David Theis, a Greenwich selectman, strives to maintain his fitness level. You can find him almost every day pumping iron or doing a cardio workout at Fitness Edge. "It's where I spend any and all free time," he said, lifting a 70-pound weight. "It's important. It keeps your head on straight and gives you a sense of purpose." His devotion to the gym may even give him a reason to break out the big guns during his re-election campaign.
His motivation to become selectman was not just based on an interest in government or politics but on something more personal. "I ended up on 9/11 down at an office at the World Trade Center," he said. "I had an 8 a.m. meeting. I remember[breakhere] walking out of the subway station and looking up at the North Tower and thinking that building sure looked nice in the morning light."
After the meeting, he made his way back to Grand Central Terminal. "I was waiting for the subway and people started coming down the stairs looking upset," he said. "This one woman sat at the bottom of the steps and put her head in her hands." Theis said he gave his phone to a few people who asked to call loved ones who worked at the World Trade Center. Theis dialed a number for a woman but it said "no service."
He said, "Once I got to Grand Central, I went outside to look and smoke was going across the skyline. It only looked like it was a few blocks away, but it was actually all the way downtown." Theis got the last train back to Greenwich. Witnessing history opened his eyes and made him realize he needed to do something more.
As a part-time Republican selectman with Drew Marzullo and First Selectman Peter Tesei Theis works full time as first vice president for investments at Wells Fargo Advisors. Theis said it is a balancing act between his job at town hall and at Wells Fargo. "I could easily spend more time [at Town Hall] than I should."
As a kid growing up in Cos Cob, Theis said he did everything but his favorite activity was football. His first job after college was athletic director at Greenwich Country Day School.
Theis said Greenwich has a reputation as being only for the elite and rich, but in reality, it is much more accepting and diverse than people may think. "There is a place for everybody. But we want them to do their part and be a productive member of society," he said smiling. "I am happy that I live in a town that is kind of special. I am happy to be a part of town government and keep Greenwich great without losing our identity."
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