Category Archives: Letters

Letter to the Editor: Local Students Support Carney for Re-election, “Best Candidate for Our Future”

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To the Editor:

As graduates of public schools in the 23rd, we always felt we received a quality education that prepared us for the next steps in our lives. We all decided to continue our education and look forward to entering the job market and the ‘real world’ soon.

For many college students, the world seems like a scary place right now. Inflation, international wars, intense political division, online bullying, and cancel culture are things we must deal with or have dealt with already in our lives. For our future, we believe that Devin Carney is best prepared to handle our ever-changing world and the best to support students and young people.

Devin is the only candidate in the race who attended local public schools, so he understands – first-hand – the importance they have over young minds. He believes in ensuring parents, students, and local teachers have input in curriculum – not the state. Like us, he went to college after and was the first person in his immediate family to graduate from college. He gets the impact student loans and a tenuous economy and job market have – and he will do whatever he can to make improvements. He has already worked to defeat tax increases and opposed tuition hikes.

He has also made young generations a hallmark of his tenure. He started the Connecticut Future Caucus for legislators under 45 and has always extended a hand across the aisle to come up with the best policies. In addition, Devin wants us to succeed – he doesn’t want us to lose our dreams or lose a job opportunity because of our political views or political affiliation. We have seen too much of that in this country and it must end. Devin proposed legislation to protect free speech on college campuses regardless of political party.

To us, there is no question Devin is the best candidate for our future and we hope you will join us in supporting him November 8th!

Sincerely,

Jack Dunn,
Old Saybrook/Georgetown

Matt Julius,
Old Saybrook/Eastern Connecticut State University

Henry Lahm,
Lyme/University of Rhode Island

Daniel Ruppenicker,
Westbrook/Virginia Tech

Letter to the Editor: State Rep. Carney Deserves Re-election; Proven Fiscal Conservative, Understands 23rd District Communities, Supports Schools & Scouts

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To the Editor:

As a physician, mother, Region 18 Board of Education member, and Lyme resident for more than 20 years, I am proud to give my support to State Rep Devin Carney. Over the past four terms Devin has served his constituents well and I am fully confident that he will continue to be a strong voice for us in Hartford. With energy rates due to skyrocket, an unstable stock market, and historic inflation causing significant financial hardship among residents, it is vital we have a representative who understands these issues and how they impact our communities.

In Devin’s time in the legislature he has served in leadership roles and on the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding committee; he is also a financial professional. We need someone who gets the economy and is a proven fiscal conservative – that is Devin Carney!

Devin is committed to and understands our communities. The 23rd District is made up of four distinct towns with different local concerns, all of which Devin knows about and can speak to in detail. He also is a strong supporter of our local schools, teaching professionals, and students. Devin has always been supportive of Boy Scout Troop 26 in Lyme/Old Lyme and has been there to honor our Eagle Scouts, including my sons.

He puts his all into his role as our representative and we deserve to have someone like him in these tenuous times. I hope you will support Devin on November 8th – he has my family’s support.

Sincerely,

Mary Powell-St. Louis,
Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Local Town Leaders Endorse Carney for State Rep., Citing His Institutional Knowledge, Trustworthiness & Consistent Support for 23rd District

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To the Editor

As small-town leaders, we depend on our legislature to help us do our jobs. State laws frequently impact our town governments and how we are able to conduct business within our borders. Our towns deserve a champion and, for the past 8 years, that champion has been Devin Carney.

Devin Carney has consistently fought for small towns his entire legislative tenure. When he is in Hartford he looks at every piece of legislation and figures out how it could impact the taxpayers and small businesses he represents in the district. He frequently meets with us and we know we can count on him when there is an issue of concern of which we need assistance. For example, he has been an outspoken advocate for finding solutions to our waste issues and stopping mandates that would increase burdens on our communities.

Most importantly, we know we can trust Devin. He listens to us, he listens to our local boards and commissions, and he listens to the residents of our towns to try to come up with the best policy. He is keenly aware of the issues facing each of our towns from taxes, to education, to zoning, to wastewater, and so many others. His institutional knowledge is incomparable.

All four of us proudly endorse Devin Carney for re-election as our State Representative. We hope you will join us on November 8th in voting for him.

Sincerely,

David Lahm,
First Selectman, Lyme.

Tim Griswold,
First Selectman, Old Lyme.

Carl Fortuna,
First Selectman, Old Saybrook.

John Hall,
First Selectman, Westbrook.

Letter to the Editor: Five Working Mothers Endorse State Rep. Carney for Re-election

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To the Editor:

As working mothers, we believe there is no question that our State Representative, Devin Carney, deserves re-election. He fights for the things we care about – including our economy, public safety, our local public education, and support for small businesses. These issues are vital to the future success of Connecticut and Lyme & Old Lyme. Without a thriving economy, our kids can’t stay here and retirees in our family will be forced to move to states like Florida simply to survive. We deserve legislators who will fight for our families and for our financial futures.

When we go grocery shopping or look at our Eversource bills, we don’t expect to be squeezed like we have seen lately. When these prices skyrocket our household budgets become much more difficult to manage and the value of the dollars we earn goes down. Devin Carney has always looked out for us taxpayers by stopping new taxes on groceries, opposing policies that will raise our energy delivery costs even more, and combating wasteful spending that drives up taxes. He also has always tried to reduce costs on our kids by fighting state tuition hikes and providing more opportunities for young people across various job sectors.

As women, specifically, we have been impressed with how Devin has supported important issues for women in the workplace like pay equity, protections for moms coming back into the workforce after giving birth, and better health insurance coverage for issues like breast and ovarian cancer. Devin has always – always – looked out for us and we are confident that will continue.

As women, as mothers, as voters – we encourage you to vote for Devin Carney. He is the only choice for anyone who cares about our economy, the cost of living, and the values we know and love in Old Lyme.

Ellen Cole
Maria Corrao Marchant
Lisa Knepshield
Jill Pilgrim
Cyndi Miller-Aird

All five signatories are residents of Old Lyme.

Letter to the Editor: Vote No on $57.6M School Building Referendum, Our Children Deserve Better

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To the Editor:

Our children deserve better, and quite frankly, so do we. The Region 18 Board of Education (BOE) has voted to put forth a $57.55 million referendum, of which over $52 million will be used to address heating and cooling issues in four  schools. The BOE “information” mailer neglected to mention the price tag and misleads residents into thinking most of the money is going for renovations; whereas less than 10% is being dedicated to remodeling. Our children deserve better than to live through a three-year disruption due to Covid-19 and another major disruption caused by construction activities that has an estimated completion date in December of 2025 – especially when other solutions could be employed. Taxpayers deserve better because the proposed solution is the most expensive method to address the needs of our children.

Setting aside that the $57.55 million proposal does nothing to enhance learning and is the most expensive project ever proposed for either Town, the needless disruption that will be prevalent throughout the schools could be avoided if other, more appropriate methods were employed.  Specifically, split unit air conditioners, which are designed to be installed in buildings with no existing HVAC systems (like our schools), require just two holes in a wall for each room.  Since the condenser is outside, no noise is created by the system inside.  In addition, HEPA filters can be incorporated, thereby ensuring quality air in the classrooms.

The BOE was never presented with different options. Instead, the engineering firm, which has a vested interest in managing the project as a percentage of the total cost, provided different estimates that varied by several million dollars of the same option. When residents started questioning the cost, the administration sought verification for costs from yet another firm, but never requested different options that could be less disruptive and less costly. Oddly, even the engineer’s reports never envisioned adding HVAC as a separate project but stated that the BOE should consider upgrading to an HVAC system during the next major renovation.

We’ve been down this road before concerning the high school renovation. The BOE insisted that the proposed demolition and rebuilding of the high school was the best and most cost-effective option. When defeated at referendum, the BOE sought citizen input and ended up not demolishing the high school and saving over $13 million.  As taxpayers, we should insist on the same process to ensure our tax dollars are not being wasted by an over-zealous administration.  I urge you to vote No for the BOE referendum on November 8 and save our children the disruption this massive construction project would entail while holding the BOE fiscally responsible for our tax dollars.

Sincerely,

Steven Cinami,
Old Lyme.