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To the Editor:
Many have heard of the “incumbency effect”, which is attributed in part to those officials’ name recognition. According to a study by Cindy D. Kam and Elizabeth J. Zechmeister published in the American Journal of Political Science in 2013, just a three-day subliminal exposure to a candidate’s name can increase support for the politician. That is why I want to introduce two worthy East Lyme community members NEW to seeking office.
Vivek Purohit and Steve Luber are Democrats running for seats on the Board of Education. Both are parents with demonstrated excellence but less name recognition than many others.
Vivek Purohit is a Pfizer Drug Development Scientist with a PhD from the State University of NY Buffalo, and served on the EL Charter Revision Committee.
Steve Luber, meanwhile, is also a PhD and the Acting Director for the Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology at Connecticut College, and serves on the Board of Directors of the East Lyme Library.
Both are passionate in their support of teachers and students, and will bring a fresh perspective to discussions concerning academics, structure, and needed budget balancing.
To be fair, East Lyme Democrats have three returning BOE members running who are also excellent. But, as an individual happily *not* running for office, I keenly appreciate those neighbors willing to newly take on the challenge that is campaigning. I know both men as friendly, kind, fair-minded, but also humble. So I wanted to give them this plug and invite you to join me in voting for them.
Michelle Maitland
Niantic, CT