East Lyme First Selectman Mark Nickerson inherited a town heading in the right direction when he moved up from the deputy first selectman’s chair about one year ago. Fellow Republican Paul Formica, who enjoyed significant bipartisan support while in office, stepped down after his election to the state Senate.

Mr. Formica had dealt with some of the most challenging issues facing the town. His pursuit of a water connection to the New London water system ended the summer water restrictions that had long plagued his town. The Gateway Commons development project in the Flanders section, which had stalled during the economic downtown following the Great Recession, began to revive before Mr. Formica left office. Also put in place before Mr. Formica moved on was a project to rebuild the Niantic Bay Boardwalk, damaged by successive storms, this time designed in a manner to better handle southern New England's coastal weather.

Overall, it was a nice position from which to begin his time as first selectman. To his credit, progress has continued in the year since Mr. Nickerson took office.

Although East Lyme already has a broad tax base and relatively low property taxes, Mr. Nickerson remains aggressively pro-development. When Simon Konover of West Hartford and KGI Properties of Providence sought to increase the units in the apartment complex component of the Gateway project from 280 to 400, Mr. Nickerson put the weight of the first selectman’s office behind it, advocating for approval to the Zoning Commission. The commission approved the change, despite the lack of an endorsement from the Planning Commission, which concluded such an expansion was inconsistent with the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development.

It will now be incumbent upon Mr. Nickerson, if re-elected, to make sure the commercial portion of the Gateway project is built as planned, resulting in the mixed-use project the town was promised, along with the corresponding road improvements and safer access to Interstate 95.

The village of Niantic continues to evolve as a major destination point in southeastern Connecticut. Earlier this month the town learned it will receive a $500,000 state grant to help extend water and sewer mains and construct public restrooms by Cini Park. The Malloy administration, in awarding the grant, said it will “encourage greater economic vitality in the downtown Niantic area.”

Asked at an Oct. 13 debate whether too much development, and resulting activity, could despoil the village’s character, Mr. Nickerson signaled full speed ahead, pointing to the potential for trolley service that could shuttle visitors to and from Niantic's shore.

Another candidate might generate a debate over the amount of growth that is good for East Lyme. But in Democrat Steve Carpenteri, Mr. Nickerson faces an opponent who during their Oct. 13 debate voiced agreement with the incumbent on the Gateway expansion and building on Niantic’s development success.

Mr. Carpenteri, a businessman, appears sincere in his desire to serve East Lyme, but he comes across as a reluctant candidate. His answers to policy questions are brief and superficial and leave the impression that he would need considerable on-the-job training if elected.

Most alarming at the debate was Mr. Carpenteri’s lack of knowledge about key developments in the town’s effort to block a housing project in Oswegatchie Hills. The situation drags on, with the developer repeatedly filing plans only to face rejection from land-use commissions. State laws that require towns such as East Lyme to allow more affordable housing, a component of the proposed project, limit local control.

Last May, Mr. Nickerson and developer Glenn Russo signed an unusual agreement. If East Lyme can find an alternative development location, Mr. Russo’s company would turn over the Oswegatchie Hills land. It is a creative effort to end the stalemate, but so far unsuccessful.

Whoever becomes first selectman will have the challenge of holding down taxes while dealing with planned school renovation projects. The experienced incumbent is more up to the job.

Mr. Nickerson has done enough to earn a term in his own right. He is the superior candidate in the race. The Day endorses Mark Nickerson for re-election as first selectman of East Lyme.