As Lyme’s representatives on the Board of Education, we are proud to endorse Christy Zelek for selectperson.
In our work representing the citizens of Lyme and supporting the students, teachers, and staff of Region 18, we know firsthand the value of thoughtful, steady leadership. Christy embodies those qualities. Though endorsed by the Lyme DTC (and we are both Democrats), Christy is a lifelong independent who consistently puts community above politics. She brings a practical, cooperative spirit that Lyme needs in its local government.
Christy’s long record of volunteerism in our schools and with local Scouts reflects her deep commitment to Lyme’s families. She understands that strong schools are the heart of a strong town, and she will continue to champion the values that make Lyme such a special place to live and learn.
Above all, Christy is a uniter. She listens carefully, builds consensus, and approaches challenges with integrity, accountability, and kindness. These are the traits that make effective public servants—and great role models for our youth.
We look forward to working with Christy to strengthen our schools, our community, and our shared future.
Christy Zelek, an unaffiliated candidate running with support of the Lyme Democrats, is facing off against Republican Tom St. Louis in the race for Lyme first selectman.
LYME–In a rare contested race for the town’s top office, a retired pharmaceutical manager intent on keeping zoning decisions local faces a political newcomer emphasizing collaboration and consensus.
Going back 25 years, only the 2001 and 2017 elections included a challenge for first selectman. This year’s opening emerged after an announcement from current Republican First Selectman David Lahm that he would not be running for another term.
Republican-endorsed First Selectman candidate Tom St. Louis, who appears on the ballot with wife and (also Republican-endorsed) selectman candidate Mary Powell-St. Louis, brings experience from a career at Pfizer and four years as an appointed alternate member of the Lyme Planning and Zoning Commission.
He said managing budgets and staff while building a professional network has prepared him to focus on his main priority: ensuring development decisions stay in local hands as the state calls for more affordable housing.
“If we don’t have control over how we use land in town, the very fabric of Lyme is at risk,” he said.
Democrat-supported unaffiliated candidate Christy Zelek said she is running out of a sense of civic duty on a record of volunteerism, including service on the Lyme Ambulance Association Board of Directors, multiple parent-teacher organizations and the local Boy Scouts.
Zelek works as an administrative assistant at Westbrook Middle School.
She described herself as “people oriented,” an attribute she said sets her apart from the corporate experience St. Louis has made a pillar of his campaign platform.
“I just listen to what everyone has to say, and I don’t go in with my set of ideas and push them through,” she said.
Zelek appears on the ballot as a petitioning candidate and is running with the support of the Lyme Democratic Town Committee (DTC). The Democrats have also gotten behind incumbent selectmen John Kiker and Kristina White.
Due to state minority representation law prohibiting more than two members of any political party from serving on the three-member Board of Selectman, Kiker is once again running as the DTC-endorsed candidate while White petitions for a seat.
The candidate, who finishes second in the first selectman race, is automatically considered for one of the two remaining selectmen seats. Those two seats are filled by the next highest vote-getters overall, in accordance with Connecticut’s minority representation rules.
The potential makeup of the Board of Selectpeople includes notable combinations this election season. It could end up in the hands of a trio of Democrat-supported candidates; It could also result in a husband-and-wife Republican majority.
Both candidates are seeking elected office for the first time. St. Louis ran for a Board of Finance alternate position in 2021 but lost to Democrat Jim Miller.
Prepared to ‘Go it Alone’
St. Louis in an interview at the Lyme Public Library earlier this month said he is a 27-year resident active in coaching, Scouting, and local organizations. He worked as an engineer and in management at Pfizer for 37 years before retiring in 2023.
He and Powell-St. Louis have three sons between the ages of 23 and 17.
He cited budget oversight, personnel management, and strategic planning as key skills he would bring to the position of local CEO.
“The town budget is about $12 million, roughly,” he said. “That’s fairly consistent with the size of the teams that I was managing for the last 12 years of my career at Pfizer.”
Experience on the Planning and Zoning Commission gave him familiarity with town operations and how land is used in town. It’s also where he learned earlier this year about the local implications of a comprehensive affordable housing bill that made it through the state House and Senate before it was vetoed by Gov. Ned Lamont.
Among the provisions in the failed bill was the “fair share” framework, which would have required municipalities to plan for a prescribed number of affordable housing units within their borders. Data from the state Office of Policy and Management shows projections call for somewhere between 122 and 346 affordable housing units in Lyme, depending on the variables.
The CT Mirror reported the subject is likely to show up in a special session of the state General Assembly slated for Nov. 12 and 13.
He said the bill takes control of zoning decisions away from the town.
He suggested one way to address the problem is to form alliances with other small towns similar to Lyme – like Redding in the southwest corner or several towns in the northeast – that share more in common with Lyme than its immediate neighbors.
Another way to defy the state mandate is to accept the consequences, according to St. Louis. That means forfeiting eligibility for many types of state funding if the town refuses to make progress on affordable housing.
The “fair share” provision of the housing bill rewards participating towns by giving them priority access to state grants, including those offered through the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP), the Clean Water Act, and the Main Street Investment Fund.
He acknowledged that several major projects on Lyme’s horizon, such as bridge replacements and fire station upgrades, could qualify for those grants.
““You’ve got this situation where Lyme may be reluctant to go after this (fair share) target because it represents such a dramatic change in our land use decisions, but then we would also have to be prepared to essentially go it alone on a revenue piece,” he said.
He emphasized that kind of decision shouldn’t be made unilaterally.
“That’s a pretty important decision that you’re going to need town engagement on,” he said.
He called for revenue diversification to make up for any loss of state funding. That could mean looking at ways to utilize the town’s existing commercial zones more fully without expanding them, and exploring land leases for technologies like solar energy.
“You’re not going to take an open field along a major stretch of road and turn it into a solar farm. There will be zero appetite for that,” he said. “Now, whether or not there are, on our town conservation lands, some areas that, to a great extent, are shielded and would present us the opportunity to do some lease, I think that we would have to engage in a conversation about that.”
He would also explore ways to seek reimbursement from the state to help offset the loss of taxable income on town land conserved as open space.
Husband and Wife
St. Louis acknowledged Democrats have been critical of the Republicans for running a married couple at the top of the ballot. But he said he and his wife have different backgrounds and make their own decisions.
“We’ve been married for 31 years and raised three boys together. But, in that, we have lived very different experiences, actually,” he said.
He pointed to a disagreement at a recent Republican forum on how to deal with the infestation of the invasive plant known as hydrilla that is overtaking the Connecticut River.
The forum was organized by the Republicans after Zelek and the Democrats declined to participate in a debate sponsored by LymeLine and the Greater Old Saybrook of Commerce. When the Democrats declined the Republicans’ forum as well, it was up to St. Louis and Powell-St. Louis to spar among themselves.
“You know, I think it was pretty apparent at the open forum that there are issues that we don’t see eye to eye on, but we can do that and engage in civil conversation, and maybe not influence each other towards the same outcome, but we can have that respectful conversation,” he said.
A Collaborative Approach
Zelek, a 17-year resident of Lyme, has volunteered in leadership positions with the Lyme Ambulance Association — where she was vice president and helped recruit members and secure a new ambulance — as well as the Boy Scouts, multiple parent-teacher organizations, and a high school ‘Safe Grad’ committee.
She spoke to LymeLine earlier this month from an Adirondack chair in her front yard overlooking Tiffany Farm. Multiple drivers over the course of the interview waved or honked their horns as they drove by.
“Anything that I join, I tend to be in a leadership role, from small things to big things,” she said.
Zelek was raised in a military family that settled in Massachusetts when she was 10 years old. She attended Alfred University in New York, where she graduated with a double major in English and communications. She has held jobs in insurance, event planning and real estate, and is employed currently as an independent consultant with the health and wellness company Arbonne in addition to working at Westbrook Schools.
She is divorced with three sons aged 19, 16 and 15.
Knocking on doors at homes across town, she said she’s heard residents’ concerns about traffic, bicyclist safety, and keeping taxes low.
She said attending town board and commission meetings, including the boards of selectpeople, education, finance, and planning and zoning, has shown her those groups play a crucial role in shaping Lyme’s future.
“We have an incredible community of people that have backgrounds that are amazing,” she said. “And it’s such a gift that they’re willing to keep sharing their knowledge and their time.”
Zelek said a growing sense of collaboration has been evident in Lyme lately. She cited examples ranging from the fire department and ambulance company beginning to work more closely, to library leadership engaging the wider community in talking about the impact of loneliness and possible solutions.
“I feel like that’s what we all have to be doing, is working together,” she said.
If elected, Zelek’s top priorities would be enhancing public safety, including safer conditions for bicyclists, and improving communication with residents. She supports a balanced budget and careful spending.
She described herself, like the Scouts she leads, as thrifty.
“I do clip coupons and return my cans,” she said.
Zelek cited her open mind and collaborative approach as the biggest strengths.
“I don’t have an agenda; I really just want to get out and help people come together to get to the solutions that are best for the town,” she said. “I’m not going in thinking I have any one way to do anything. Everybody has a different issue and a different way to come to a solution for issues, but somehow we can come together and maybe not come up with a perfect answer, but a pretty good answer for the majority of the people.”
The Trump Effect
St. Louis recalled meeting people on the campaign trail with people who had little patience for Republicans.
Some of them would shut the door in his face, according to St. Louis. Others would refuse to engage with him unless he denounced President Donald Trump. That’s when he’d tell them he prefers to focus on local issues rather than national politics.
He reiterated his top issue is zoning control, which he described as unrelated to national politics.
“I see it in their eyes that they’re worried about how the national politics might play at the local level,” he said. “ But that’s not why I’ve lived here for 27 years and raised a family here. I love the community and I love the rural aspects and the small town feel of it all. And I just don’t see national concerns playing out in our day-to-day lives here. But I respect that some people do.”
He acknowledged some national issues do hit close to home. He said he disagrees with Trump’s decision to halt the offshore wind projects because of the effect on State Pier in New London, but supports Trump’s recent agreement with Pfizer to expand U.S. investment.
“There are things he says that I’d prefer he not say, but when I look at the actions, I’m trying to look at the local impact here,” he said.
Zelek is among those who have seen national political divisions become more pronounced locally in recent years. But on a personal level, she said she maintains friendships across the political spectrum and values differing views.
The lifelong unaffiliated voter said she votes for the person, not the party.
Asked for her thoughts on Trump, she said she does not believe he is a positive role model for young people.
“He’s not what we’ve taught our children to be,” she said. “And that’s a really simple line for me.”
She counted taking care of others and being kind as ideals she’d like to see instilled in her children.
“If it looks like someone needs help, just reach out,” she said. “Just saying hello, I think, is a huge thing. A simple hello can lead into more of it. And treat people how you want to be treated. I also say repeatedly, ‘the only person you have control over is yourself.’”
In recently mailed campaign literature to Lyme voters promoting their candidates for First Selectman and Selectman, the Republican Town Committee made inaccurate and dishonest comments about Lyme Democrats and the Affordable Housing Commission (AHC).
Republicans are falsely claiming that the “Democratic chaired and controlled” AHC has “called for the creation of a ‘Cluster Overlay Zone’ to accommodate high-density housing in Lyme.”
The AHC does not believe in high-density housing in Lyme. The Commission’s vision is to preserve Lyme’s rural character and maintain autonomy in land use decisions. Few specific decisions have been made yet because AHC has been waiting for Lyme to approve its 2025 Plan of Conservation and Development (PoCD). To date, only a draft is available, but a public hearing will be held on November 12 with a final vote on November 17. (The report-writing subcommittee of the Planning and Zoning Commission is composed of two Republicans and two Democrats.)
Various methods of creating affordable housing have been discussed by AHC. Nothing, with the exception of using accessory apartments built on existing lots (ADUs), already permitted in the zoning code, has been recommended. While AHC supports this concept, to be town-approved affordable housing units, they will have long-term deed restrictions, which owners have refused to accept.
Using an Overlay Zone will not create high-density housing in Lyme. An Overlay is a clearly defined zoning modification that can be used in a selected area for a desired purpose, such as affordable housing. It is applied over an existing zoning district. It is site specific and does not apply to the entire town. Republicans ought to understand what an overlay zone does and how it can benefit our town before they erroneously make accusations.
Why does Lyme have to consider using an overlay? After considering all the costs of a modest house, including: acquiring land, necessary infrastructure, construction, some landscaping, roadway access and dealing with common obstacles such as rock ledge and wetlands, the AHC concluded it is not possible to create affordable housing in Lyme without building more units on selected parcels of land than the current zoning allows. (This would only be done in a limited number of selected areas.)
Lyme’s PoCD respondents want affordable housing for Fire Department and Ambulance workers, teachers and older residents. 57% were 65 years or older.
Incidentally, the low number of Republicans on the AHC could be remedied if more Republicans would volunteer to join the Affordable Housing Commission.
Sincerely,
Phyllis Ross, Lyme, CT.
Editor’s Note: The author is a member of Lyme’s Affordable Housing Commission and Planning and Zoning Commission.
On Sunday, Nov. 2, Ramzi Aburedwan & The Dal’Ouna Ensemble will perform a concert at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme honoring the late Rev. David Good.
Premier of New Violin Suite Dedicated to the late Rev. Good to be Played, Palestinian Dinner Precedes Concert
OLD LYME—On Sunday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m., Ramzi Aburedwan & The Dal’Ouna Ensemble, with guest violinist Michael Dabroski, will present a concert in celebration of Tree of Life’s late founder, Rev. David W. Good. The concert will be held in the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme and all are welcome.
The late Rev. David W. Good.
Dabroski will premier his Violin Suite No. 5 – A Prayer for David as a tribute to a man who inspired many with his passionate pursuit of peace and justice for all.
Dal’Ouna blends Palestinian and Arab heritage with contemporary and jazzy accents, weaving stories of love, freedom, and daily life through music and poetry.
The concert will be preceded at 5:30 pm by a Palestinian Dinner. Reservations are required for the dinner.
Suggested donation for the dinner and concert is $30. For the concert only $10, no reservations needed. Donations will be collected at the event.
If you are unable to attend but would like to support Tree of Life’s mission,visit this link.
Ten candidates are running for five open seats on the Region 18 Board of Education.
LYME-OLD LYME–The Region 18 Board of Education candidates, many of them parents of current students, started Wednesday evening’s candidates’ forum by agreeing Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools offer an outstanding education.
The companionable exchange of ideas at the Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau (LYSB) “Meet the Candidates” event continued with broad consensus on numerous issues in the two-hour question and answer session moderated by WFSB personality Eric Parker. About 50 people came out to the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School auditorium while others watched the online livestream.
They agreed on the importance of making all students feel included. They agreed state and district policies give parents the right to shield their children from objectionable material, while at the same time keeping books and lessons available to the rest of the students. They agreed on limiting guns in schools to the security guards already authorized to carry them.
Numerous questions, submitted in advance by residents, had been narrowed down by LYSB to a list of 10. Some of the questions went to all candidates, while others were answered in groups of four. Candidates had 90 seconds to respond.
There are eight hopefuls from Old Lyme vying for four open spots, including one being vacated by Democratic First Selectwoman Martha Shoemaker as she makes another run for the town’s top spot. Members Chris Staab (R) and Laura Dean-Frazier (U) are also not running for reelection.
The candidates are evenly split under the Democratic and Republican banners.
Seven of the eight candidates at the forum have children in the school system, compared to four on the current nine-member school board. Several mentioned moving to town because of the quality education.
Among the candidates were those driven by data, like Democrat Sheryl Shyloski, a school psychologist, and Republican Brandy Campbell, a veterinarian and scientist at Pfizer. Jarod Bushey (R) referred to education as the foundation of the American Dream that led him to become an aerospace scientist. Michael Hansen (D) advocated for giving trade-seeking students the same support and resources as college-seeking students.
Shaun Mastroianni (R), who is no stranger to the campaign trail, leaned on experience as a nonprofit healthcare executive and a former regional school board member in Chester. Democrat Cynthia Love McCollum said a career as a public defender gives her the ability to interpret and adapt the rule of law as it relates locally, while Judicial Branch family relations counselor and incumbent school board Chairman Jason Kemp (D) said he has helped ensure all members’ voices are heard.
In Lyme, retired educator and incumbent school board member Democrat Anna James is running against Republican-endorsed unaffiliated candidate Lannie Mossberg, a zoning assistant at Lyme Town Hall.
James was unable to attend because of a family commitment, according to Parker. Old Lyme candidate Carlos Piña, an unaffiliated candidate running with Republican endorsement, also could not be there.
About 50 people came out to watch Wednesday night’s LYSB “Meet the Candidates” forum. By Friday morning, a livestream of the event had 395 views.
Reducing the Budget
When asked to suggest specific areas of the budget that can be reduced, several candidates talked about the state “minimum budget requirement” preventing school boards from cutting a budget below the previous years’ total. Others couched the issue in terms of savings rather than cuts.
Shyloski said she has worked as a school psychologist to bring special education students back to the district after they were placed in outside programs.
Special education costs, which can be significantly affected by the need to find out-of-district programs for students whose situation can’t be addressed locally, are often cited as driving factors in rising education budgets statewide.
She said keeping students in the district is a cost saving, but it’s also what is right for students. She acknowledged it is up to LOL Schools’ staff members to come up with any plan.
“So while that wouldn’t be my role on the board, I would seek to push administration and the superintendent to explore how that might be done here,” she said.
Bushey told the audience that keeping costs down amid inflation and a prohibition on reducing overall spending puts board members between a rock and a hard place.
“So we’re kind of left in a position where the best we can do is slow the rate of growth,” he said.
He was among those who said the district’s reserve fund needs continued attention and discussion.
“If we’re seeing year-over-year surpluses, by definition, that means that we are over-budgeting in certain areas. So we should look at those areas to see if funds need to be moved to different accounts, or look at two ways we can scale back,” he said.
A Focus on Trades
Bolstered by Hansen’s enthusiastic support for more vocational training opportunities in the schools, the candidates got behind the idea of building a focus on the trades into district offerings.
Hansen has cited the issue as a key factor in his decision to run for the school board.
“As a lifelong tradesman, son of a carpenter, currently employed with Amtrak, I believe my experiences could further the district’s efforts to offer our trade-seeking students the same support and resources as our college-seeking students,” he said.
He emphasized he is not talking about “turning LOL Schools into a trade school.”
He said asking an eighth grade student to decide whether to attend a vocational high school is a serious commitment not all are prepared to make. That’s why the students should be supported with opportunities to explore the trades in their home district throughout their high school years.
“I want the climate of our district to be that trades are an equal choice, not a second choice,” he said.
On Censorship
One question asked candidates how they would would ensure that lessons and library resources are appropriate for students while respecting families’ diverse values.
Campbell called it a complex issue.
“On one hand, parents and communities should have a say in what materials are appropriate for their schools. Schools are for learning, and some books may have ideas and themes that require maturity,” she said. “But on the other hand, outright bans stifle conversation and critical thinking, which is essential to an education.”
She said there’s a district policy allowing parents to review instructional material that may not be widely known.
“I do feel appropriate labeling and parental awareness is not outrageous, and it’s not an outrageous idea since we do that with websites, music, movies, and potentially even book content,” she said.
Kemp referenced the same policy to explain that parents can choose to excuse their children from reading books or participating in lessons they deem objectionable. They can also fill out a form requesting review of material by the library media specialist or curriculum director, who must report to the school principal. Decisions may be appealed to the school board.
“So I think we leave it to the experts for the overall picture, but parents have a right to make the decisions for their own family,” he said.
To Mastroianni—who ran unsuccessfully against state Sen. Martha Marx (D-New London) last year—the politically charged question was another way of asking if candidates “support a book ban.”
“I just want everybody to know I am not somebody that likes to be put in a box, and I do not support a book ban,” Mastroianni said.
The issue emerged locally in 2023 when 135 people from Lyme and Old Lyme signed a petition to remove two books from the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library’s Young Adult section based on sexual content. Staff members, bolstered by a vote from the library’s Board of Trustees, refused.
Mastroianni said the district entrusts educators to “make the right decisions” when it comes to curriculum.
“There are ways that you can have your concerns heard, but I do not think that there should be any book banning. I think there is far worse out there on the internet that they can get their hands on than a book,” he said.
McCollum supported the review policy while calling for the free flow of thought-provoking ideas.
“I believe there should be more books,” she said. “I think students should be challenged in complex ideas, that they should be challenged with provocative thoughts. They should learn to discuss them, use their rhetoric to try to persuade, and learn and grow their critical thinking skills.”
Open and Accepting
Another question asked candidates how the Board of Education can actively address the needs of LGBTQ and gender-nonconforming students to ensure they have equal access to support and opportunities.
The candidates agreed state and federal law, as well as district policy, forbids discrimination, bullying and unfair treatment.
Hansen said the guidelines are crucial amid a growing climate of anti-LGBTQ actions nationwide focused on what he described as “the new boogeyman” of transgender students in sports.
“I think every child, regardless of how they feel about themselves, has a right to participate in sports. That is a foundational experience that I don’t think we should be limiting anyone from,” he said.
McCollum said teaching students about the importance of accepting each other is paramount at a time when they are all trying to figure out who they are.
“I think one of the greater challenges that we face day-to-day is how we engender a climate in our schools of acceptance, inclusion, respect for all students – regardless of how they walk through the door of the school in presenting themselves in all of their humanity,” she said.
Mastroianni said the candidates’ answers to the question exemplified Old Lyme’s “open, accepting” sense of community. That’s why he and his husband chose to settle there a couple years ago.
He said the question at the top of their minds when they looked for a new home was whether their daughter, “… would be made fun of because she has two dads.”
“I think that our community handles this well, and I think that our school system handles it well, and this is why I live here,” he said.
Student Safety
None of the four candidates asked to weigh in on the ongoing threat of gun violence in schools supported arming additional staff members.
Kemp said the district employs armed security guards, which he voted for in 2022. Guards must be retired state or municipal police officers with a minimum of 10 years of experience, who have retired in good standing.
He said he does not believe “putting that responsibility on ordinary staff” is either legal or appropriate.
Campbell thanked the Old Lyme Police Department officer standing at the back of the room during the forum while acknowledging the safety is a top priority in the district.
“I have two brothers in law enforcement, and I know that the safety program in our school surpasses what many schools around the nation have,” she said.
She called for the district to “stay vigilant” by looking at emerging technologies and safety protocols to safeguard students and staff.
For Shyloski, staying vigilant means watching out for students mental health, as well.
In response to a question about addressing stress, anxiety and mental health challenges, the school psychologist drew on her professional experience when she said the schools need a clear, consistent approach when it comes to supporting students’ mental well being. As a board member, it would be her job to ensure policies are continually reviewed to reflect the latest best practices.
“Making sure that students all have trusted adults within the school is a protective factor for risky behavior,” she said. “So we need to be very vigilant in that regard because we do see increasing suicide risk and increasing threat risk. And that’s just a reality of where we are today.”
Lyme Contest
Lannie Mossberg, an unaffiliated candidate from Lyme running against incumbent Democrat Anna James, counted artificial intelligence (AI) as a main area of focus going forward. She is the zoning assistant at the Lyme Town Hall.
Mossberg said AI can be an important tool for teachers, while students will need to be taught how to put the technology into action.
“I feel students should learn how to use it more wisely and appropriately for class assignments or in general,” she said.
She told the audience she wants to join the school board to be present in the lives of her three children as well as to advocate for all students and the Lyme community.
“I just would like to help our town thrive and see our students grow in a good direction while keeping the budget under proper alignment,” she said.
Moderator Eric Parker read a statement for James in her absence.
“Our current board is a cohesive, outcome-oriented board, which is focused on supporting what is best for children in the district,” she wrote. “I would like to continue to support and contribute to the momentum this board has generated, and I have the skills to do so.”
James, a four-year member of the board, is a career educator who has served as director at Integrated Day Charter School and district administrator and principal in New London.
She recounted starting out as a first-grade teacher before teaching at various grade levels, including college-level classes. She cited expertise in various teaching disciplines as well as fiscal management, school administration, resource and personnel management, and community relations.
Consensus
Bushey toward the end of the evening noted every candidate had only positive and forward-thinking things to say about the high-quality district in a supportive, welcoming community.
He called for continued opportunities to make inroads with each other, work across party lines, build trust and reach consensus.
“If we’re united, no one can come divide us, and that’s what we should be as Board of Education members: united in purpose to deliver the best education and opportunities we can for our children,” he said.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated to correct the spelling of Shyloski’s name.
