To the Editor:

Cathy Carter is running against Bonnie Reemsnyder for First Selectwoman in Old Lyme.  Letters in LymeLine have cited three reasons to support Cathy: her education, her experience, and, apparently, her opposition to state involvement in town projects.  I take issue with each of these points.

1.  Cathy took college courses in public management and public administration 25 to 30 years ago.  That’s a long time.  She has apparently never applied her courses in public office, and one cannot go from college degree to CEO with no intervening experience.

2.  Cathy cites no government experience on her LinkedIn page and I could find no relevant experience elsewhere.  She apparently has never held a significant public or private leadership position, nor served on any Old Lyme governmental board, commission or committee.

3.  Our Board of Selectmen has not asked the state or federal government to meddle in our affairs.  It has, however, solicited and been awarded over $3 million in state and federal grants to improve town assets and, therefore, our quality of life.  (These funds come from our tax dollars, which otherwise would be spent elsewhere.)  I do not understand why it would be preferable to forgo these improvements or to finance them  just with Old Lyme taxpayer dollars.

Bonnie Reemsnyder has twelve years of experience as Selectwoman, four of them as the town’s CEO.  Running our town is not easy.  Issues arise regularly and folks always have differing opinions.  Bonnie has done a fine job, and she is willing to continue to serve.  There is no reason to risk a change on November 3.  We must re-elect Bonnie.

Sincerely,

Bennett J. Bernblum,
Old Lyme

Editor’s Note: The author is a Democratic member of the Old Lyme Board of Finance.  He is also a member of the Democratic Town Committee.

To the Editor:

What is happening in Old Lyme? I just learned that our local police recently have filed 6 grievances against the Old Lyme First Selectwoman. It is my understanding also that each grievance will cost the town in legal expenses.

Is it also true that the town police have filed a total of 15 grievances against the First Selectwoman in the past 16 months?  Is it a management problem within the First Selectwoman’s office that is to blame?

Are town residents being put at risk because of sloppy management style? I hope not!

I think it is time for a change in leadership and that’s why I am supporting Cathy Carter for First Selectman on November 3rd.

Sincerely,

Cliff Johnson,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is a member of the Republican Town Committee.

To the Editor:

In the many years I have lived, worked, and served on a number of boards and
committees in Old Lyme, I am aware of one fact; there are many very smart people living in our town. That would include our friends at the beaches. Together, we can solve our problems and address our challenges without turning to the State and other municipalities; such as New London.

Outside government bureaucracies do not offer the best solutions for us and worse they view us as the “rich town” that can well afford to pay more for their imposed solutions.

Our current First Selectwomen is too quick to turn to leaders in other towns and State government in Hartford without first seeking advice from local residents to address town projects.

I believe Cathy Carter will better serve our town as we can solve our own problems and control our own future.

Sincerely,

David Griswold,
Old Lyme.

Editor’s Note: The author is a member of the Republican Town Committee.

To the Editor:

I met Cathy Carter shortly after our family moved to Old Lyme when our daughter joined the freshman lacrosse team Cathy coached. Cathy instilled value in our girls. I respected her leadership skills then and I still do today.

As our town’s leader, I believe she will bring the same ethics to Old Lyme Town Hall. Cathy has a BA in Public Management and an MPA in Public Administration with a concentration in Municipal Government. 

I feel that Town Hall is relying too much on state involvement when we should be solving local problems here in Old Lyme.  Town projects such as the boat house, Soundview improvements, and the sewer issues are proposed one way and then developed another way at a much higher taxpayer expense. How will we recover from the exorbitant expense s and how will the average household benefit from these improvements?

Cathy Carter will use her many years of government education and experience to provide us with strong leadership. I’m voting for Cathy Carter and her team on November 3rd. I encourage all Old Lyme voters to do the same.

Sincerely,

Nancy Meinke,
Old Lyme.