Unaffiliated candidates run to be selectmen

EAST HADDAM » Irene Haines and running mate Rob Smith have announced their candidacy for first selectman and selectman of East Haddam on the Unaffiliated ticket.

In more than 20 years as a resident, Haines has served the town as a volunteer on a number of boards and associations, from the Rathbun Library to the Local Prevention Council to the president of the middle school PTO to the high school Music Boosters and Project Grad, according to a press release.

As president of the East Haddam Business Association, she created the Taste of East Haddam, a yearly event featuring restaurants, community organizations and area businesses. In September 2015, she helped create the East Haddam News, the release continues.

“The East Haddam News was essential for help build a strong, informed and involved community,” Haines said in a prepared statement. “I can think of no better way to continue that mission than by serving East Haddam as its first selectman. I believe that by building community collaboration, maintaining a transparent and fiscally responsible, competent government we will improve our business climate.”

Smith has a longstanding tradition of serving the citizens of East Haddam and the state of Connecticut, according to the release.

He is president of the Land Trust, chairman of the East Haddam Conservation Commission and was an emergency medical technician for 24 years, serving East Haddam and Lyme.

After 33 years in the state park system, he retired as assistant director.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Irene Haynes

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Rob Smith