Politics

State Senators Needleman, Formica Discuss Energy, Technology Priorities on Lee Elci Show, Now Available on Demand

January 28, 2021 by Admin Leave a Comment

Senators Norm Needleman, left, and Paul Formica from a 2019 television appearance. File photo submitted by Sen. Needleman’s office.

LYME/OLD LYME — This past Monday, Jan. 25, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) and State Senator Paul Formica (R-East Lyme) joined Lee Elci’s talk show on Radio 94.9 News Now for an extended, detailed discussion of the Energy & Technology Committee’s 2021 priorities and focuses. The Senators came together in a bipartisan fashion to discuss pressing issues driving their decisions and thoughts as the 2021 legislative session begins in earnest.

“Thank you to Lee Elci for opening up an hour of his show to discuss energy issues in Connecticut with Senator Needleman and me,” said Sen. Formica. “The important and challenging work of the state’s Energy & Technology Committee continues to attempt to balance generation and supply in a bipartisan way to benefit the citizens and ratepayers of Connecticut. It was great to share part of that process with the listeners of the Lee Elci show. I look forward to further, in depth conversations on energy.”

“I’m glad I was able to join Senator Formica and Lee to discuss this session’s many focuses,” said Sen. Needleman. “From the cost of energy to pursuing renewable sources of generation to looking into company and corporate practices, the Energy & Technology Committee is dedicated to tackling a number of vital and important issues in the coming months. I think Monday’s conversation helped us ensure we’re focused on what matters most – what’s best for the people of Connecticut.”

Monday’s discussion on the Lee Elci Show is available on-demand in recorded format on Elci’s SoundCloud page, located here. On the January 25, 2021 broadcast, available here, the discussion between the Senators and Elci begins at around roughly the 2-hour 58-minute mark.

Editor’s Note: The 20th Senatorial District, which State Sen. Formica represents, includes Old Lyme. The 33rd Senatorial District, which State Sen. Needleman represents, includes Lyme.

Filed Under: Lyme, Old Lyme, Politics

Rep. Devin Carney Named Ranking Member of Legislature’s Transportation Committee

December 8, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

State Rep. Devin Carney (R-23rd) File photo.

HARTFORD – State Representative Devin Carney (R-23rd), who was reelected in November to the position he has held since 2015, has received his committee assignments for the 2021 legislative session.

These include being named as the Ranking Member of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee by House Republican Leader-elect Vincent Candelora.

“Whether it’s highway congestion in Fairfield County or a failing bridge in the state’s Quiet Corner, transportation-related issues have and will continue to be a major point of conversation at the capitol,” Candelora said. “Devin understands both the importance of improving our transportation grid and the budgetary challenges that stand in the way.”

Candelora continued, “His ability to see all sides of an issue and understand a proposal’s impact on the people we’re elected to serve make him a perfect fit for this role, and I look forward to working with him as he helps lead discussion on this committee whose work affects so many aspects of life in Connecticut.”

Having been a member of the committee for the past six years, the familiarity of responsibilities that come with this appointment is one Rep. Carney knows well, having served in the same capacity from 2017 to 2018 under former Minority Leader Themis Klarides.

“It’s an honor to have been chosen to serve as the Ranking Member of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee,” Rep. Carney said, continuing, “Serving in this capacity will not only allow me to be a strong voice for our region, but also address issues ranging from the safety of I-95 to wait times at the DMV. I look forward to working with the committee members on these types of issues again next year.”

The Transportation Committee has oversight on all matters relating to the Department of Transportation, including highways and bridges, navigation, aeronautics, mass transit and railroads; and to the State Traffic Commission and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

He will also return as a member of the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee and the Ranking Member of the Transportation Bonding Subcommittee and will begin his first term on the Education Committee. Rep. Carney was also named an Assistant House Republican Leader and chosen, again, to serve on the House Republican Screening Committee.

Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee focuses on issues relating to finance, revenue, capital bonding, fees and taxation. The committee also oversees employer contributions for unemployment compensation and all matters relating to the Department of Revenue Services and the revenue aspects of the Division of Special Revenue.

The Education Committee has cognizance of all matters relating to the Department of Education; local and regional boards of education and the substantive law of collective bargaining covering teachers and professional employees of such boards; vocational rehabilitation; the Commission on the Arts; and libraries, museums and historical and cultural associations.

The House Republican Screening Committee is a select committee that reviews all bill proposals before they reach the floor of the House for a final vote.

Editor’s Notes: i) The 23rd House District includes Lyme, Old Lyme Old Saybrook and part of Westbrook.
ii) This article is based on a press release issued by the House Republican Office of the Connecticut General Assembly.

Filed Under: Lyme, News, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Politics, Top Story, Westbrook

Election 2020: State Results & Interactive Visuals

November 6, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

STATEWIDE — Our Local Independent Online News (LION) colleagues at CTNewsJunkie.com have prepared a couple of interactive maps of the State Senate and House results for readers to explore. Use the toolbox to group and sort Senate/House districts by political party and demographic characteristics.

Here is the State Senate map.

Here is the CT House of Representatives map.

Related articles at CTNewsJunkie.com can be found at:

Dems Post Gains In Legislative Seats While Some Key Republicans Hang On
By CTNewsJunkie Published Nov. 4, 2020 12:48am

Senate Democrats Strengthen Majority
By Hugh McQuaid Published Nov 4, 2020 1:47pm

Filed Under: Lyme, Old Lyme, Politics, Top Story

Sen. Paul Formica Named Senate Republican Deputy Leader, Kevin Kelly Named Leader

November 5, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

State Senator Paul Formica (R-20th)

HARTFORD – State Senator Kevin Kelly (R-21st) has been named the next Senate Republican Leader by the Connecticut Senate Republican Caucus. Sen. Kelly has named State Senator Paul Formica (R-20th) to serve as his deputy, taking the title of Senate Republican Leader Pro Tempore.

Sen. Kelly was chosen by his fellow caucus members to serve as the next caucus leader following the retirement of Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) who has served as leader since 2014.

Kelly said of Senator Formica that he, “… is one of the hardest working and most caring lawmakers I have ever met.”

He added, “Paul is a consensus builder and a budget expert, who was instrumental in crafting the historic bipartisan budget of 2017 that implemented smart financial policies Republicans have long advocated for including a spending cap, bonding caps and a volatility cap.”

Kelly continued, “Those successes are the reason why our state has a record-breaking rainy day fund today and has enable our state to start contributing more to paying down on our state’s unfunded pension liabilities. Paul Formica’s expertise on the budget, experience as a small business owner and job creator, as well as his ability to bring people together will make him an exceptional partner in leading our caucus during these difficult times.”

“I am deeply honored to have been selected to help lead our caucus as deputy leader,” said Sen. Formica. “Connecticut is the greatest state in the greatest nation in the world. But there is so more that must be done to help all people in our state achieve the American Dream. I look forward to helping lead our caucus and our state through these challenging times, with a focus on keeping people safe, healthy and creating opportunities for all people.”

Senator Formica represents the residents of the 20th Senatorial District, which includes Old Lyme, as well as Bozrah, East Lyme, a portion of Montville, New London, , a portion of Old Saybrook, Salem, and Waterford. He was first elected in 2015 and prior to that served as the First Selectman of East Lyme from 2007-2015.

He has also been the owner and operator of Flanders Fish Market & Restaurant for over 35 years.

Senator Formica currently serves as Ranking Member of the Appropriations Committee and the Energy and Technology Committee. He is a founder of the bipartisan Tourism Caucus and co-chairs the Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Legislative Caucus. A resident of East Lyme, he is the father of four adult children — three daughters and one son.

Sen. Kelly said, “I am incredibly honored to be named the next leader of the Senate Republican Caucus,” said “Our caucus is made up of hard-working individuals who love our state and are ready to fight for it.”

He continued, “We must lead our state through the unprecedented challenges of pandemic recovery by simultaneously focusing on job growth and protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19: our elderly population and minority communities.”

Sen. Kelly is currently the Ranking Member of the Aging Committee, the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, and the Committee on Children. He also serves as a member of the Regulation Review Committee.

Kelly has been an advocate for health care affordability and accessibility, supporting the needs of senior citizens, growing jobs, improving women’s health care, and advancing “Aging in Place” initiatives.

Sen. Kelly has served in the State Senate since 2011 representing Monroe, Seymour, Shelton and Stratford. He resides in Stratford with his wife Cindy. Their family includes four children and soon to be seven grandchildren.

For more information on State Senator Paul Formica visit www.senatorformica.com. Follow Sen. Formica at www.Facebook.com/SenatorFormica, on Twitter and Instagram @SenatorFormica.

For more information on State Senator Kevin Kelly visit www.senatorkevinkelly.com. Follow Sen. Kelly at www.Facebook.com/SenatorKevinKelly, on Twitter @21KevinKelly or Instagram @SenatorKevinCKelly.

Filed Under: Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Politics, Top Story

Last-Minute Voters Have Short Time Before Polls Close at 8pm

November 3, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

The entrance to the polls at Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School. Quiet at 1 and 4 p.m. this afternoon, but in contrast, extremely busy at 6 a.m.! All photos by Michele Dickey.

OLD LYME — The polls are still open at Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School (LOLMS) and Lyme Town Hall. The doors at LOLMS above will close at 8 p.m. The same will happen to the doors at Lyme Town Hall and the Official Ballot Boxes at both town halls will also be locked at 8 p.m.

Supporters of both parties were out in force to support their candidates. The Democrats above in the photo are (from left to right) Peter Hunt, John Pote, Marisa Hartmann, Chairwoman Christine Gianquinto, and Gloria Dimon.

Republicans gathered in the photo above are (from left to right) Deb Czarnecki, Dean Williams, Tim O’Rourke, Dave Kelsey, Lisa Knepshield, 23rd House District incumbent candidate Devin Carney, and Dave Evers.

Filed Under: Old Lyme, Politics

Who Should I Vote For? – Part 1: Read ALL the ‘Letters to the Editor’ Received by LymeLine

November 3, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash.

LYME / OLD LYME — We have received a great many Letters to the Editor and now, to avoid our home page becoming filled just with letters, we have published them all at THIS LINK in the order in which they were received. We hope this is helpful to our readers so that you can peruse them at you leisure simply by scrolling down through the page.

If you wish to respond to any of the letters, click on the letter in question to open the ‘Comments’ section.

We will not be publishing any further “new” letters after today.

Many thanks to all our readers who submitted letters.

Filed Under: Lyme, Old Lyme, Politics

Who Should I Vote For? – Part 2: Read the Responses to our Questions from State Senate, House Candidates on Lyme, Old Lyme Ballots

November 3, 2020 by Olwen Logan Leave a Comment

LYME/OLD LYME — In keeping with our now almost 17-year tradition and in the interests of increasing voter knowledge prior to the upcoming election, we posed three questions in writing to the State Senate and House candidates, who will be on Lyme and Old Lyme ballots in the Nov. 3 election.

The questions were:

What do you believe are currently the three most pressing issues in the state of Connecticut?
From the three issues you cite in your response to Question1, identify the one that you think is the most pressing and explain your choice. Then expand on steps you believe should be taken to resolve it and how you could contribute to that resolution process?
What personal characteristics do you embody that justify why people should vote for you?

We gave a 350-word limit for the response to each question to which each candidate strictly adhered: we are most appreciative of that.

We are delighted that all the candidates responded to our questions in a timely manner. We thank them sincerely and are pleased to publish their responses today accompanied by their respective biographies and photos.

There is a third candidate on the ballot for the State Senate 20th District, Joseph Taraya. We sent him the same invitation to respond to our questions as the other candidates, and this was the reply we received: “I fully endorse Ms. Martha Marx. She’ll be a good addition to our state senate chamber.”

We should also state that, again in keeping with our long-held policy, we will not be making any candidate endorsements.

Click on the links below to read each candidate’s responses:

CT State Senate, 20th District (includes the Town of Old Lyme)

Paul Formica (R – incumbent)

Martha Marx (D)

CT State Senate, 33rd District (includes the Town of Lyme)

Norm Needleman (D – incumbent)

Brendan Saunders (R)

CT House of Representatives, 23rd District (includes the Towns of Lyme and Old Lyme)

Devin Carney (R- incumbent)

David Rubino (D)

Filed Under: Lyme, Old Lyme, Politics

All You Need to Know About Registering to Vote, Applying for an Absentee Ballot and VOTING!

September 23, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

LYME/OLD LYME — Tuesday, Sept. 22, marked the 9th annual National Voter Registration Day – a nonpartisan and collaborative effort that involves partners of all stripes and sizes across the country to register voters ahead of the November election.

One in four eligible Americans is not registered to vote, and National Voter Registration Day seeks to make voter registration calls to action impossible to ignore, so that as many citizens as possible are empowered to participate in our democracy.

There are two simple ways to register to vote:

You can register online here. To register online, you must have a current, valid driver’s license, learner’s permit or non-driver photo ID card issued by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and a signature on file with DMV.
If you are a Lyme resident, you can register in person any weekday during normal business hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at the Lyme Town Hall at 480 Hamburg Road.
If you are an Old Lyme resident, you can register to vote Monday through Friday (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) in the Registrar’s Office or in the Town Clerk’s office if the Registrars are not available.

If you are not sure if you are registered, you can check your current voting status by visiting the link here and entering your name, town of residence and date of birth.

Latest Information on Absentee Ballots for Nov. 3 Election From our Towns

Town of Lyme

The Secretary of the State’s office has mailed absentee ballot applications to every registered voter in Connecticut for the November 3, 2020, General Election. Registered voters in Lyme began receiving their absentee ballot applications in the mail on Thursday, September 17. If you wish to use the absentee ballot application you received in the mail, follow the directions on the insert included with the application, which are also listed here:

Check that your personal information is correct in Section 1.
Select a reason for voting by absentee ballot in Section 2. All voters may choose “COVID-19.”
Sign your application in Section 3.
Seal it in the envelope and drop it in the secure Official Ballot Drop Box at Lyme Town Hall on the sidewalk (preferred) or mail it in the postage-paid envelope included.

Things to remember:

If you have already submitted an absentee ballot application to the Lyme Town Clerk for the General Election on November 3, please destroy the application you receive from the State.
If you submitted an absentee ballot application for the Primary in August, that application was only for the Primary. If you wish to vote by absentee in the General Election in November, you must submit an absentee ballot application for the General Election.
Be sure to sign your application in Section 3, not Section 4. If someone assisted you in completing the application, that person would sign in Section 4. You will not receive a ballot if you do not sign the application in Section 3.
Deposit your application in the Town of Lyme Official Drop Box only, not in the drop box of any other town. Residents should only deposit their applications in the drop box for the town where they are registered voters.
Absentee ballots will be sent out starting October 2.

Should you have any questions, contact the Town Clerk by phone at 860-434-7733, Mondays through Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Town of Old Lyme

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, all voters will be permitted to vote by absentee ballot rather than appear in person in the Nov. 3, 2020 Election.

For those who wish to appear in person, the polling place located at the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, 53 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day to cast your ballot.

The Secretary of the State’s (SOTS) office will be mailing Applications for Absentee Ballot to all registered voters beginning mid-September. The completed Applications can then be sent to the Town Clerk’s office and absentee ballots will be issued by the Old Lyme Town Clerk’s office.

You may also drop your completed Application in our Official Ballot Drop Box located in the front of the Town Hall.

The Old Lyme Town Clerk’s office will begin mailing out Absentee Ballots on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020.

As great numbers of voters wishing to vote absentee are anticipated, the following is recommended:

Do not use the Application for Absentee Ballot which was mailed to you for the Aug. 11, 2020 Primaries as it will be rejected. You will receive a new one specifically for the Nov. 3, 2020 election.
Applications for Absentee Ballots will be mailed to you from the SOTS beginning mid-September.
If you do not receive your Application for Absentee Ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020 election in the mail by Sept. 30, contact the Old Lyme Town Clerk’s office or you may visit the link here to obtain one.
If you have previously filed an Application for Absentee Ballot for the Nov. 3, 2020 election with the Town Clerk’s office, disregard the one received from the SOTS. Your initial Application will be processed.
Completed Applications for Absentee Ballot can be mailed to the Old Lyme Town Clerk’s office or dropped in the Official Ballot Drop Box located in front of the Old Lyme Town Hall.
Absentee Ballots will be mailed by the Old Lyme Town Clerk’s office beginning Oct. 2, 2020.
Once you have received your Absentee Ballot and cast your vote, you may mail it to the Old Lyme Town Clerk’s office or drop it into the Official Ballot Drop Box located in front of the Old Lyme Town Hall. As time is of the essence, do not wait to deliver it to us as the Old Lyme Town Clerk’s office will need time to process it.

Should you have any additional questions concerning the upcoming election, contact the Town Clerk’s office at (860) 434-1605 Ext. 220 (Vicki) or Ext. 221 (Courtney).

Filed Under: Lyme, News, Old Lyme, Politics, Top Story, Town Hall

Anderson Defeats Gilmer in Republican Primary for 2nd District

August 19, 2020 by Admin 1 Comment

AREAWIDE — Justin Anderson has defeated Tom Gilmer to become the Republican nominee for the 2nd Congressional District, winning by a narrow 81-vote margin after a recount.

Anderson received 9,483 votes to Gilmer’s 9,402, the secretary of the state’s website showed at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, with 100% of precincts reporting.

The results capped off a race upended by Gilmer’s arrest on felony charges less than 24 hours before the polls opened on primary day, and …

Visit this link to read the full article by Julia Bergman and published Aug. 18, on TheDay.com.

The recount results for our coverage area with the original number shown in parentheses were:

LYME

Thomas Gilmer: 59 (61)
Justin Anderson: 64 (64)

OLD LYME

Thomas Gilmer: 189 (189)
Justin Anderson: 152 (152)

Filed Under: Lyme, News, Old Lyme, Politics, Top Story

Recounts for 2nd Congressional District Republican Primary Held in Lyme, Old Lyme Yesterday; No Change in OL, Gilmer Loses Two Votes in Lyme

August 18, 2020 by Olwen Logan Leave a Comment

LYME/OLD LYME — Yesterday (Monday) morning, the Town Clerks of both Lyme and Old Lyme held recounts of the Republican 2nd Congressional District Primary votes this morning.

The recount was ordered by Theodore Bromley, the state’s director of elections, because the original vote counts of 9,225 for Gilmer and 9,199 for Justin Anderson showed a difference of less than 0.5 percent of all the votes cast.

The recounts were required to be completed on or before today, Tuesday Aug. 18.

The recount results were as follows with the original number shown in parentheses:

LYME

Thomas Gilmer: 59 (61)
Justin Anderson: 64 (64)

OLD LYME

Thomas Gilmer: 190 (190)
Justin Anderson: 152 (152)

8/17 from The Day: An ongoing recount in the race shows Gilmer winning by 14 votes, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of the State’s Office on Monday …

An attorney representing Republican congressional candidate Tom Gilmer sent a cease and desist order to his opponent Justin Anderson in May, seeking to stop Anderson from making “defamatory” statements about Gilmer and from disseminating a video that shows Gilmer in a violent altercation with a former girlfriend in 2017 …

Visit this link to access the full article about Gilmer’s arrest by Julia Bergman and published Aug. 17 on TheDay.com

8/11 from The Day: Thomas Gilmer, the endorsed Republican candidate on Tuesday’s primary ballot for the 2nd Congressional District, said he has dropped out of the race after police in Wethersfield arrested him on a warrant late Monday night.

Police charged Gilmer with second-degree strangulation and first-degree unlawful restraint. He was arraigned Tuesday in New Britain Superior Court.

Visit this link to access the full article about Gilmer’s arrest by Julia Bergman and published Aug. 11 on TheDay.com

Filed Under: Lyme, News, Old Lyme, Politics, Top Story, Town Hall

Old Lyme Recount in Republican Race for 2nd Congressional District Being Held Today; Gilmer, Winner by 26 Votes, Arrested Monday, Has Not Officially Withdrawn

August 17, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

LYME/OLD LYME — UPDATED 08/17 at 12:30 p.m. The recount in Old Lyme for the 2nd Congressional District will be held at 12:30 p.m. today. We will publish the results as soon as we receive them.

08/16: The Secretary of the State’s Office has announced that there will be a recount in the Republican race for the 2nd Congressional District, which was thrown into chaos at the eleventh hour due to endorsed candidate Tom Gilmer’s arrest on felony charges on the eve of the primary election.

Theodore Bromley, the state’s director of elections, informed registrars of voters and town clerks in the sprawling 2nd District of the recount in an email Friday morning, explaining that the vote tallies — 9,225 for Gilmer and 9,199 for Justin Anderson — met the threshold because the difference between the votes is less than 0.5% of all the votes cast.

The recount, which each municipality will handle individually and will be initiated by the respective town clerks, must happen on before Aug. 18.

Wethersfield police arrested Gilmer on Monday night on charges of …

Visit this link to read the full article by Julia Bergman and published Aug. 14, on TheDay.com.

Editor’s Note: The results in Lyme and Old Lyme for the Republican Representative in Congress, Congressional District 2 were as follows:

LYME

Thomas Gilmer 61
Justin Anderson 64

OLD LYME

Thomas Gilmer 189
Justin Anderson 152

Filed Under: Lyme, News, Old Lyme, Politics

Biden, Trump Win in Old Lyme Primary; Gilmer (Arrested Monday, Now Withdrawn) Defeats Anderson in Congressional 2nd District Race

August 14, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

OLD LYME — This morning Old Lyme Town Clerk Vicki Urbowicz sent us the preliminary, unconfirmed results of Tuesday’s Primary. The numbers were as follows:

Republican Presidential Preference Primary

Donald Trump: 297

Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente: 41

Uncommitted: 83

Democratic Presidential Preference Primary

Joe Biden: 740

Bernie Sanders: 76

Tulsi Gabbard: 3

Uncommitted: 14

Republican Representative in Congress, Congressional District 2

Thomas Gilmer 189

Justin Anderson 152

Thomas Gilmer, a Republican candidate who was on Tuesday’s primary ballot for the 2nd Congressional District, said he has dropped out of the race after police in Wethersfield arrested him on a warrant late Monday night.

Police charged Gilmer with second-degree strangulation and first-degree unlawful restraint. He was arraigned Tuesday in New Britain Superior Court.

Visit this link to access the full article about Gilmer’s arrest by Julia Bergman and published Aug. 11 on TheDay.com

Filed Under: Politics, Top Story, Town Hall

Trump, Biden Win in Tuesday’s Lyme Primaries, Anderson Defeats (Now Withdrawn) Gilmer by Three Votes in Congressional 2nd District Contest

August 13, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

LYME — Lyme Town Clerk Linda Winzer sent us the final, confirmed results of Tuesday’s Primary Thursday evening. The numbers were as follows:

Republican Presidential Preference Primary

Donald Trump: 102

Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente: 14

Uncommitted: 29

Democratic Presidential Preference Primary

Joe Biden: 306

Bernie Sanders: 47

Tulsi Gabbard: 2

Uncommitted: 3

Republican Representative in Congress, Congressional District 2

Thomas Gilmer 61

Justin Anderson 64

Police charged Gilmer with second-degree strangulation and first-degree unlawful restraint. He was arraigned Tuesday in New Britain Superior Court.

Visit this link to access the full article about Gilmer’s arrest by Julia Bergman and published Aug. 11 on TheDay.com

Filed Under: Lyme, News, Politics, Top Story, Town Hall

Detailed Primary Results Delayed Due to Governor’s Order Extending Time to Count Absentee Ballots, Now Expected by Friday

August 13, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

LYME/OLD LYME — Updated 8/13 at 12:50am: We have been in touch with both the Lyme and Old Lyme Town Clerks in an effort to obtain the detailed Primary results for each town. Linda Winzer at Lyme and Vicki Urbowicz at Old Lyme informed us that they expect the detailed results by Friday morning.

We will publish them as soon as we receive them.

Since Gov. Ned Lamont (D) signed an executive order Monday, which allows election officials until Thursday to count Absentee Ballots (provided they are postmarked Tuesday, Aug. 11, or earlier), we do not yet have detailed results from Tuesday’s Primaries for Lyme and Old Lyme.

All the leading media organizations in Connecticut are, however, reporting that Donald Trump and Joe Biden were the winners of the Republican and Democratic Presidential Preference Primaries respectively.

The result of the Republican Second Congressional District race, in which the chosen candidate will face Congressman Joe Courtney (D), will be especially interesting since one of the candidates, Thomas Gilmer, dropped out on Tuesday morning due to his arrest on domestic violence charges.

The request to delay the count was made by Secretary of State Denis Merrill because Tropical Storm Isaias had slowed delivery of applications and ballots. Ongoing power outages in some locations also impacted election workers’ abilities to process ballots.

Filed Under: Lyme, News, Old Lyme, Politics, Top Story

Republican Thomas Gilmer Drops Out of 2nd Congressional District Race After Arrest, But Was Already on Tuesday’s Ballot

August 12, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

Thomas Gilmer, a Republican candidate who appears on Tuesday’s primary ballot for the 2nd Congressional District, said he has dropped out of the race after police in Wethersfield arrested him on a warrant late Monday night.

Police charged Gilmer with second-degree strangulation and first-degree unlawful restraint. He was arraigned Tuesday in New Britain Superior Court.

Judge Tammy Geathers referred the case to family relations and …

Visit this link to read the full article by Julia Bergman and published Aug. 11 on TheDay.com.

Filed Under: Lyme, News, Old Lyme, Politics, Top Story

It’s Primary Day! In-Person Voting Open 6am-8pm, Absentee Ballots Deposited by 8pm Also Accepted

August 11, 2020 by Olwen Logan Leave a Comment

LYME/OLD LYME — The polls are open today, Tuesday, Aug. 11, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Lyme Town Hall for Lyme residents to vote in person and Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School for Old Lyme residents to vote in person.

If you are voting by Absentee Ballot and have not already mailed your ballot or deposited it in the secure drop box in front of the appropriate town hall, you still have time to place your ballot into both the inner and outer envelopes and then deposit it into the appropriate drop box.

Once deposited in the secure drop box, your ballot is considered received by your municipality.

Your ballot must deposited in the secure drop box no later than 8 p.m. this evening, Tuesday, Aug. 11.

Registered Democrats can view their sample ballot at this link. They are only voting in the Democratic Presidential Preference Primary and their choices on the ballot are:

Joe Biden
Bernie Sanders
Tulsi Gabbard
Uncommitted

Registered Republicans can view their sample ballot at this link. They are voting in the Republican Presidential Preference Primary AND the Republican 2nd Congressional District Primary. Their choices on the ballot are:

Presidential Preference Primary:

Donald J. Trump
Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente
Uncommitted

Republican 2nd Congressional District Primary:

Thomas Gilmer
Justin Anderson

Lyme Town Hall is closed to all other public business today to reduce the number of people in the building and potential virus exposure.

Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School gymnasium is at 53 Lyme St., Old Lyme. This new voting location for all Old Lyme residents will also be used in the November election.

At both locations, masks will be required and social distancing will be observed.

For more information on the election tomorrow, visit our related post: CT’s Primary is Tuesday; Have You Completed, Sent In Your Absentee Ballot? Do You Know Where, When to Vote in Person?

Filed Under: Lyme, Old Lyme, Politics, Town Hall

Lyme DTC Calls on All 2020 Candidates to Pledge to Reform Criminal Justice System, Address Police Misconduct

June 4, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

LYME – The Lyme Democratic Town Committee released a statement yesterday requesting all 2020 candidates who seek to represent the residents of Lyme to pledge to support reform of the nation’s criminal justice system and to address police misconduct at all levels.

The text of the statement is as follows:

In the wake of the protests spurred by the tragic and senseless deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and other African American citizens across this country – which have thrown a long-overdue, national spotlight on injustice – the Lyme Democratic Town Committee calls upon all candidates in the coming November election, who are seeking to represent the residents of Lyme, to pledge their support for reforming our criminal justice system and addressing the issue of police misconduct at the national, state and local levels.

Specifically, we call upon each of the following candidates to make such a pledge:

23rd Congressional District Representative candidates Dave Rubino (D) and Devin Carney (R);
33rd District State Senator candidates Norm Needleman (D) and Brendan Saunders (R);
U.S. Congressional Representative candidates Joe Courtney (D), Justin Anderson (R) and Thomas Gilmer (R); and
U.S. Presidential candidate Joe Biden.

The events the nation is witnessing and the concerns Americans across this country are expressing through protests and other means must be translated into laws and institutional practices by the government officials we elect into office this fall to represent us.

Filed Under: Lyme, News, Politics, Top Story

Incumbent State Sen. Needleman Nominated Unanimously to Run Again for 33rd Senate District Seat, Includes Lyme

June 1, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

State Senator Norm Needleman (D-33rd)

LYME — (Based on a Press Release released by Sen. Needleman’s office) On May 22, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex) was unanimously endorsed for re-election to the 33rd State Senate District by Democratic delegates.

First elected to the State Senate seat in 2018, Sen. Needleman represents the towns of Lyme along with Colchester, Chester, Clinton, Essex, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Haddam, Old Saybrook, Westbrook and Portland.

Needleman will be challenged by Republican Brendan Saunders, who is running for the Senate for the first time, although he has been involved in numerous Republican campaigns. Saunders received unanimous endorsement for his candidacy at the Republican District Convention, May 18,

“The need for strong, effective leadership in the State Senate has never been more important than now, due to the crisis created by COVID-19,” says Sen. Needleman in the press release announcing his endorsement, noting, “In my time at the General Assembly, I’ve worked in a bipartisan manner to tackle our most difficult challenges. More now than ever, I believe that inclusive, non-partisan dialogue is what’s needed to solve tough problems. This ‘makes sense’ perspective characterizes my approach to representing our district in the State Senate.”

He continues, “That’s why I’m anxious to continue my service at the Capitol to help our state recover from this once-in-a-century crisis. Doing so requires knowledge of town operating procedures, experience in managing local resources and skill in business planning. As your State Senator, I’m utilizing my expertise in those areas to help constituents and small businesses navigate state and federal assistance programs, as well as connect people with the resources they need to sustain their livelihoods and support their health during the pandemic.”

Sen. Needleman serves as Deputy President Pro Tempore, Senate Chair of the Energy & Technology Committee, Vice-Chair of the Planning & Development Committee, and is a member of the Commerce, Finance Revenue & Bonding, and Transportation Committees.

He also serves as First Selectman of the Town of Essex.

Sen. Needleman has been instrumental in the passage of a bill bringing wind energy generation to Connecticut. This legislation enables up to 40 percent of future energy needs to come from carbon-free renewable energy and creates a new industry for Connecticut. Needleman states it could add as much as $2 billion to the state’s economy, bringing with it thousands of skilled, well-paying jobs.

Citing other successes benefiting the 33rd District that he has supported, Needleman mentions allowing first responders, police officers, and firefighters to receive treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and assisting passage of a bill raising the age of access for tobacco products from 18 to 21, protecting youths from addiction.

Needleman also sponsored and enacted legislation holding energy companies accountable for prompt responses to power outages and formulated policy solutions to protect rivers and lakes from invasive species.

As founder and CEO of Connecticut-based Tower Laboratories, Needleman has created over 100 well-paying manufacturing jobs directly in the 33rd Senate District.

Filed Under: Essex, Lyme, Politics, Top Story

Brendan Saunders Endorsed by Republicans to Run Against Incumbent Needleman in November

May 23, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

Brendan Saunders is the endorsed Republican candidate to challenge incumbent Norm Needleman for the 33rd State Senate seat.

LYME/AREAWIDE — At their district convention held Monday, May 18, Republicans confirmed first-time Senate candidate Brendan Saunders will challenge incumbent Democratic Senator Norm Needleman for the 33rd State Senate seat in November. The 33rd Senate District includes Lyme.

In his acceptance speech, Saunders said, “Ronald Reagan once said, ‘the greatness of our nation lies within its people.’ I believe that the greatness of this state lies within its residents. As your senator, I will fight to reverse the trend of raising taxes and fees. I will work to let you keep more of your hard-earned money. I will fight to make living and operating a business in this state less onerous. ”

“Saunders has the ‘get up and go’ and enthusiasm I love to see in a candidate,” said Ed Munster of Haddam’s Republican Town Committee (RTC). Munster, who nominated Saunders, said Monday, “He is a good speaker and someone who listens and is interested in what you have to say. Something voters want in people they elect to public office.”

Saunders and Munster have a history of campaigning together. He helped Munster run for Congress in 1992. While this is Saunders’ first time running for office, he has also helped Westbrook candidate State Representative Jesse MacLachlan, and State Senator Art Linares. Saunders “knows what he is getting into,” said Munster.

Carolyn Kane of Chester RTC, seconded Saunders’ nomination Monday. Kane proclaimed Saunders as both dynamic and grounded with a lifetime of ties to his community. She also said that Saunders has an “approachable demeanor and commanding confidence. He came out of the gate ready to share his plan, vision, and how he would work in Hartford to ensure the 33rd district would be his priority.”

Noting, “In the wake of COVID-19, Saunders retooled his campaign to include an active online presence, strategically using his District tour to highlight his technological savvy and command of communication avenues,” Kane added, “Brendan demonstrates new ways to connect on a personal level and proves his commitment to building lasting relationships with every interaction.”

She said, “His ability to build partnerships is one of the most important skills sets a State Senator must have.”

To support Saunders’ campaign with a donation and to learn more, visit Saunders4Senate.com.

Filed Under: Lyme, News, Politics, Top Story

State Rep. Devin Carney Endorsed for Another Term in 23rd District

May 22, 2020 by Admin Leave a Comment

State Rep. Devin Carney has been endorsed by local Republicans for another term in the 23rd District, which includes both Lyme and Old Lyme.

LYME/OLD LYME — (press release from Devin Carney) On Tuesday, May 19, Republican delegates from Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook unanimously endorsed State Representative Devin Carney for a fourth term as representative for the 23rd District.

The delegates held a convention by web conference to endorse Carney, making his campaign for another two-year term as State Representative official. Delegates gave remarks on State Representative Carney’s dedicated and effective record of public service as well as being a knowledgeable and accessible legislator for the four communities.

“Representing the 23rd District – the place where my family lives, where I was raised, where I went to school, where I work and volunteer – has truly been the honor of a lifetime,” said Carney. “I am proud to be your voice in Hartford to advocate for fiscal responsibility, small business growth, our wonderful public schools, and our precious shoreline coast. We are facing an uncertain future and need experienced leaders who put people over politics – something I have always done.”

Lyme-Old Lyme Board of Education Member, Dr. Mary Powell-St. Louis, nominated Carney.“Devin has done a wonderful job representing people here in the 23rd District. He listens, cares, and is a real voice of reason”, said Powell-St. Louis. “As a Region 18 parent and Board of Education member, I was particularly pleased with how hard he worked against state forced expanded school regionalization last year.”

Old Saybrook First Selectman Carl Fortuna seconded Carney’s nomination.

“It has been a pleasure working with Devin over the past several years. He has been a strong advocate for small towns and small businesses and has worked diligently to ensure our needs are met,” Fortuna said. “His knowledge of state and local issues, active community outreach, and his legislative experience are exactly what we need as the state works through the COVID-19 crisis and its aftermath.”

Judy Tooker, Old Lyme’s Tax Collector, added, “Devin understands the unique needs of our community members, from healthcare and transportation to employment and jobs, and he will focus on the district – not partisan politics. We need his strong voice in Hartford now more than ever.”

In addition to receiving the Republican nomination on Tuesday, Carney reported that he had raised the necessary contributions to qualify for the state’s Citizens’ Clean Election Program.

Carney, who works in finance and real estate, was first elected to the legislature in 2014. He was born and raised in Old Saybrook and lives in Old Lyme with his significant other, Lisa. He currently serves as Ranking Member of the Transportation Bonding Subcommittee and serves on the legislative committees overseeing Transportation, Planning & Development, and Finance, Revenue, and Bonding. He was named a 2019 Environmental Champion by the League of Conservation Voters for his work supporting renewable energy and received the Legislative Service Award from the Connecticut Counseling Association for his work on mental health issues and opioid addiction.

In district, he serves on the Boards of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center and Saye Brook Senior Housing. He is also an active member of the Old Saybrook Rotary Club, both the Lyme-Old Lyme and Old Saybrook Chambers of Commerce, and with Grace Church in Old Saybrook. In addition to his duties as State Representative, he serves as an alternate to the Old Lyme Zoning Board of Appeals.

Filed Under: Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Politics, Top Story