2025 Patch Candidate Profiles: Lori Spielman, Ellington First Selectman Icumbent

ELLINGTON, CT — Lori Spielman is running for re-election as Ellington's first selectman.

Candidate's Name:
Lori L Spielman

What office are you seeking?
First Selectman

What town do you live in?
Ellington CT

Campaign Website
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Party Affiliation:
Republican

Occupation:
First Selectman 10 Years

Family:

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
NO

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
Liaison poured water, pollution, control authority
Liaison for park and rec rec commission
Served I’m planning and zoning from 1996 to 2015
Served on conservation commission.
Served on Forest and opened space commission.

Why are you seeking this office?
Lifelong resident in the Town Of Ellington.
Would like to continue to make improvements in town.
Super school zones.
Keep improving our recycle center to help save our taxpayers money.
Preserve farm land, and open space.
Future improvements for the farmers market.
Adding safer sidewalks for our pedestrians.
Working hard to acquire grant money to help our town with projects that are needed.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
Just would love everybody to work together so that Town can move forward

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
Being a lifelong resident and running the town for 10 years

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
Helping our veterans.
Getting Housing for are low income and seniors which we are in great need of.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
Memorial library parking lot expansion.
Lease solar carports with EV chargers.
Arbor Park complete lawn restoration, installing Irrigation new benches trashes receptacles.
Added a new outdoor fitness area with shade canopy at Arbor Park.
Senior Center indoor fitness equipment, Pickleball court, outdoor fitness area at a small greenhouse for the garden club. Updated the kitchen.
Maple Street – secure grant money for planting trees and creating a new location for the farmers market.
Working with the Town Of Vernon to update Vernon’s pump station which ELLINGTON uses we received grant money the amount of $4 million.
We were able to purchase a new Firetruck for Crystal Lake
We were able to purchase a new police cruiser.
Completely redid the high school running track.
Fire marshal received a new infrared camera.
Upgraded security cameras and all the town buildings and fire houses.
Received a new roadside mower for Deptartment of Public Works.
Work on funding for Windemere school project.
Added new sidewalks in town.
We see Grant money to help Crystal Lake Mill foil removal.
Headed to Town Administrator to help with the consistency of our day-to-day operations. As you may get a new person like every two years of Town will still have consistency, which is very important.
Upgrade to Townhall meeting room, adding monitors microphones new sound system to help to keep the Public more involved and what is happening during the meetings or transparency.
Updated two new pick ups for DPW.
Added a new dump truck with Plow for DPW.
Edit a new van for Recreation Deptartment and Human Service. added a new van for our board of education
At a Crystal Lake water study was completed.
Ellington middle school had a new elevator installed
New Enfield grooming machine was purchased for the maintenance of their ballfields
Sold small parts of land to get back on our Tax rolls
Ellington historic Society improvements, including new pavilion.
Ellington Volunteer Ambulance Corps, new SmartBoard, and new carpeting, which also serves as REOC.
Purchased land for our future Housing on Maple Street. Farmers market received a new gazebo.
Just a note - all this was completed with Grant money that I received also with the help of my fellow coworkers.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Do not give up

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
Currently serving on Connecticut regional Council of government
*- legislative committee
* - executive committee
* - policy board
* - crumbling foundations committee
* - personal and finance committee
* —— serving on the board of directors for Connecticut in our local risk management agency.
* — member of council of small towns.
* - serving on the Rockville regional consulting committee vocational agriculture.