In the upcoming election in Old Lyme, my endorsement goes to John Mesham and Jude Read for First Selectman and Selectwoman. I believe they are the right team to keep Old Lyme’s taxes low, protect our local autonomy and ensure Old Lyme continues to be a safe, welcoming town. John is a veteran with years of leadership and management experience serving as a state police Master Sergeant and resident State Trooper. The First Selectman in a resident trooper town is also the Chief of Police, so John would be able to handle public safety issues from day one. Jude has served dutifully on both the Board of Finance and the Board of Education. She understands Old Lyme’s finances and will work to spend taxpayer dollars responsibly. They are the perfect combination of different skill sets and I know they both want what’s best for Old Lyme, the town they chose to build their lives and raise their families. They will fight for Old Lyme against state mandates that will hurt our quality of life, like one-size-fits-all zoning and education regulations and increased taxes targeted at our residents. Please vote for Mesham/Read on Nov. 7. They will put Old Lyme’s needs first.

Devin Carney

Old Saybrook

Editor’s note: The writer is a a Republican state Rep. serving the towns of Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook and Westbrook.