The Lymes 2023 Election Voter Guide: Candidates, Polling Places

THE LYMES, CT — On Nov. 7, Lyme, Old Lyme, and East Lyme residents cast their votes for several key municipal positions.

Polls in Connecticut are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can use the Secretary of State’s website to find your polling place. Voters who are in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

Connecticut also allows for Election Day registration at designated centers in each town. People must be registered by 8 p.m. in order to vote using Election Day registration. To receive your absentee ballot, complete and sign an application and return it to your Town Clerk, or you can request an absentee ballot online.

Return to Patch for results as they come in. Subscribe to free local news alerts and to receive real-time election results.

EAST LYME

First Selectman

The Democratic candidate is Dan Cunningham. The Republican candidate is Anne Santoro.

Board of Selectmen

For Board of Selectmen, you will vote for up to three candidates. The Democratic candidates are Jason Deeble, Ann Cicchiello, and Tony Attanasio. The Republican candidates are Candice Carlson, Don MacKenzie, and Rose Ann Hardy.

Board of Finance

For Board of Finance, you will vote for up to three candidates. The Democratic candidates are Sandy Gignac, Rich Steel, and Jay Ginsberg. The Republican candidate is Lauren M. McNamara.

Board of Education

For Board of Education, you will vote for up to five candidates. The Democratic candidates are Esteban Garcia, Vivek Purohit, Steve Luber, Cate Steel, and Jill Carini. The Republican candidates are Olivia Fairchild, Jaime Barr Shelburn, and Eric Bauman.

Board of Assessment Appeals

For Board of Assessment Appeals, you will vote for up to two candidates. The Democratic candidates are Michael Bekech and Susan Graham. The Republican candidates are Patrick Hughes and Suzanne Szupiany.

Planning Commission

For Planning Commission, you will vote for up to three candidates. The Democratic candidates are Brian Bohmbach, Richard Gordon, and Nick Menapace. The Republican candidates are Don Phimister and Bonnie L. Smithers.

Planning Commission Alternate

For Planning Commission Alternate, you will vote for up to two candidates. The Democratic candidates are Sam Sims and Cindy Collins. The Republican candidate is James Liska.

Zoning Commission

For Zoning Commission, you will vote for up to three candidates. The Democratic candidates are Gary Pivo, Denise Markovitz, and Nancy Kalal. The Republican candidates are Anne Thurlow and Dave Schmitt.

Zoning Commission Alternate (full-term)

The Democratic candidate is Greg McIntire. The Republican candidate is Marc Peterson.

Zoning Commission Alternate (two-year-term)

Democratic candidate Sarah Susco is running unopposed.

Ballot Questions

(Votes will choose Yes or No on all questions)

1) Shall the town charter be amended to increase the First Selectman's term of office from two to four years?

2) Shall the town charter be amended to stagger and increase the Board of Selectmen terms of office from two to four years?

3) Shall the town charter be amended so that the offices of Town Clerk and Tax Collector become hired administrative officers rather than elected officers?

4) Shall the town charter be amended so that an appointee to a vacancy in an elective office serves the remainder of the term that was filled?

5) Shall the town charter be amended to increase the price of real estate that may be purchased or sold upon the Board of Selectmen's authority and without town approval from $10,000 to $100,000?

6) Shall the town charter be amended to provide for automatic approval of requests for special appropriations or transfers of funds if the Board of Finance fails to act on such requests within 30 days?

7) Shall the town charter be amended to not require the Board of Finance or Town Meeting approval of projects funded entirely by state, federal, or private grants that do not require an appropriation of town funds, unless acceptance of such grant would have an adverse impact on future operating budgets?

8) Shall the town charter be amended to increase the Board of Selectmen's authority to make special appropriations, with Board of Finance's approval from $10,000 to an aggregate of $100,000 per town department in each fiscal year?

9) Shall the town charter be amended to substitute electronic and town website publication for newspaper publication as allowed by law?

10) Shall all other proposed revisions be made to the town charter to update and be consistent with the remainder of the town charter, longstanding town practices, and Connecticut law?

11) Shall the town charter be amended to provide for the Board of Selectmen to consider charter review at intervals of a minimum of every ten years?

LYME

First Selectman

Republican David M. Lahm is running unopposed.

Selectmen

The Democratic candidate is John Kiker. The petitioning candidate is Kristina Birgitta White.

Board of Finance

For Board of Finance, you will vote for up to two candidates. The Democratic candidate is Steve Mattison. The Republican candidate is David M. Brown.

Board of Finance (to fill two-year vacancy)

Democratic candidate Jim Miller is running unopposed.

Board of Finance Alternate (to fill two-year vacancy)

Republican candidate Jeffery Oyster is running unopposed.

Board of Assessment Appeals

Republican candidate G. Hayden Reynolds Jr. is running unopposed.

Planning and Zoning Commission

For Planning and Zoning Commission, you will vote for up to three candidates. The Democratic candidate is Kristina White. The Republican candidates are Frederick B. Gahagan and William J. Fiske.

Planning and Zoning Commission Alternate

Democratic candidate Mary Stone is running unopposed.

Zoning Board of Appeals

For Zoning Board of Appeals, you will vote for up to two candidates. The Democratic candidate is Anna James. The Republican candidate is David S. Gage.

Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate

Republican candidate Henry A. Lahm is running unopposed.

Library Board of Directors

Democratic candidate John Kiker is running unopposed.

Regional Board of Education

The Democratic candidate is Gavin Lodge. The Republican candidate is Mary Powell-St. Louis.

OLD LYME

First Selectman

The Democratic candidate is Martha H. Shoemaker. The Republican candidate is John H. Mesham.

Selectman

The Democratic candidate is Jim Lampos. The Republican candidate is Judith Danehower Read.

Town Treasurer

The Democratic candidate is Michael Reiter. The Republican candidate is Matthew P. Ward.

Tax Collector

The Democratic candidate is Bonnie A. Reemsnyder. The Republican candidate is Suzanne Thompson.

Board of Finance

For Board of Finance, you will vote for up to two candidates. The Democratic candidates are Anna S. Reiter and Bennett J. Bernblum. The Republican candidate is Harold P. Garvin III.

Board of Finance Alternates

For Board of Finance Alternates, you will vote for up to three candidates. The Democratic candidates are Diane Linderman, Sheila A. Riffle, and Candace A. Fuchs. The Republican candidates are Maria Corrao Marchant and Matthew Olson.

Board of Assessment Appeals

The Democratic candidate is Peter Hunt. The Republican candidate is David W. Evers Jr.

Planning Commission (five-year term begins 2023)

The Democratic candidate is Michael Aurelia. The Republican candidate is Barbara B. Gaudio.

Planning Commission (five-year term begins 2024)

The Democratic candidate is Howard Margules. The Republican candidate is Donald Willis.

Zoning Commission (five-year term begins 2023)

Paul J. Orzel is running unopposed.

Zoning Commission (five year term begins 2024)

The Democratic candidate is Denise Savageau. The Republican candidate is Tammy Tinnerello.

Zoning Board of Appeals (five-year term begins 2023)

The Democratic candidate is Stephanie Mickle. The Republican candidate is Daniel Montano.

Zoning Board of Appeals (five-year term begins 2024)

Republican candidate Nancy Hutchinson is running unopposed.

Zoning Board of Appeals Alternates

For Zoning Board of Appeals Alternates, you will vote for up to three candidates. The Democratic candidates are Kathleen Tracy and Michaelle Pearson. The Republican candidates are Brian Cole, Peter Lucchese, and Rod Clingman.

Regional Board of Education

For Regional Board of Education, you will vote for up to three candidates. The Democratic candidates are Alexander Lowry, W. Scott Brown, and Susan P. Fogliano. The Republican candidates are Suzanne Thompson, Michael Presti, and Steven J. Wilson.