Category Archives: Politics

Letter to the Editor: Wayland Has All The Required Qualities To Excel As Lyme First Selectman

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To the Editor:

Being the first selectman in a small town comes with unique challenges. The first selectman is expected to cheerfully solve issues ranging from taxes and zoning, to neighborhood disputes and unsightly guardrails.

In order to be a successful first selectman of a small town, one must not only be a problem solver, but he or she must also be kind, patient, and understanding. This is why I know that Mark Wayland will excel when it comes to the job. His endless knowledge on the Town of Lyme, his compassionate, caring nature, and his no-nonsense intelligence will help him solve any problem that comes his way, big or small.

William T. Koch Jr.,
Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is a former first selectman of Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Former Republican First Selectman Eno Endorses Democrat Mattson for Lyme First Selectman

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To the Editor:

This November, Lyme will experience its first contested election for the Board of Selectmen in more than a decade.  If Lyme is to maintain its longstanding tradition of fiscal responsibility and attendant low mil rates, it is imperative that the next First Selectman be thoroughly conversant with the budget development process, as well as its implementation and management.  A positive relationship history working with Lyme’s Board of Finance will be key as well.

Over the years, Lyme has had a history of electing candidates with the skills and experience necessary to provide the best possible outcomes for the town, regardless of his or her political pedigree.  History bears out the fact that this time-tested practice has served Lyme extremely well – keeping counterproductive, divisive politics out of the management of local government on both a day-to-day and long-term basis.

Steve Mattson is the First Selectman candidate most qualified to lead Lyme for the next two years.  He has a comprehensive grasp on all facets of the budget process and has developed critical thinking and administrative skills over his years of service on multiple town boards and commissions to both lead Lyme and protect its interests from the misguided interference of a foundering state government, which puts all Connecticut’s small towns at risk.  This experience will be key to preserving Lyme’s cherished rural character and quality of life at this critical juncture in the state’s history.

I urge voters to set aside partisan considerations and hold true to the proven practice of doing what is best for Lyme. That means voting for Steve Mattson for First Selectman this November.

Sincerely,

Ralph Eno,
Readfield, Maine.

Lyme DTC Launches New Website

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As part of its ongoing efforts to encourage local residents to learn more about – and get more involved in – town government, the Lyme Democratic Town Committee (DTC) has announced the launch of a new website at www.LymeDTC.org.

With just a few clicks, visitors to the new website can:

From left to right, candidates for, respectively, Lyme Selectman and First Selectman, John Kiker and Steve Mattson stand together.

Contact their local, state and federal legislators.

Find out how to register to vote or obtain an absentee ballot.

Learn more about the Democratic candidates running for office in November.

Find out when the next meetings of many town boards, committees and commissions are going to be held.

Keep tabs on local news, issues and information.

Discover how Lyme’s Town Meeting form of government works.

The Lyme DTC’s mission is to support and strengthen the Democratic Party in the Town of Lyme and the State of Connecticut.  The committee meets on the third Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyme Town Hall. These meetings are open to the public and all registered Democrats are encouraged to attend.

State Orders Recount in Republican Primary for 33rd District Probate Judge; Delia Wins by Nine Votes in First Count

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Tuesday’s unofficial winner, Anselmo Delia.

The Connecticut Secretary of State has informed all the towns that comprise the 33rd District Probate Court that they need to conduct a recount of Tuesday’s Republican Primary.

Tuesdya’s race between the party-endorsed candidate Attorney Anselmo Delia of Clinton and challenger Attorney Kevin Hecht of Old Saybrook ended with a 859-850 win for Delia after all the unofficial results had been declared in the nine towns.

Unofficial results given on the Connecticut Secretary of State’s webpage for Lyme show Hecht winning by a more than 2 to 1 margin.  The final count was 44 votes for Hecht and 20 for Delia.

Results from the remaining eight towns in the district were as follows:

Chester: Hecht 23 – Delia 12
Clinton: Delia 444 – Hecht 228
Deep River: Delia 24 – Hecht 14
Essex: Delia 79 – Hecht 59
Haddam: Delia 140 – Hecht 37
Killingworth: Hecht 78 – Delia 53
Old Saybrook: Hecht 277 – Delia 46
Westbrook: Hecht 90 – Delia 41.

Rep. Carney Applauds the Passage of a New Opioid Bill Signed on ‘International Overdose Awareness Day’

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State Rep. Devin Carney (R-23rd) stands at left as Governor Malloy signs the new opioid bill.

State Representative Devin Carney (R-23) attended a bill signing of Public Act 17-131, An Act Preventing Prescription Opioid Diversion and Abuse at the Hartford Public Library on Thursday, Aug. 31. Joining him were many legislative colleagues, local officials and advocates, who all stood in support of the legislation that seeks to curb the growing opioid crisis in Connecticut.

This ceremonial bill signing took place as the state took part in “International Overdose Awareness Day.”

From Jan. 1, 2015 through Aug. 2, 2016, Connecticut recorded 800 deaths due to overdose. The bill, which passed the House of Representatives unanimously expands upon legislation passed in 2016 and 2015, and includes some of the following aspects:

  • Instructs the Alcohol and Drug Policy Council to convene a working group to study substance abuse treatment referral programs that have been established by municipal police departments to refer persons with an opioid use disorder or who are seeking recovery from drug addiction to substance abuse treatment facilities;
  • Reduces the maximum opioid drug prescription for minors from 7 days to 5 days and maintains current law that allows a prescribing practitioner to exceed the limit for chronic pain, palliative care or acute pain if necessary as long as it is documented in the medical record
  • Requires individual and group health insurers to cover medically necessary detox treatment, as defined by American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) so that those looking for help cannot be turned away due to insurance issues;
  • Increases data sharing between state agencies regarding opioid abuse or opioid overdose deaths;
  • Increases security of controlled substances prescriptions by requiring scheduled drugs be electronically prescribed;
  • Allows patients to file a voluntary non-opioid form in their medical records indicating that they do not want to be prescribed or administered opioid drugs.

“Today, I was proud to stand with both Republicans and Democrats alongside Governor Malloy to enact bipartisan legislation that will help in the fight against opioid addiction. Opioid addiction is something that affects every community in our state, including every town within the 23rd District,” said State Rep. Devin Carney, continuing, “While drug addiction is not new, the addition of fentanyl into the equation is causing people from across the state to lose their lives at an alarming rate.”

Carney added, “Everyone, including me, knows someone who has been affected by drug addiction, whether it’s a parent, child, grandchild, or friend and I believe our society must continue working to battle this or we will continue to see lives taken far too soon.”

He noted, “I applaud the State of Connecticut for being a leader in this area and legislators from across the political spectrum for joining together to work towards solutions in an attempt to combat this growing epidemic. I also want to thank those within my community who have worked so hard to educate, communicate, and share their stories about drug addiction.”

Connecticut is expected to see more than 1,000 accidental drug-related deaths in 2017.