Staying the course in EL

The Day endorses Paul M. Formica in his re-election campaign against write-in challenger Phillip Delaney.

A Republican, Mr. Formica, 56, is seeking a second two-year term. A businessman, he owns the Flanders Fish Market in Niantic. He has run the town in business fashion, identifying needs and taking steps to address them. Those include increasing the town's water supply options to address summer shortages and beginning discussion on regional water sharing to address long-term needs.

During his two years in office, town voters have approved the budget in the first referendum vote, free of the rancor of previous years. The Niantic streetscape project is now under way. Partisan acrimony in town has diminished. General satisfaction with his leadership certainly contributed to the failure of the Democrats to field a challenger.

Among his priorities for a second term will be the formation of a "Vision Committee" to help develop long-term planning. While Mr. Delaney deserves credit for providing competition, always healthy in politics, voters should re-elect the incumbent.

East Lyme voters will also be asked to amend the Town Charter to send the budget to an automatic referendum each year. We urge a NO vote on Question 1. If unhappy with spending plans, residents already have the right to force a referendum. Why make it automatic? The change would also strip citizens of the power to amend the budget at the town meeting.

The other four questions would allow technical adjustments to the charter and we recommend YES votes.