Category Archives: Politics

Letter to the Editor: Residents Deserve to Hear From Candidates in Open Forum

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To The Editor:

I am writing to inform the residents of Lyme of the recent dismaying development in the election campaigns for our town offices.

For the past month, I and the Republican Town Committee (RTC) have been planning to participate in a Lyme candidates’ debate, suggested in an email on Thursday, August 14 from olwenonline.com/ reporter Ms. Elizabeth Regan to the chairs of the Democrat Town Committee (DTC) and RTC. That same day, the RTC agreed to Ms. Regan’s suggestion and further proposed a split debate event that would include a First Selectman candidate forum followed by a Board of Selectmen forum. No DTC response was received.

After a morning town meeting Friday, September 5, while leaving the Center School building, I was approached by Mr. John Kiker, DTC Chair, who declared emphatically that his Democratic slate of candidates would NOT agree to meet in any public debate or voter question forum. I replied by suggesting multiple options to address Mr. Kiker’s numerous (and I believe unfounded) concerns about having his candidates face questions from all Lyme voters. Mr. Kiker threw up roadblocks to each, including a “Meet the Candidates” forum hosted by non-partisan reporters; Mr. Kiker just wouldn’t budge.

Notably, Ms. Christine Zelek, the DTC-supported First Selectman candidate, was present throughout this discussion yet failed to utter a single word, wholly deferring to Mr. Kiker. The DTC Chair’s troubling and puzzling refusal to permit his slate of candidates (especially his top candidate, Ms. Zelek) to be engaged by Lyme’s voters in an open forum is antithetical to the foundations of our democratic electoral process.

On Wednesday, September 10, I, Ms. Zelek, Mr. Kiker, Ms. Kristina White, and Dr. Mary Powell-St. Louis received a follow up email from Ms. Regan proposing a Candidate’s Forum sponsored by the Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce, OPEN TO ALL SELECTMAN CANDIDATES AND VOTERS. A response was requested from each of us by Friday, September 12. As with the August email exchange, the RTC response was quick and supportive of participation in such a forum.

This afternoon Ms. Regan expressed her sincere disappointment to me in a phone call that the Candidate Forum would not move forward because Mr. Kiker stated that Ms. Zelek and his DTC candidates for Selectmen will NOT participate in olwenonline.com/’s proposed open candidates’ forum to inform and benefit all Lyme voters.

I believe voters deserve to hear directly from their candidates on issues including: 1) what skills and experience does each candidate possess and how will they use their skills to execute the role, 2) how does each candidate’s record of public and/or organizational service demonstrate their commitment to sustain performance in the role, 3) the “why”…what motivation brings 1) and 2) together for this candidate at this time for this particular role, 4) what does the candidate view as the most pressing issues facing Lyme, and 5) what actions does the candidate believe Lyme should take to address these issues?

Fellow residents, I believe we are fortunate to finally have choices this November for important contested town board and commission roles. It’s crucial that everyone be fully and transparently informed about each candidate, their position on issues, and what is at stake. I encourage us all as voters to have open conversations about the experience and motivation of the candidates that we will elect to our important municipal boards and commissions: for you, for your family, and for Lyme.

I sincerely hope Mr. Kiker will have a change of heart (very soon) and permit his DTC slate to join us in a Candidates Forum to speak to Lyme’s voters directly.

Respectfully,

Thomas St. Louis

Editor’s Note: i) The author is the Republican candidate for Lyme First Selectman.
ii) Here is a reminder of our Policy on Letters to the Editor and our Policy on Comments.

Op-Ed: This Wealthy State Must Invest in School Meals to Ensure Children, Families Have Opportunity to Thrive

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Editor’s Note: This op-ed was submitted to us by Maryam Elahi, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut

Maryam Elahi, President & CEO, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut.

At this moment, when all eyes are on the impact of federal budget cuts on our communities, it is important to highlight one of the most successful accomplishments of this last legislative session here in CT – the Early Childhood Education Endowment. We thank Governor Lamont for listening to advocates and residents who testified, and for demonstrating leadership, compassion and wisdom.

This was no small feat. Our state is now a national model. By supporting the Endowment Fund, our elected leaders put their arms around our youngest residents and their families. Working families won’t have to make a Hobson’s Choice between caring for their children (and not making a living wage) or working to earn a living (just to spend it all on childcare).

This is the role of responsible and responsive government – to use resources and revenue wisely, ensuring all residents can thrive and contribute back to their communities. Those of us in philanthropy have traditionally played a partnering role by providing grants and other support to the nonprofits that are the backbones of our communities. We are prepared to step up today, as we did during the pandemic. We aspire to do our best in these times to ensure that every one of our residents is supported.

The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut has led a campaign to “End Child Poverty Now” in our state for the last two years, with about 120 partners ranging from universities and nonprofit organizations to think tanks and municipal partners. We embarked on this campaign believing that we could do so much better in our wealthy state. We believe that every child should have what they need to reach their utmost potential.

Providing childcare for families who can’t afford it is an essential step in creating strong communities. But we need to do more. All school children should be provided with healthy school meals. Best practices in the United States and other nations demonstrate that providing nutritious meals for children and youth, especially those in struggling households, enhances their performance and reduces stress on families and teachers. Investing in school meals is a smart investment in our future generation.

As our elected leaders head into the Special Session this Fall, we ask that they build on the success of the last session and invest in structures that can protect those who are vulnerable and promote the basic rights of all our residents. We know that the federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and other programs will be devastating.

Difficult choices must be made. Strategic choices should be made.

Investing in school meals will ensure that children perform well in school. It will support families’ economic stability. No child should suffer from hunger and malnutrition on account of their parent’s economic status. After all, we are one of the wealthiest states in this nation. Let’s ensure that our children are well fed so that they and their families have the opportunity to thrive in this great state.

Federation of Old Lyme Beaches to Host ‘Meet the Candidates’ Forum, Saturday

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OLD LYME — The Federation of Old Lyme Beaches Inc. (FOLB) will hear from Old Lyme candidates up for election this November at its Meet the Candidates event on Saturday, Sept. 13.

The forum will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Shoreline Community Center, 39 Hartford Ave. 

FOLB in a press release said candidates for the office of selectman and other municipal elected offices will be in attendance. All Old Lyme residents are invited to attend. The four selectman candidates will each present brief remarks regarding their vision for Old Lyme as well as challenges the town faces. Audience members will be able to ask questions of the candidates.

FOLB represents the beach or shore communities of Old Lyme. The purpose of the Federation is to benefit and promote, by united action, the common interests of the beach and shore communities of Old Lyme in their relations with the local government and people of Old Lyme.

For more information, contact FOLB President Scott Boulanger at scottjboulanger@gmail.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Fogliano, Candidate for Old Lyme Zoning Commission, Explains His Reasons for Running

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To the Editor:

As a 33-year resident of Old Lyme, raising a family here with my wife Susan, I am deeply invested in our town. I have seen the town change over the decades, along with the challenges to land use policy and practice that change brings. This has motivated me to accept the Democratic Town Committee’s endorsement to run for the Zoning Commission, and to ask for your vote in the upcoming election.

My priorities as a Zoning Commission candidate are clear: advocating for sensible regulations and development that protect Old Lyme’s essential qualities – our cultural legacy, our small-town lifestyle, and the fragile ecosystem we share – while also recognizing our economic development and housing needs. I’m dedicated to making rational decisions based on thorough preparation and open dialogue with all stakeholders.

Over my career as a scientist and senior leader, I developed a pragmatic, data-driven, results-oriented approach to solving problems and making decisions. Through my service as Chairman of the Affordable Housing Commission and the Regional Housing Committee, and currently as a Zoning Commission alternate, I have gained an understanding of public policy that affects – and increasingly threatens – our local land use decisions. With your support, I will bring this insight and foresight to the Zoning Commission.

I look forward to a public discourse on the issues before us, and am eager to work together both within town government and with you to ensure that Old Lyme continues to be a great place to live for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Michael Fogliano,
Old Lyme.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Plagiarism is No Way to Start a Campaign

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To the Editor:

I have been a professor for nearly a quarter of a century, and I have seen truly remarkable attempts at cheating from people who opted to be unethical rather than to do their own work. But I have never seen a novice politician cheat on their introductory statement until now.

In her first public remarks—her announcement to run for First Selectwoman of Lyme—Democratic-endorsed candidate Christy Zelek pledged: “I’m running for office because I love this town. My priorities will include keeping our town the beautiful, historic place it is.” (LymeLine, July 24)

This is straight, ugly plagiarism. And it’s not even a close call. Witness the evidence from Lyme Matters, the newsletter of the Lyme DTC:

  1. “He’s running because he loves Lyme and wants to help ensure it stays the beautiful gem of a town that it is.” (John Kiker, Fall 2017, page 2)
  2. “We know people love our town and want Lyme to stay the way it is – beautiful, historic and sparsely developed.” (John Kiker and Steven Mattson, Fall 2017, page 3)
  3. “They want Lyme to stay the beautiful, historic place that it is.” (John Kiker, Fall 2019, page 1)
  4. “Our candidates love Lyme, value the importance of open space and want our Town to stay the beautiful, historic place that it is.” (John Kiker, Fall 2021, page 1)
  5. “They want Lyme to stay the beautiful, historic place that it is.” (John Kiker, Fall 2021, page 3)

I think there are few things that should immediately disqualify a candidate to lead a town, but the absurdity of plagiarizing why they want to do so seems a reasonable cause for concern. If a candidate is willing to cheat on a statement of their own beliefs, what would they not cheat on?

The only defense Zelek could offer is to admit she’s simply the mouthpiece for DTC Chair and Second Selectman John Kiker, which then begs a very serious question of who would actually run the town. I hope local journalists and others concerned with the potential dishonesty of public officials investigate.

The problem is made even worse given that Zelek has no substantial governmental or business executive experience. By the DTC’s account, she deserves this important public trust and authority because she “has held leadership positions in parent-teacher groups at the high school, middle school and elementary school level and in the local Boy Scouts organization.”

As an educator, I shudder to think what a message someone who is willing to plagiarize in such a way conveys to young people. But it may help explain the crisis of cheating I see among students.

I write these lines as a lifelong Democrat who is profoundly concerned about the health of democratic society. As I have noted on other occasions, I believe it is essential that we hold elected officials in our own parties to the highest standards of accountability and honesty.

No one whose first act as a candidate is blatant cheating should be entrusted with public money, civic responsibilities, or the welfare of others. And for the sake of our children and their future, I hope that’s a message to which we can all agree, regardless of political party.

Sincerely,

Stephen Olbrys Gencarella, Ph.D.
Lyme, CT.

Editor’s Note: Commenting is now closed. Comments are closed 48 hours after publication of an article or letter.