To the Editor:

The Republican campaign literature purporting to compare the candidates for First Selectman is so misleading that one wonders if the authors understand our community at all.    Similarly, the Republican Town Committee has blatantly violated town party custom by posting campaign signs at locations other than their campaign headquarters.  The Old Lyme Democratic Town Committee posts the following letter after requests to remove the improper signs were initially ignored.   The good faith agreement has been breached.

For years the Democratic and Republican parties in Old Lyme have abided by a “gentleman’s agreement” to avoid the use of political signs during elections, except at party headquarters.  Now, with a new Republican Town Committee chair and an unknown candidate for First Selectman, this long-held tradition is being ignored.  Clearly, the Republican campaign headquarters is located in the Hideaway shopping center, and yet massive signs are displayed at the corner of Route 156 and Halls Road.

This breach of agreement raises more serious questions than a change in advertising practices.  If the new guard in the Republican Party is going to ignore the longstanding agreement on signage, will their candidate respect in the future other past practices, traditions and preferences of the Old Lyme community?  Tough to tell, as there is no record to review of her performance on any town government boards, commissions or even special committees.  What is known is that she has not objected to this activity.

Old Lyme is a unique community whose residents appreciate our character and history.  We deserve to have our traditions respected by our leader.

Bonnie Reemsnyder is a just such a leader we can count on.

Please join me in voting for the Reemsnyder & Nosal Team, Row A on November 3rd.

David B. Woolley,
Old Lyme

Editor’s Note: The author is the Chair of the Old Lyme Democratic Town Committee.

To the Editor:

Misinformation is circulating in Old Lyme regarding First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder’s positions on sewers.  The facts are as follows.

In 2012 the DEEP concluded that some Old Lyme beach communities had a pollution problelm and ordered the residents to find a solution.  In 2013 the town commissioned an engineering study to evaluate alternatives.  The DEEP strongly resisted a local solution, preferring instead that the wastewater be conveyed by sewer to New London.

The beach communities subject to the DEEP orders independently pursued a sewer solution.  Bonnie supports a plan that would facilitate these efforts by having a town authority (the WPCA) construct and maintain the main trunk line into which the beach communities would connect, bringing management and financial efficiencies to the overall project.   If the project is completed as anticipated, the entire construction cost and most of the study cost will be financed by tax-exempt bonds, and repayment of the bonds and operation of the system will be paid by the users of the sewers, not the other taxpayers of Old Lyme.

Bonnie is in the best position to ensure that this plan is implemented properly and cost-effectively.  We need to re-elect her on November 3.

Gil Soucie,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is Democratic candidate for Treasurer in Old Lyme.  He is also a member and current Treasurer of the Democratic Town Committee.

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to a letter sent in by Bennett “BJ” Bernblum on the 25th.

Contrary to what BJ Bernblum would have you believe, there is no “expiration date” on a Master’s degree.  The fact is, Cathy Carter has 15 years of experience working in positions of responsibility in municipal, state, and federal government.  To suggest as a working mother, and as someone who volunteered countless hours teaching and coaching the youth of our community, that her hard earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in public administration as a young professional are irrelevant – is both ill informed and arguably sexist.

It’s interesting also that Mr. Bernblum fails to disclose that he’s both a Democratic candidate on Bonnie’s Team this year and a maximum $1000.00 donor to Bonnie!

BJ Bernblum just doesn’t speak the facts. And, no matter how much he wants Bonnie, himself, and his team to win, as they say, “while you are entitled to your own opinion, you are never entitled to your own facts!”

Bottom line, Cathy Carter knows her way around government and will no doubt hit the ground running on day one as First Selectwoman.  If you support a common sense approach to government and savvy practical experience, vote Cathy on November 3^rd!

Sincerely,

Wayne Buchanan

Old Lyme

P.S.Congratulations to Cathy for her vision and community direction advocated in the Selectmen’s Debate.  She is a community leader with plain to see administrative and government experience.

Editor’s Note: The author is a member of the Republican Town Committee.