To the Editor:
I’m writing this letter to serve as a reminder that the Old Lyme Republican Town Committee (RTC) has no problem making stuff up when it serves their purpose of trying to demean an opposing candidate.
In 2023 I was the incumbent candidate for Old Lyme Town Treasurer when nearly identical letters to the editor were submitted to LymeLine on October 16 by Mike Bucior and October 30 by John Flick (endorsed by the RTC for a Board of Finance seat). Each made the statement that as Treasurer I was “remiss in reporting regularly and timely to the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance to whom he reports.”
As I pointed out in my response, this statement is completely false. I wrote, “the Treasurer works with the Finance Department, not the Board of Finance. Nor do I report to the Board of Finance or Board of Selectmen either.”
Ultimately, Matt Ward won the election over me to become Town Treasurer. In a review of the 36 Board of Finance meeting minutes posted since Mr. Ward was sworn in, he has only attended one meeting. As I stated, this is not a problem for Mr. Ward because he does not report to the Board of Finance. Yet this does implicate the Old Lyme RTC which told you twice in 2023 that I was failing at my job because I rarely attended Board of Finance meetings.
Clearly the RTC and at least some of its supporters do not campaign on the facts or are woefully uninformed about the roles of town officials. Perhaps they think the public will forgive them or forget after a period of time. However, I have not forgotten and am here to caution you when you decide whom to vote for in November.
Sincerely,
Michael Reiter,
Old Lyme.