Shoreline Democratic Women Host Season Kick-Off Event at Saybrook Pavilion

State Representative Diana Urban will be the guest speaker at the SDLW kick-off event, Sept. 6.

State Representative Diana Urban will be the guest speaker at the SLDW
kick-off event, Sept. 6.

The Shoreline League of Democratic Women (SLDW) hosts its 2013-14 Season Kick-off event on Friday, Sept. 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Pavilion at Saybrook Point, 150 College Street in Old Saybrook. Special guest speaker will be CT State Representative Diana Urban, 43rd District.

All shoreline Democratic women are welcome to attend this free networking event.

To RSVP, call 860-669-7034 or 860-399-1147, or email:sldworg@gmail.com.

The SLDW draws membership from the towns of Clinton, Westbrook, Old Saybrook, Lyme, Old Lyme, Centerbrook, Essex, Ivoryton, Deep River, Chester, Killingworth, Madison, Guilford and Branford. Visit their website for more information: www.SLDW.org.

Diana Urban was first elected to the General Assembly in 2000, and is currently serving her fifth term. She is a member of the Legislature’s Environment Committee, and the Program Review and Investigations Committee.  She is Chair of the Select Committee on Children, as well as Co-Chair of the Results Based Accountability Sub Committee of the Appropriations Committee.  She previously served on the Energy and Technology Committee and the Planning and Development Committee.

Urban has significant concerns about both the economy and environment, and is committed to finding and maintaining a balance to encourage sustainable growth within Connecticut.  She wishes to protect the most vulnerable children and provide ample educational opportunities to all children in Connecticut, recognizing the role they will play in the future.

She has been the legislative champion for addressing the “circle of violence” that recognizes that animal abuse too often is a harbinger of domestic abuse and criminal activity.  Urban’s legislative agenda reflects these values and she works closely with constituents and advocacy groups to craft legislation to impact these issues.

For 26 years Urban was employed as an Economics and Political Science professor.  Most recently she taught Micro and Macro Economics, Environmental Studies and Regulation as an Adjunct professor at Three Rivers College and Environmental Conservation at the University of Connecticut Avery Point.  She is currently a Senior Consultant with the Results Leadership Group in Washington DC.

Throughout her tenure in the General Assembly, Urban has led the fight for Results Based Accountability (RBA) in Budgeting in the State of Connecticut  She has also been recognized by Governing Magazine as a National Leader in High Performance Government for her work on RBA and recently the NCSL awarded Connecticut the Con Hogan Award for RBA and Work on Innovation in Government.  She fervently believes that accountability and transparency are essential to good government.

The Shoreline League of Democratic Women is a social and political fellowship that unites Democratic women along the shoreline, and focuses on issues important to women of all ages. Women are encouraged to join the SLDW and participate in the organization’s valuable work in the community.

Participation may be 30 minutes a month, or 30 minutes a year. As a part of the SLDW educational charter, members will be notified of important pending state and national legislation.

For more information on the Shoreline League of Democratic Women, send email to sldworg@gmail.com or contact Kathleen Skoczen at 860-669-7034 or Belinda Jones at 860-399-1147.

For more information about our events and organization, visit our web site at http://www.SLDW.org.

Gomes Petitions to Run for Two-Year Term on Board of Education, Not Endorsed by Either Party

Russ Gomes

Russ Gomes

Russ Gomes, who has served four consecutive terms on the Region 18 Board of Education and is currently both its Secretary and chairman of the Building Committee, filed today as a petitioning candidate for the two-year term on the board in the upcoming November election.

He was endorsed by the Old Lyme (OL) Republicans for all four of his previous terms, but neither the OL Republican nor Democratic Town Committees endorsed him for this election.
In a letter to Gomes dated July 23, David Kelsey, OL Republican Town Committee (RTC) Chairman wrote, “I first want to thank you very sincerely for the dedication, time and commitment you have generously given to the town in the past, most significantly the years you have spent on the Board of Education.  Your service to the community has been considerable, and I express on behalf of the Old Lyme RTC our strong appreciation for your efforts.”

Kelsey continued, “At its July 23rd special meeting … , the RTC chose to endorse five candidates, and unfortunately there was not a nomination for your endorsement this year,” concluding, “I emphasize again our gratitude for your past contributions…”

Gomes was chairman of the Lyme-Old Lyme High School Renovation Ad Hoc Building Committee for a year — this committee was formed after the failure of the first referendum on Lyme-Old Lyme High School by a roughly two to one margin.  He then went on to chair the District 18 Building Committee for the next five years.

Gomes told LymeLine, “I was obviously disappointed not to be endorsed by the Republicans.  Many people have told me that my contributions to the board of education have been valuable and urged me to run again.”

He added, ” The building project is almost complete and I am confident we will bring it in on time and under budget.  But there is still more work to do, with the heating and ventilation systems in particular, to see them through a complete cycle of the seasons.  So I really want to see the project through to its completion on behalf of the community.”

The RTC endorsed board of education incumbents Steven Cinami and Steve Spooner and newcomers Max Greenwood, who is an unaffiliated candidate, and Kirk Hoerauf, while the DTC endorsed Diane Linderman, who ran unsuccessfully against Steve Spooner in the recent Special Election, and newcomers Sarah Smalley, Jean Wilczynski and Nancy Lucas Edson

Democrat Rick Goulding was cross-endorsed by both parties.

Democrats Endorse Incumbents Reemsnyder, Nosal for Board of Selectmen

Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder.

Old Lyme First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder.

The Old Lyme Democratic Town Committee (DTC) met Monday night at Memorial Town Hall and unanimously endorsed incumbent First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder and Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal  to run for a second term in the November 2013 election.

The following additional candidates were also endorsed to run for municipal office in the November elections:

Zoning Commission:
J. Gilbert Soucie

Zoning Board of Appeals:
Mary Stone

Planning Commission:
Edgar Butcher

Board of Assessment Appeals:
George Finley

Board of Finance – Alternate:
Bennett Bernblum

Board of Education:
Diane Linderman, Sarah Smalley, Jean Wilczynski, Rick Goulding and Nancy Lucas Edson

No Contest for Old Lyme Board of Selectmen in November After Republicans Announce Endorsements for November Election

The Old Lyme Republican Town Committee (RTC) finalized its endorsements for municipal office for the November 2013 elections at a special meeting of the RTC held Tuesday, July 23.

Arthur “Skip” Sibley was re-nominated to run as Selectman but no one was endorsed to run with him as First Selectman.  At this point, this leaves an uncontested slate for the board of selectmen comprising the three incumbents of Bonnie Reemsnyder, Mary Jo Nosal and Sibley, since Reemsnyder and Nosal were endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee on Monday evening.

Chairman of the RTC, David Kelsey, noted, “We are very pleased with the high quality of candidates for the upcoming election, and we as Republicans are very encouraged by the many candidates from all parties that sought the Republican endorsement for the 2013 campaign.  Though we are not always able to offer our endorsement to all candidates seeking one, we sincerely appreciate and honor the willingness of people to serve the Town.”

The Old Lyme RTC 2013 endorsements include:

Zoning Commission

John Johnson
Tom Risom (for term expiring Nov 14)

Board of Assessment Appeals

Timothy Griswold

Zoning Board of Appeals

Regular Seats

Cathy Carter
Arthur Sibley (for term expiring Nov 14)
Martha Rumskas (for expiring term of Joseph St. Germain expiring Nov 15)

Alternate Seats

Harry Plaut
Laurie O’Brien

Town Clerk

Eileen Coffee (for term expiring Jan 14)

Planning Commission

Donald Willis
Steven Ross (for term expiring Nov 14)

Board of Finance

Regular Seats

Christopher Kerr
Janet Sturges

Alternate Seats

J. David Kelsey
Robert Jose

Board of Selectmen

Arthur E. Sibley, Jr.

Board of Education

Steven Cinami
Max Greenwood
Rick Goulding
Kirk Hoerauf
Stephen Spooner