Preston voters will get new registrars
Published November 01. 2014 12:01AM | Updated November 01. 2014 12:23AM
By Claire Bessette Day Staff Writer
Preston - There are two new names on the Preston ballot Tuesday in the uncontested election for registrars of voters as the town's incumbents prepare to retire after Tuesday.
Democrat Joanne Eisenhard and Republican Lennie Spencer both are new to town politics and both said they look forward to serving the town.
The two were chosen by their respective town committees after 10-year veteran Republican Registrar Parke Spicer and six-year veteran Democratic Registrar Eleanor Michaud announced their plans to retire. Tuesday will be their last long day of working the polls at Preston Town Hall.
Spencer, 57, retired as a captain in 2006 after 27 years in the U.S. Navy. He served 11 years of active duty in the submarine force, followed by 16 years in the Navy Reserves. He has lived in Preston since 2011.
Spencer said he has wanted to get involved in local politics and Spicer's pending retirement gave him the opportunity to run for the position. He said he looked into serving on other town boards but his commitments to his church, Christ Lutheran Church in Niantic, and his involvement in the church choir left him with limited time for evening meetings.
Eisenhard retired two years ago as a teacher in the Diocese of Norwich school system. She taught in public schools prior to her time with the diocese.
Eisenhard said she has lived in Preston for about 20 years and now has time to become active in local government. Eisenhard said the part-time position is a good way to become involved with the town and to meet residents.
"I feel voting is very important," Eisenhard said. "They needed someone to try the position, and I said I would give it a try."
c.bessette@theday.com
Twitter: @Bessettetheday
Norwich Public Utilities provides hospital with $46,635 rebate after it completes energey-efficiency project.
Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun report another month of slots-revenue declines
Slot-machine revenue at the southeastern Connecticut casinos continued to slide in June, the first month in which a new competitor, Encore Boston Harbor, was open.
Connecticut's Correction Department is investigating an inmate writing program run by author Wally Lamb after a lawsuit was filed this spring by some of the participants
In its last meeting before August's town wide sewer referendum, the Water Pollution Control Authority recently made another stride to further its sewer project in the Sound View neighborhood.