Republican First Selectman Paul M. Formica is seeking election to a third two-year term in East Lyme. Town voters have no reason to change leadership now.

During his first two terms, Mr. Formica has overseen budgets that have kept property taxes steady. He has made major inroads toward addressing the town's seasonal water problems. Overall, there appears to be general satisfaction with his leadership and political acrimony has remained at a minimum.

Mr. Formica, who owns the Flanders Fish Market in Niantic, recognizes that an adequate supply of water is critical to both his town's future and that of the region generally. He is aware that a lack of access to water could choke the region's prospects for economic growth.

East Lyme's water issues are seasonal. When water flow slows during dry summers, and the town population grows with seasonal visitors, state environmental regulations require East Lyme to reduce the use of its public well system for fear demand will adversely affect water tables.

The first selectman is pursuing a plan, backed by town voters, to build a connection to take water from the New London reservoir during July and August, then ship water from the East Lyme wells during other times of the year. It is a creative solution to a sticky problem.

Mr. Formica has also been aggressive in pushing for connections and agreements among the water utilities all over the region to improve reliability and add redundancy throughout southeastern Connecticut.

This attitude reflects the incumbent first selectman's interest in regional initiatives to provide services more efficiently. Mr. Formica has had discussions with Waterford and other towns about coordination of police services. The towns of East Lyme and Waterford share an animal shelter and there is talk of building a new one, though the project has stalled due to cost concerns.

Mr. Formica said he is eager to consolidate 911 services regionally and is exploring creation of a new regional health district to produce more savings. If re-elected, we urge him to aggressively pursue a regional agenda in the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments.

The incumbent faces Democrat Mark Princevalle, an energy consultant who would like to see the town more aggressively pursue energy conservation and work to attract renewable energy companies. But the challenger does not display the policy breadth of the incumbent.

On balance, Mr. Formica is the better choice. The Day endorses Paul M. Formica for first selectman of East Lyme.