again in order to be able to work effectively as a unified front. They need to respect one another in conversations, stop bickering and shouting over each other, and take the time to really understand what people are saying. The minority has valid points that need to be heard. Plus, it's clear from conversations with both sides that there are plenty of misunderstandings.
Let bygones be bygones. Stop blaming problems on previous chairs. Start right now with a clean slate. Focus on issues where there's agreement since both sides share many beliefs. Extend an "olive branch" to the other side, something meaningful that demonstrates commitment and enables you to rebuild trust.
Maybe that starts with a concession, like giving up some of those delegate seats to the Conservatives that represent 44% of RTC members? Sure, the paperwork might already be submitted, but maybe some people might be willing to relinquish their convention credentials in an attempt for unity?
Then maybe another concession, like a fundraiser that is fully supported and funded by both sides. Remember Vivek?
And another, like including the "head" of the minority faction into the fold, and if it doesn't work out, maybe he will promise to go away.
Republican voters see the disarray and want the sides to come together to fight for common-sense conservative principles. They want to build a stronger, broader Republican Party supporting the best candidates. They are worried that an RTC split into factions will result in a bloodbath in November... and that Greenwich will start to look like New Jersey, with ugly affordable housing monstrosities stacked next to Riverside train station and up and down Sound Beach Avenue in Old Greenwich.
It's time to come together.
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