Lori Spielman is the First
Selectwoman of the town of Ellington. She is the top elected official of the town, leading the administration of all town
offices, the maintenance of roadways, parks, and other facilities, the public safety of citizens, the keeping of financial accounts, and the appointment of administrative officers and boards and commission members.
She serves on multiple boards and committees, including the CRCOG Policy Board and Executive Committee; she is also co-chair of the Crumbling Foundations Committee. She is a member of the CCM Insurance Advisory Board, the Capitol Region Chiefs of Police Association, the Capitol Region Purchasing Council, and the Capitol Region Emergency Planning Council. In addition, she serves on the Rockville Vo-Ag Advisory Board.
Q: How long have you served in your current role? Can you tell us about a notable achievement in your career?
A: This is my sixth year as the First Selectman in Ellington. While I’ve been fortunate to oversee many excellent projects during my career, getting the Route 83 Sidewalks Project going is something I’m especially proud of.
Q: What three attributes would you use to describe your leadership style?
A: If I had to choose three attributes to describe my leadership style, I would say hardworking, accessible, and humble. I love the community I serve, and I am always looking for ways to improve our town. I have an open-door policy, and residents are always welcome to come by to talk with me about any ideas or concerns they may have.
Q: What’s your favorite quote and why?
A: “What you do has far greater impact than what you say.” – Stephen Covey
I feel like there is always such a focus on developing the perfect message, the ideal response to things that come your way, and the follow-through of that is often lacking. Anyone can craft a beautiful, meaningful sentiment, but unless your actions back that up, it loses meaning quickly. I value meaningful actions and always strive to put myself into a position where I can see my commitments through.
Q: What activities are you looking forward to over the rest of the year?
A: I’m looking forward to the return of different special events, including the Harvest Festival at our Nellie McKnight Museum, as well as Winterfest.
We’re working on improvements to the Veterans Memorial in the center of town, as well as adding more sidewalks along Main Street. We’ve recently
acquired various plots of land in town. I’m looking forward to seeing these projects develop, from school expansions to enhanced parking at Hall Memorial Library and increasing the availability of low-income senior housing in town. I want to ensure that Ellington is a great place for all of our residents, regardless of age.
