After Eight Years, A Last Day in Office
ESSEX - There is a legend that circulates around Essex town government every so often. It is based on a longstanding town ordinance, since revised, that required a successful first selectman candidate take office just a few short hours after his victory at the polls. This meant the loser, should he be the incumbent, had to physically clear out of the Town Hall office, and, the legend goes, there has been more than one former first selectman seen-alone and in the dead of night-hauling cardboard boxes from office to car.
That is not the case with Philip Miller, now Essex's former first selectman. Last Tuesday he had just one more box to pack as he left the Town Hall office.
"There are just a few things to clear from the top of the desk and from the center drawer," he said.
Miller, now the state representative from a district that covers Chester, Deep River, Essex, and Haddam, chose not to seek re-election. He served eight years as first selectman.
Miller knows a good deal of local history, so he explained, "in 1973, Carl Ellison was the first Democrat to win this seat...Dick Riggio won after that, then there was me."
Norman Needleman will be the fourth Democratic first selectman, Miller added.
Miller did not need to pack up his office on Election Day. A few years ago residents saw the wisdom of allowing a departing first selectman a week in which to vacate the office. A town meeting has since changed the old ordinance.
"I feel optimistic about the future of Essex," Miller said. "We have been affected the last few years with the recession, but even in these tight times, I believe we have done better than other towns and we are certainly in better shape than we were 10 years ago. The town has succeeded in many areas and that has been because of a bipartisan approach."
He sees Essex as part of a region "with a great future." He said, "We are a small town, only 12 square miles…but as part of a region along the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound, I see further development of our natural and historic assets [and]the arts. Think of the attractions we have here with the Ivoryton Playhouse, the Connecticut River Museum, the Steam Train…all opportunities to build on, for future economic growth."
He added, "We have wonderful non-profits. The spirit of volunteerism in this community is alive and well, and very encouraging. We have vibrant churches, and civic associations, the Board of Trade, all these things bode well for the future of Essex."
Miller has completed just one session of the state legislature. It will not convene again until January. What does he hope to accomplish there?
"I hope to take some of the common sense I learned in Essex to the legislature. This has been a great experience and I consider myself fortunate to have worked with many gifted, talented people, from Patty Dowling at the Shoreline Soup Kitchens to Lee Thompson with the Economic Development Commission. Those are just two examples. There are so many more."
Gesturing around his office, he said, "This has been remarkable, wonderful."