Family Affair: Parents And Their Gen Z Kids Serve Together On Greenwich RTM

GREENWICH, CT — When the full Representative Town Meeting convenes in Greenwich at Central Middle School, usually on the second Monday of the month, several members don’t just share the same district — they share the same last name.

Three parent-Gen Z child pairs now serve together on the town’s 230-member nonpartisan legislative body, one of the largest legislative bodies in the United States.

The involvement of parents and their young children has created a unique bonding experience away from home, and a growing presence of young people in town government.

Hale Bayram and her daughter, Isra Selin Bayram, sit together in District 3; Janet Stone McGuigan and her son, James S. McGuigan, can be found in District 6; and Patricia Adams and her daughter, Carina A. Adams-Szabo, are over in District 9.

Additionally, Sandra and Stephen Waters are on the RTM from District 7, as is their son, James Waters, a longtime Greenwich resident from District 12.

RTM Moderator Alexis Voulgaris, who has been a part of the RTM for 20 years, said the current crop of parent-child RTM members carries on a long tradition of families of all ages serving on the RTM together.

"I love the idea that anyone is interested and engaged in learning about their community and getting involved and participating in local government, and helping make decisions and shape the town's future. I think that's terrific," Voulgaris told Patch. "Young people who want to do it, we welcome them, as we welcome anybody."

Hale Bayram and Isra Selin Bayram

Hale and Selin both ran for the RTM as write-in candidates in 2023 and were re-elected last November.

Both heard about the RTM a few years ago from their neighbor, Steven Rubin, a fellow member, and they immediately wanted to get involved.

"[Steven] came to my mom and told her about all the work he was doing for the community," Selin, 26, told Patch in a recent interview. "Her immediate reaction was, 'How can I join?' When I heard this, I immediately wanted to join with her. We both wanted to serve our community and give back, and also hear about what's going on in our community. It's been a beacon of information for us both."

At each meeting held in the CMS auditorium, Hale and Selin sit together with their district.

"We sort of feel like we're in an episode of 'Gilmore Girls,' watching everything happen, sitting next to each other and reacting," Selin added.

A graduate of Fordham University with a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's in applied psychology, Selin is a research coordinator at Albert Einstein College of Medicine during the day. In her spare time, she serves on the RTM's Education Committee and is secretary of the Health and Human Services Committee.

Hale has years of experience in finance, technology, risk management, strategy, and product management at major companies, and currently serves on the special Labor Contracts Committee and Finance Committee. She is also an alternate on the Transportation Committee.

"The main RTM meetings are so fun, because I get to spend the most time with my mom, next to each other," Selin said.

For Hale, the experience of tackling town issues with her daughter has been joyful and a source of pride.

"She's a very, very smart young lady," Hale said of her daughter. "It's not necessarily that we have the same type of opinions, and it's good to see her perspective as well. It's a different age, different perspective, and both of us learn from each other."

Hale believes there needs to be more representation of young people in town government.

"If you look at the RTM and what the average age is, it's not young," Hale said. "We need different perspectives... It's great to exchange ideas and debate."

Selin has enjoyed her time on the RTM so much that she was able to get one of her closest friends, Tiffany Evangelista, also in District 3, to join. The two have known each other since their time at Hamilton Avenue School, coincidentally, where her district meetings are held.

The school is a focus for Selin due to issues the school has had with its heating and cooling system.

"I think it's so important we learn from what happened in the past. I want to make sure the children here have a good experience," she said.

Hale called her involvement in the RTM "one of the most rewarding jobs" she's had, and both she and her daughter hope the experience of serving with each other lasts for years to come.

"We're having a lot of fun," Selin said. "We just continue to get involved together, and I hope we get to do it for a long time."

Janet Stone McGuigan and James S. McGuigan

James, 22, joined the RTM as a first-time member in January, joining his mother, Janet, who returned to the legislative body after two terms on the Board of Selectmen.

"I really realized I appreciate Greenwich as the place I live, and I wanted to kind of see what it's actually like to participate in local government and not just kind of sit on the sidelines and see things as they happen," James told Patch in a recent interview. "I wanted to actually participate and bring a representation of a younger voice to the RTM."

Janet said the increased involvement of young people in government is "heartwarming."

"That's something that has been missing. Our younger residents absolutely have a stake in the decisions we're making. They should be represented. I'm so inspired by our younger residents," Janet said. "We, the older residents, need to do a better job looking out for their interests. The way to do that is to make sure their voices are represented and know what their interests are."

The RTM is the "perfect forum" for young people, like Gen Z'ers, to participate in town government, Janet said, because the body is nonpartisan.

"Most of our issues are very much about local quality of life," Janet noted.

James went to Old Greenwich School, Eastern Middle School and GHS. He graduated from the University of Rochester with a bachelor's degree in environmental science, and currently has a part-time internship with Greenwich Environmental Affairs.

An alternate to the RTM Town Services Committee, James noted an interest in issues related to Greenwich Public Schools on the RTM.

"As someone who has really, really benefited from our public school system and really appreciated all of the great effort put into them, I can see now that I'm a little older how much effort it actually takes to keep those running, and really making sure we treat our schools right and give them the resources they need," he said.

Janet praised James' knack for "good governance" and his ability to make sure she uses the voting clicker correctly.

"I have not had to explain very much to James, and in some cases, he's had to explain some things to me. That is just a delight," Janet added.

Along with Janet's professional experience working on environmental policy research, she has leadership and volunteer experience with the PTA Council, League of Women Voters of Greenwich, and Junior League.

RTM members are unpaid, as are volunteers for the many boards and commissions in town.

"We are so fortunate that we have such amazing human capital in town of people with the experience that they have, and the willingness to put the hours in," Janet said.

James said he's enjoyed the experience so far, from running for a seat, seeing his name on the ballot, and finally participating in meetings and seeing district members come together for the betterment of the town.

"What's been really great for me to see is how the community has come together to create this really great system that people put so much dedication and effort into," he said. "It's starting to rub off on me, and it brightens my spirits and gives me some motivation to keep working, keep pushing forward, and try to get whatever goals I set for myself done."

Patricia Adamns and Carina Adams-Szabo

Carina, a graduate of GHS class of 2023, joined the RTM after her sister, Amelia, served one term as the youngest member of the legislative body, according to a recent newsletter from the Greenwich Democratic City Committee.

Their mother, Patricia, is also on the RTM. She serves with Carina on the Public Works Committee. Patricia also serves as an alternate on the Appointments Committee.

Patricia and Carina could not be reached in time for publication.