On March 8, New London voters will have the opportunity to vote on who will serve as our next Selectman. In recent years, this has been decided by just a handful of votes.
That’s why I am asking you to support Colin Beasley in his run for New London Selectman — your vote counts!
I have served on the Budget Committee for New London for the last ten years as well as on several other town committees. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to work with Colin on these committees.
As a member of the Budget and Building & Facilities Committees, Colin has contributed his time and expertise for the benefit of all New London residents. His thoughtful approach to town government has helped move forward several initiatives to benefit both residents and employees.
He advocates for a thorough understanding of our fiscal decisions, considering that the impact of dollars spent affects everyone a bit differently. Some have the means to financially support all changes, but Colin understands that others are impacted greatly.
On the Police Department Subcommittee, Whipple Hall Subcommittee and the 2018 Capital Improvement Plan Committee, Colin has worked hard to explore and advocate for necessary changes. He helped to reinstate funds for the Planning Board’s Main Street Corridor Study to address multilevel traffic. He’s advocated to reinstate funds to digitize town records when they were previously removed from the budget by the Selectmen.
Colin is board chair of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, thus appreciates local conservation efforts. He promotes collaboration between the New London Recreation Department and The Outing Club, understanding the need for efficiency and teamwork for a common purpose. He’s been supportive in exploring needs and a potential new site for the Police Department, for the security and benefit of emergency personnel.
Please join me in voting for Colin Beasley for New London Selectman to make your vote count too!
Joe Cardillo
New London
On March 8, we are asked to vote to discontinue Lebanon’s School Resource Officer program created in 2004. I will vote no.
The program was created to engender a positive relationship between students and staff with our local police department. From all indications it has had that effect. Rather than create distance between entities and allow misinformation or unnecessary difficult relationships to develop, it was thought that positive relationships could be fostered.
So what happened? An advisory vote was taken, which I believed started in one direction and ended in another, and in any case, was split almost evenly. I believe that the effects of a steady drumbeat of horrible situations in Minneapolis, Baltimore and numerous other places allowed some people to fear for the same happening in Lebanon. So they thought the worst could happen here. But Lebanon is not these other places.
Let’s not remove a good program with positive results.
Tom McGonis
West Lebanon
On March 8, 2022, I am asking residents of Ward One in West Lebanon to place their confidence in me and vote for me to be their next city councilor. I have lived in the city for over thirty years, where I have served as a member of your fire department for all that time. I moved my family to West Lebanon in 2004. This is where we brought my daughter Phoebe up, developed relationships with our neighbors and came to understand the differences between Lebanon and West Lebanon that impact our way of life and economic development opportunities.
Upon my retirement from city employment, I decided to run for City Council because I believe in serving my community, because I believe that West Lebanon is finally on a pathway to revitalization and because I have a unique understanding of city government operations. The plan the West Lebanon Revitalization Advisory Committee has reported out to the City Council puts forward a vision we can advance. It’s time to bring funding to this side of our great city and put this plan into action.
I am a proud member of my community and a dedicated public servant. I plan to put my time, energy and thoughtfulness to work for you. Again, I ask for your vote on March 8, 2022.
Christian Simon
West Lebanon
On March 8, Lebanon voters will have the opportunity to vote on a number of issues that impact our schools, including election of three school board members. We also have the opportunity to provide our school buildings with necessary renovations.
Article 2 is a bond that will allow for the long-awaited renovation of Hanover Street School and Lebanon High School, including safe, accessible entrances and increased classroom space in both buildings. The amount of this bond is significantly lower than in past years because our district is able to use ESSER funds for the renovation of Mount Lebanon School and remove these renovations from the bond-funded project.
Well-funded schools and carefully maintained, renovated buildings are a source of pride for the entire community and increase the value of living in Lebanon. I am proud to be the parent of two Lebanon students, a teacher at Lebanon High School and a Lebanon taxpayer. I urge you to vote YES on Article 2 on March 8.
Ann Sharfstein
Lebanon
For several years, we’ve heard Colin Beasley speak at a variety of town committee meetings where he’s demonstrated that he’s well-researched in the town’s master plan, budgets, buildings and facilities, capital improvement program, and conservation and energy initiatives. Just as important, we’ve witnessed Colin actively listen to and ask thoughtful questions of other town participants. He’s well-informed, collaborative, data-driven, nonpartisan, dedicated and a friendly town volunteer with integrity. As integrity is especially important to us, we’ll vote for Colin Beasley for New London’s Selectboard on Tuesday, March 8.
Colin’s concern over this year’s greater than 10% budget increase led him to take a principled position that the future budget process should include estimates of funding resources in conjunction with expenses, rather than as an afterthought. Some may disagree with concerns over such a budget increase, but Colin is very attuned to the fact that increases like this will double town expenditures from over $7M in 2019 to more than $14M by 2026, if new sources of revenue are not explored nor efficiencies of operations pursued.
Colin believes that the budget should balance cost increases with cost management, calling for collaboration among the Selectboard, budget committee and town departments to address Master Plan initiatives that can be achieved in a tax-responsible manner. He believes the Selectboard should be accountable to residents and taxpayers with detailed plans for their decisions. He values input from the Citizens Advisory Committee, which was reinstated in 2019 after having been disbanded by previous selectmen.
Colin also believes any town effort to purchase property should include consultations with and advice from town committees. He recognizes the police station needs improvements, perhaps requiring a new site and facility, but also understands that a comprehensive review is essential for an affordable, successful project.
Since Colin announced his run for Selectboard just weeks ago, there have been rumors circulating about his beliefs and positions. How unfortunate for this to occur in a nonpartisan, local election. Colin is registered as an undeclared voter and has supporters on both sides of the aisle. New London deserves better than those promoting wrongful comments.
Barry & KC Wright
New London