Outcome of election in Salem doesn't hold much suspense

Salem - The town's vote for Board of Selectmen on Nov. 3 shouldn't produce any surprises: All three candidates are running unopposed.

Current First Selectman Bob Ross, who is unaffiliated, and incumbent Democrat Robyn McKenney are up for the two open four-year terms on the Board of Selectmen. Kevin Lyden, who is unaffiliated, is the lone candidate for the two-year term of first selectman after receiving endorsements from both the Democrats and the Republicans.

"It will be an honor to be first selectman," said the 52-year-old Lyden. "I'll do the best for people in town."

As a selectman, he considers his number-one priority to be the "best utilization of taxpayers' money."

"I was on the Board of Finance last year in that tough budget (environment) and I saw what we had to do," Lyden said. "We can try and attract business to our town, which will help our funding somewhat, but really we have to try and keep costs in check."

Lyden said he plans on trying to form partnerships with other towns to save money "while still maintaining an acceptable level of control," although he did not provide specifics. He also promised to train personnel to reach higher levels of efficiency and "optimize the economies of scale with town, school and fire companies."

Lyden said he will continue Ross's push toward "responsible economic development" and be as accessible to the private sector as possible.

"We have to show businesses that we are a business-friendly town," he said. "This is not just about attracting new businesses, but in a tough economy we have to do everything we can to keep what we already have."

To help illustrate his points, Lyden has organized a free seminar, "Marketing and Branding your Small Business," Dec. 8 that he hopes will be the first of many quarterly seminars. The goal, he said, is to both attract new businesses and improve relations with the existing ones.

"I think this town could definitely use some more business, not just because it will ease the tax burden but because it provides a service to the town," Lyden said.

"For example, I would love to see an IGA in town," he continued. "It would make it so you didn't have to drive to Colchester or Waterford just to get a couple of groceries, and I really don't think people would be resistant to that."

Recruiting people to help is another area Lyden promises to concentrate on. As he says, "Salem runs on volunteers." Both Salem fire departments are mostly volunteer, with just one paid employee at each. Town boards and commissions are unpaid except for the position of first selectman.

"We need a new generation of volunteers," he said. "The same people have been giving to the town for the last 15, 20 years and we need to get some fresh people to help as well."

Ross, who was planning on running for a second term until he was appointed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell last summer as the state's executive director of military affairs, endorsed Lyden and expects to see "a seamless transition."

Ross has asked Lyden to name him director of the roundabout installation project at Salem Four Corners, slated to begin in either 2011 or 2012.

"Me and Kevin are sort of from the same cloth," Ross said. "We are both unaffiliated, we both are very close with the town Republicans and the town Democrats, and we both are going to do what's best for Salem."

Robyn McKenney will continue on the board. McKenney considers economic development the number-one issue in town, and praises the work of the Economic Development Commission, which she says "will facilitate the growth of new businesses and support existing businesses in town."

Lyden was born in Salem and lived there until he moved to Hawaii in the early 1980s. He got married there and had three children while starting a successful construction company. In 2006, he sold the company, retired and moved home.