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

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 23^rd 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.