Category Archives: Letters

Still Deciding? Here Are All Our Lyme/Old Lyme-Related Election Articles, Candidate Q & A’s, and Letters to Help

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Incumbent First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker (left to right) is running against Republican John Mesham in Old Lyme, while Republican Tom St. Louis challenges unaffiliated, Democrat-backed candidate Christy Zelek in Lyme.

LYME/OLD LYME–Still making up your mind how to cat your vote? We’ve compiled all our election coverage in one place to help you make an informed decision.

If you haven’t already voted, don’t forget to cast that ballot before the clock runs out. Get the details here. 

Read on to explore the candidates and issues through our original reporting, the candidates’ own voices, and perspectives from neighbors across Lyme and Old Lyme.

Election Reporting

Rare First Selectman Contest in Lyme Pits Corporate Experience Against Volunteer Approach

Focus on Kids and Community—Not Politics—Dominates Region 18 Candidates’ Friendly Forum

Shoemaker, Mesham Back for Another First Selectman Run in Old Lyme

Failed Halls Road Overlay Makes Way for Election Day in Old Lyme

With Democrats Absent, Republican Couple Takes Center Stage at Lyme Candidate Forum

‘It Matters That You Vote’: Lyme Residents Turn Out Early for Familiar Election Day Ritual

Old Lyme Democrats Announce First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker’s Bid for Reelection

Old Lyme Republicans Announce Nomination of John Mesham in Rematch for First Selectman

Lyme Republicans Endorse Tom St. Louis for First Selectman

Lyme Democrats Support Unaffiliated Petitioning Candidate Christy Zelek for First Selectman

Candidate Q&A Series 

Old Lyme Board of Selectmen Candidates Respond to Our Questions

Lyme Board of Selectpeople Candidates Respond to Our Questions

Region 18 Board of Education Candidates Respond to Our Questions

Old Lyme Zoning Commission Candidates Respond to Our Questions

Letters to the Editor

William J. Belluzzi: Fogliano Will Use Analytic, Research Skills Gained as Career Scientist to Benefit Old Lyme Zoning Commission

Tom Beyer: LymeLine Editor Criticized for Publishing Gencarella Letter Accusing Zelek of Plagiarism

Alice Burbank: Response by Then-Selectwoman Shoemaker Leads to Support for her Current First Selectman Challenger

Bud Canaday: Don’t Reelect HROD Advocates Shoemaker, Lampos; Vote Row B

Joe Carpentino: Fogliano is ‘Fair-minded, Collaborative and Knowledgeable’ Zoning Candidate

Danielle Chesebrough: Looking for Steady Leadership for Old Lyme’s Future? Behringer Deserves Your Vote

Kevin Clougherty: Reader Questions Kelsey’s Position on Halls Road ‘Political Football’

Sarah Crisp: Checks and Balances are Important for Lyme

Mary Daley: Martha and Jim Roll Up Their Sleeves for the People

Suzanne Derry: Old Lyme is a Functioning Democracy, No Need for ‘Venom’ Being Injected Into Local Campaign Rhetoric

George Finley: Why Won’t Old Lyme Republicans Participate in a Debate?

Michael Fogliano: Fogliano, Candidate for Old Lyme Zoning Commission, Explains His Reasons for Running

Allan Dodds Frank: Lyme Deserves Better

Stephen Olbrys Gencarella: Plagiarism is No Way to Start a Campaign

Christina J and Thomas D Gotowka: Shoemaker/Lampos Supporters Say ‘If it Isn’t Broken, Don’t Fix It’

Rebecca Griffin: With Trump in Charge Nationally, Only Defense is to Limit Republican Role Locally, so Vote Democrat

Timothy Griswold: Former First Selectman Griswold Endorses Mesham, Read for Old Lyme Board of Selectmen

Betsy Groth: Danenhower Disrespected Due Process on Zoning Commission, Elect Alternate Fogliano to Full Term

Lucinda Hautaniemi: Behringer, Linderman, Walsh Support Fiscal Responsibility

Anna B. James and Gavin Lodge: Lyme School Board Rep’s Endorse Zelek as ‘Uniter’

John Kiker: Lyme Democrats Choose Conversation Over Confrontation

Jim Lampos: An Open Letter to the Citizens of Old Lyme from Selectman Lampos

Howard Margules: The Missing Word on Old Lyme Campaign Signs, and a Simple Question

Fred McCullough: Writer ‘Disheartened’ by Old Lyme Republican Postcard; Requests Civility, Absence of Divisiveness 

Carolyn Miranda: Shoemaker Keeps Her Promises

Mary Jo Nosal: Shoemaker, Lampos Have Achieved Much in Short Time, Deserve Re-election

Tom Ortoleva: Elect Fogliano to Old Lyme Zoning Commission to Benefit From His ‘Deep Knowledge … Open Mind’

Phyllis Ross: Contrary to RTC Mailer Statement, Lyme Affordable Housing Commission (AHC) Member Says AHC Does Not Believe in High-density Housing

Michael Reiter: Reiter Reminds Readers to Exercise Caution When Deciding Who to Vote for in November

David Rubino: Democracy is on the Ballot … Even Here in Old Lyme

Sandra Y. Rueb: Vote Kimberly Thompson for Responsible Fiscal Leadership in Old Lyme

Andy Russell: Veteran Old Lyme Board of Finance (BOF) Member Endorses ‘Capable … Deeply Committed’ Republican Slate of BOF Candidates

Martha Shoemaker: An Open Letter to the Residents of Old Lyme from First Selectwoman Shoemaker

Ed Shyloski: Old Lyme Republican Pledges Support for Democratic BOE Candidate Shyloski

Joseph G. Soucie: When Voting Nov. 4, Remember Old Lyme Board of Finance D’s, R’s Disagree Deeply on Town Surplus 

Steve Spooner: Endorsing J. David Kelsey—a ‘Generous Supporter of All Things Old Lyme’—for Board of Finance

Thomas St. Louis: Residents Deserve to Hear From Candidates in Open Forum

Leanne Viola: Attendance Records for Old Lyme Board of Finance Candidates Thompson, Kelsey Differ Sharply

Jonathan B. Wilder: If Political Campaign Banners are OK in Old Lyme, National Flags Should be OK Too

Op-Eds

Rick Drake: Tuesday, November 4th & the HROD

George Frampton Jr: The Not-Secret and Completely Transparent Facts About Tantummaheag Landing

Stephen Olbrys Gencarella: Why Plagiarism Matters in Our Local Election

Letter to the Editor: Attendance Records for Old Lyme Board of Finance Candidates Thompson, Kelsey Differ Sharply

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To the Editor:

We live in a representative democracy and this November you are being charged with electing fellow Old Lyme residents to be your representatives on local boards and commissions. One of the most basic things you should expect from your representatives is that they show up, at least most of the time, so that they can understand the issues and represent your interests. We do have alternates for many of our boards who step in when a regular member is ill or has some other unavoidable conflict. However, there are issues that carry over multiple meetings and repeated absences can lead to representatives making decisions without having all important information.

This is extremely relevant in this year’s Board of Finance race. Kimberly Thompson, the Democratic candidate, has served on this board since November 2021. Since being sworn in to her seat, Kim has only missed one meeting. Since January 2024, one of her opponents, J. David Kelsey, has missed 12 meetings, constituting about 35% of the total.  Five of these missed meetings have been in 2025 and, as of this writing, David has not been seen at the Board of Finance since June. To earn your vote, members should show up for Old Lyme. Please join me in voting for Kimberly Thompson on November 4 for a full Board of Finance seat.

Sincerely,

Leanne Viola,
Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Former First Selectman Griswold Endorses Mesham, Read for Old Lyme Board of Selectmen

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To the Editor:

Having served as your First Selectman for 18 years, as member of the Board of Finance for 15 years and currently as a member of the Board of Assessment Appeals for 12 years, I am proud to whole heartedly endorse John Mesham to be our next First Selectman and Jude Read to continue as our Selectwoman. Both John and Jude are extremely well qualified to lead our Town.

John has been deeply involved in our community for decades as a State Police Officer, a Boy Scout Leader, a member of the Inland Wetlands Commission and a Deputy Registrar of Voters.  He and his wife Nancy have resided in Old Lyme for 31 years and their three children have graduated from our outstanding Lyme/Old Lyme schools. John is a proven leader and manager and he is a person of impeccable integrity. John has been a key leader in supporting the Town’s right to access our Tantummaheag Landing, a leader in the fight to stop the HROD debacle, and played a vital role in bringing Town commissions together to oversee the Horseneck Creek Open Space parcel. John has significant supervisory and management experience of multiple state police barracks and personnel. His responsibilities included day-to-day management and oversight of over 100 people. This included scheduling, performance reviews, facilities management, vehicle assignments and upkeep, and a multitude of reporting requirements.  John was also a local police union president with collective bargaining and negotiating experience. John knows how to manage people and is dedicated to supporting the needs and wishes of the majority of Old Lyme’s citizens.  These skills and attributes make John the ideal First Selectman choice for Old Lyme in November.

Jude has resided in Old Lyme for 43 years, along with her husband, Sloan Danenhower, and both of their children graduated from our Lyme/Old Lyme schools.  Jude has owned several small business and she is currently a business management consultant.  She is deeply involved in Old Lyme, both politically and with local non-profits.  She currently serves as one of the three members of the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen.  She also served on the Board of Finance and the Lyme/Old Lyme Board of Education. She is a member and past Treasurer of the MacCurdy Salisbury Educational Foundation and has been a Board member of the Old Lyme Historical Society.  She has been affiliated with the Girl Scouts and the Lymes’ Senior Center Meals on Wheels program.

John and Jude are willing and able to serve as our First Selectman and Selectwoman and they have excellent credentials to do so.

Please join me in voting for John Mesham as our First Selectman and Jude Read as our Selectwoman in the upcoming municipal election and please encourage your family and friends to do the same.

Sincerely,

Timothy Griswold,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is a candidate for the Old Lyme Board of Assessment Appeals in the upcoming election.

Letter to the Editor: Fogliano is ‘Fair-minded, Collaborative and Knowledgeable’ Zoning Candidate

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To the Editor: 

Our small town of Old Lyme will be tackling several serious issues in the next few years, which will shape our future in ways important to all of us. It is because of this that I am putting my full support behind Michael Fogliano for election to the Zoning Commission. He is uniquely qualified to tackle these issues, evidenced by his experience in housing and zoning, planning, and technology. 

Michael is a seasoned leader shown to be reliable, logical and reasonable. He will use those tools to ensure our town is put in the best position to make the most informed decisions. He is fair-minded, collaborative and knowledgeable in local, state and federal regulations affecting zoning as well as the proposed changes to those regulations. Michael is the kind of person I want on our Zoning Commission, and the kind of person Old Lyme needs. He will put our town first and will reflect the values and traditions we have all come to appreciate. 

In all, Michael’s experience, his nature and personality have prepared him to engage in the challenges of shifting economics, demographics and public policy that we will inevitably confront. He is a team player with know-how, and the common sense to preserve the best of Old Lyme while advocating for the careful changes that will help us meet the future together.

Please join me in voting for Mike Fogliano for the Zoning Commission. 

Sincerely,

Joe Carpentino ,
Old Lyme.

Deadline for Receipt of Election-Related ‘Letters to the Editor’ Has Passed

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LYME/OLD LYME–The deadline to receive election-related letters to be considered for publication is noon on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Letters received before that deadline, which are selected for publication, will be published on or before midnight on Saturday, Nov. 1, assuming we can obtain timely confirmation of the letters authenticity.

Letters received after noon on Wednesday, Oct. 29, will not be considered for publication, unless they are in direct response to a letter published on or before noon on Oct. 29. The letter to which the response is being made must be cited. Response letters selected for publication will be published by midnight on Saturday, Nov. 1, again assuming we can obtain timely confirmation of the letters authenticity.

No new letters will be published on Sunday, Nov. 2, or Monday, Nov. 3.

Here is a reminder of our Policy on Letters to the Editor.

Editor’s Note: The deadlines have been changed to allow us to publish a full summary of all election-related articles, letters and op-eds next Sunday.