There was still a great deal of activity in the Cross Lane parking lot just before the polls closed. Photo by Michele Dickey.
Polls are about to close in Lyme and Old Lyme. Despite the rain, turnout in Old Lyme was heavy throughout the day. The last count we received from the registrars was 3,190 a few minutes ago.
Former Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman (center) joined Democratic candidates in their election tent earlier today.
OLD LYME — In keeping with our now 16-year tradition and in the interests of increasing voter knowledge prior to next week’s important election, we posed three questions in writing to the candidates for the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen as follows:
We gave a 300-word limit for the response to each question to which each candidate strictly adhered: we are most appreciative of that.
We also added these words in our e-mail to the candidates when we sent them the questions: Regarding questions 1 and 2, please don’t answer, “It doesn’t matter what I want, it’s what the residents of Old Lyme want” — we know that’s the politically correct answer in light of your position as a candidate, but we would like to understand what you as an individual think would be best for the future of our town in the locations identified.
We are delighted that all four candidates responded to our questions in a timely manner. We thank them sincerely and are pleased to publish their responses today accompanied by their respective biographies and photos.
Click on the links below to read each candidate’s responses:
Bonnie Reemsnyder (D): Candidate (Incumbent) for Old Lyme First Selectwoman
Tim Griswold (R): Candidate for Old Lyme First Selectman
Mary Jo Nosal (D): Candidate (Incumbent) for Old Lyme Selectwoman
Chris Kerr (R): Candidate (Incumbent) for Old Lyme Selectman
We should also state that, again in keeping with our long-held tradition, we will not be making any candidate endorsements.
LYME/OLD LYME — In keeping with our now 16-year tradition and in the interests of increasing voter knowledge prior to next week’s important election, we posed three questions in writing to the candidates for the Region 18 Board of Education as follows:
We gave a 250-word limit for the response to each question to which each candidate strictly adhered: we are most appreciative of that.
Three of the board of education incumbents representing Old Lyme — the current chair Michelle ‘Mimi’ Roche, Erick Cushman and Stacey Winchell — are not seeking re-election. There are six candidates running for these three open Old Lyme seats.
Mary Powell-St. Louis, who is a board of education incumbent representing Lyme, is running uncontested in that town. We are especially pleased that she chose to respond to our questions since she has no opponent.
We are delighted that all the candidates except one responded to our questions in a timely manner. We understand why Lorianne Panzara-Griswold did not respond to our questions, but as a gesture of our care and concern for her situation, we are publishing a Letter to the Editor written to LymeLine.com by her recently.
We sincerely thank the candidates who responded and are pleased to publish their responses today accompanied by their respective biographies and photos.
Click on the links below to read each candidate’s responses:
Candidates running for Old Lyme seats, none of whom is an incumbent
Lorianne Panzara Griswold (D):
Candidate running for Lyme seat (incumbent)
We should also state that, again in keeping with our long-held tradition, we will not be making any candidate endorsements.
State Rep. Devin Carney (R- 23rd)
HARTFORD – (Press release from State Rep. Carney’s office) Yesterday, State Representative Devin Carney (R-23), Ranking Member of the legislature’s Transportation Bonding Sub-Committee, submitted a letter to the chairs of the legislatures Transportation Committee, Governor Ned Lamont, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill requesting the committee hold a public hearing to address recent findings in an audit of the Connecticut Port Authority.
Thursday’s audit uncovered improper records management, issues with the authority’s accounting system, inconsistencies with business related entertainment, travel, and meal expenses, failure to maintain supporting documentation for some transactions, among several others.
“The gross negligence and blatant dishonesty outlined in the most recent audit of the Connecticut Port Authority is disturbing and even more of a reason why a public hearing needs to take place,” Rep. Carney said.
He continued, “The legislature needs to speak to those who were employed by, or in power, when this audit took place in order to get to the bottom of the authority’s abuse of taxpayer money and a public hearing would allow us to do so. I call on my colleagues in the legislature and our constitutional officers, including, most importantly, our Secretary of State, to join me in requesting a public hearing to get answers and to help restore public trust. I appreciate the auditors for their hard work and look forward to working to improve oversight of the Port Authority and all of our quasi-public agencies.”
Editor’s Note: This op-ed was submitted by Eileen and John Mueller of Old Lyme.
There is a broad consensus in Old Lyme that our town is doing very well. Our mill rate is low, our quality of life is high, and our schools are among the best in the state. Under the leadership of Bonnie Reemsnyder and Mary Jo Nosal, infrastructure has been maintained, economic development has been encouraged, and the high-speed rail threat was stopped in its tracks. Why, then, should there be a change at Town Hall? Tim Griswold and the Republican Town Committee have offered no strategy for the future; indeed, it seems they would like to roll back progress, and in the absence of a substantive plan they are trying to seek your vote by questioning Bonnie’s character.
Anyone who knows Bonnie, or who has worked with her over the 16 years she has led the town (8 of those as First Selectman), can vouch for her absolute integrity. It is truly unfortunate that the Washington practice of manipulating the truth has seeped into Old Lyme with the innuendos and mis-truths spread by the RTC. If you want to review the relevant facts, they can be found here on the Democratic Town Committee’s website. Suffice it to say, Bonnie engaged in no illegal or unethical conduct and has always represented herself and the Town of Old Lyme with the highest of ethical standards.
Contrast this with the behavior of Tim Griswold and the RTC. Although their campaign slogan is “absolute integrity,” they apparently have no interest in following Connecticut law regarding campaign financing. They have utilized contribution and election forms, and advertisements that omit the legally-required disclosures. More concerning, Tim is both the treasurer of the RTC and a candidate for two offices it is funding. This is a blatant violation of Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 9-606(d), which provides in part that “A candidate shall not serve as the candidate’s own treasurer.” If these violations were not intentional, they nevertheless raise serious questions about Tim’s understanding and compliance with the law and the likelihood that he would exercise the care, diligence and attention to detail required to discharge properly the duties of first selectman or treasurer.
With many rumors and misinformation flying around town, we sought out clarification and here are the facts that should correct the following false claims:
We’re grateful for the hard work and dedication demonstrated by Bonnie and Mary Jo, and felt it is important that our community members have the true facts, not the false or misleading information that is perpetuated by some in the community. If this behavior is what the RTC means by “Absolute Integrity,” we suggest you take another look. Change for change’s sake makes no sense.
The continued health of Old Lyme can be assured only with a vote for Bonnie and Mary Jo on November 5.