As a committed resident of East Lyme, a dad raising two teenage daughters, a physician, a member of our town’s Board of Finance, and now as the new co-chair of the East Lyme Democratic Town Committee, I’ve had the privilege to see this community from many angles. Through all of those perspectives, I’ve come to one simple conclusion: steady, thoughtful leadership matters. And that’s exactly what Dan Cunningham has given our town.
Since taking over as First Selectman from Republican-led Boards in 2023, Dan has been steering East Lyme through challenges that would have overwhelmed a lesser leader. He inherited financial and operational problems left from prior administrations and—without fanfare or blame—rolled up his sleeves and fixed them. He modernized how our town functions, working closely with our police and fire departments to make them more responsive and better equipped. He’s focused on keeping taxes stable while investing in what actually matters: infrastructure, public safety, and services that touch every household in town.
Scott McCallister (left), with East Lyme First Selectman Dan Cunningham in front of Democratic Campaign Headquarters in Niantic, CT.
As a physician who has taken care of people for many years and who conducts scientific research to advance new treatment options for people who are often marginalized in our community, I understand what it means to lead under pressure—to make decisions grounded in evidence, compassion, and a sense of responsibility to others. And I know firsthand what it take to work against headwinds, many of them stronger than we wish we had to face.
And Dan Cunningham, well, he operates in that same spirit. He’s practical, not political. He listens, truly listens, to the people who live here. Dan has the rare ability to disagree respectfully and to find solutions that work for everyone, not just for one side or one moment. And he really does find those solutions, he doesn’t defer them out of political convenience or because they’re tough challenges to tackle. He gets it done.
East Lyme deserves that kind of continuity. Progress takes time, and consistency is how you turn vision into lasting results. Under Dan’s leadership, our town has not just recovered—it has grown stronger, fairer, and more forward-looking. His calm presence has set a tone that invites collaboration, not conflict; service, not self-promotion.
As a dad, I want my daughters to see what effective local leadership looks like. I want them to understand that government, at its best, isn’t about noise or headlines—it’s about doing the hard, steady work that makes a community thrive. Dan Cunningham embodies that ethic every day.
So, when in casting my ballot this election cycle in our town, it will be with confidence and gratitude—for the work Dan has done, for the integrity he brings, and for the example he has set for me to be a better member of our community and to try harder to help others, regardless of who they are, what they look like, who they love, or how they make their way in our town.
Dan sets this example for all of us!
East Lyme is better for his leadership, and I’m super proud to stand behind him for another term as our First Selectman.
Scott McCallister, MD, East Lyme, CT