Democrat Kristina White Seeks Reelection as Petitioning Candidate for Selectman
LYME–The Lyme Democratic Town Committee (DTC) this week endorsed nine candidates for the Nov. 4 municipal elections, while pledging support to unaffiliated petitioning candidate Christy Zelek for first selectman and Democrat Kristina White for selectman.
The group met in a Tuesday caucus to approve its slate, according to a press release.
Zelek will face Republican Tom St. Louis in a rare contested race for first selectman. Election data from the Secretary of the State going back 25 years shows only two elections included challenges for the town’s top spot.
Lyme DTC Chair John Kiker said Zelek will be the town’s first female first selectman if elected.
“Christy Zelek has the skills to do a great job as our first selectman and has our full support,” he said.
A list of qualifications provided by the DTC show Zelek, who has raised three children in the school system since she moved to town in 2008, has held leadership positions in parent-teacher groups at the high school, middle school and elementary school level and in the local Boy Scouts organization.
She previously served as a member of the Lyme Ambulance Association Board of Directors for four years, including two as vice president. During her tenure there, the board created and expanded an investment program; pursued grants and private funding; and updated the retirement plan with the Lyme Fire Company.
Zelek works as an administrative assistant at Westbrook Middle School.
She told Democrats on Tuesday that she looked forward to the possibility of serving as first selectman.
“I am grateful to have received the support of the Lyme DTC. I’m running for office because I love this town. My priorities will include keeping our town the beautiful, historic place it is; keeping our financials in check; keeping our taxes low and supporting our schools; and continuing to address our town’s capital needs, such as our roads, bridges and town equipment,” she said.
Lyme DTC Nominating Committee Chairperson Liz Frankel touted the slate, which includes incumbent candidates John Kiker for selectman, Jim Miller for Board of Finance and Anna James for the Region 18 Board of Education.
“All totaled, we are supporting a group of 11 candidates for each available board and commission opening this year to ensure our values continue to be well-represented on town boards and commissions,” Frankel said. “We are proud to support this talented group of individuals who are not only highly qualified, but extremely interested in serving the town we all love and cherish.”
Frankel said state election law dictates the committee can nominate only one candidate for selectman, so Democrats will once again run Kiker on the slate while “actively supporting Kristina’s reelection as a petitioning candidate.”
“They’ve both done an excellent job on the Board of Selectmen and we want to see them both continue to serve our town,” she said.
Connecticut’s minority representation laws prohibit more than two members of the same political party from serving on a three-member board. In Lyme, each party may nominate only one candidate for selectman.
The following candidates were endorsed by the DTC to run on the Democratic ballot line in the November election. They are all serving currently.
John Kiker – Selectman
Jim Miller – Board of Finance (U)
Walter Burhans – Board of Finance Alternate (U)
Anna James – Board of Education
Carol House – Planning & Zoning Commission
Toni Phillips – Zoning Board of Appeals
Adam Brevoort – Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate
Joan Motyka – Library Board of Directors (U)
Susan Leon – Library Board of Directors