Author Archives: Phyllis Ross

Letter to the Editor: Lyme Voters Should Elect Lodge to BOE; Committed, Involved in Community, Cognizant of Balance Between Quality Education and its Cost

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To the Editor:

What is necessary to qualify a person to hold an elected office in a town?

Plenty of information is circulated about the candidates at the top of the ballot, but as you go down, much less information is available. How do voters make decisions on whom to vote for?

The foremost prerequisite is commitment and involvement in service to the community. Have they done that? Have they had a wide range of life experiences? Are they creative? Is the candidate a pleasant, hard-working person who can work well with others?   

Gavin Lodge, Democratic candidate for Board of Education of Lyme (and Old Lyme), possesses all these qualifications. He has founded his own business and is the executive director of 4A Arts—American Alliance of Artists and Audiences—a non-profit national arts advocacy organization. As an active participant in his children’s school lives, he was a PTA president and chaired a school on-line Auction Committee that raised $53,000.

One of the best reasons to vote for Gavin is that, as a devoted father and concerned taxpayer, he is well aware of the delicate balance between a quality education and the cost of education.

Lyme voters should vote for Gavin Lodge.   

Sincerely,                                         

Phyllis Ross,
Lyme, CT.

Letter to the Editor: House, Sheiness, Miller Understand Town Values, Communicate Well, Bring Wealth of Expertise; Elect Them to Lyme Board of Finance

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To the Editor:

Lyme voters will be choosing three candidates for the Board of Finance. They will remember this past May when Republican board members went rogue and, without talking to relevant commissions, cut half the town’s funding for preservation of open space. Lyme citizens showed disapproval by overwhelmingly voting against cutting the Open Space Reserve Fund at the annual Town Meeting. 

Lyme residents should vote for Democrats Bob House and Alan Sheiness for Board of Finance and Jim Miller as an alternate. They understand the values of our town, communicate well with others and have a wealth of expertise in finance.  

Bob, with a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics, served two years as a Board of Finance Alternate. He worked as a Senior Economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for over 20 years.    

Alan, with over 30 years of financial and executive management experience, held positions as a corporate controller and principal accounting officer. He is treasurer of Lyme Land Trust and a member of its finance committee.

Jim, with a MBA in Finance, has 20 years of experience as a commercial and investment banker with expertise in budgeting and forecasting. 

House, Sheiness and Miller are remarkably qualified to advise the Board of Selectmen. They will protect the things the town values while maintaining high quality services and controlling costs.

Rounding out our election slate this year are several other highly qualified, dedicated individuals who love our Town and whose expertise can benefit our boards and commissions.  They want Lyme to stay the beautiful, historic place that it is.  And they need your vote. (You can read about their qualifications and history of service to our Town on our website at www.lymedtc.com.)

  • Steven Mattson for First Selectman
  • John Kiker for Selectman
  • Fred Harger for Zoning Board of Appeals
  • Toni Phillips for Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate
  • Mary Stone for Library Board of Directors
  • Laura Mooney for Library Board of Directors
  • Anna James for Board of Education
  • John Kiker for Board of Assessment Appeals

Vote Row “A”!

Sincerely,

Phyllis Ross,
Lyme.