Your Aug. 27 editorial was on target, “Ethics finding not credible.”  

The New London ethics panel should consider first the definition of “member of the public.”  Reid Burdick is most likely not someone who fits the intended definition of that term consistent with his complaint against Mayor Daryl J. Finizio. 

Burdick is not a public person, but is instead a public figure according to the case law of the United States: A public figure is one who "thrust themselves to the forefront of particular public controversies in order to influence the resolution of the issues involved" to be considered a "limited purpose" public figure. Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc. (1974) 418 U.S. 323, 345. 

If one enters freely into the arena, one should not cry when bloodied by a superior force. 

David Romei

New London