Former Ellington First Selectman Returns To Town Board

ELLINGTON, CT — Former First Selectman Lori Spielman is back on the Board of Selectmen following a pair of changes involving two of the town’s elected boards.

Spielman was appointed during a special meeting Aug. 17 to fill the vacancy left by David Stavens, according to the town’s updated Board of Selectmen page.

The Ellington Republican Town Committee recommended Spielman for the position. She will serve the remainder of the term, which runs through December 2027.

Spielman, a Republican, served as Ellington’s first selectman from 2015 through 2025. She lost her bid for a sixth term last November to Democrat Laurie Burstein, who won by 159 votes, according to previous Patch reporting.

Spielman will now serve on the board chaired by Burstein. Before becoming first selectman, Spielman previously served on the Board of Selectmen, Inland Wetlands Agency and Planning and Zoning Commission.

The vacancy opened after selectmen appointed Stavens to the Board of Education, effective Aug. 11. He will complete an unexpired term ending Nov. 2, 2027, according to the Aug. 10 meeting minutes.

That school board seat had been held by Republican Michael Young, who resigned effective July 4. Under the town charter, replacements for elected officials must come from the same political party as the departing member.

Selectmen accepted Stavens’ resignation from their board on Aug. 10 but waited until the Aug. 17 special meeting to appoint his replacement.

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