Biography
A lifelong resident of East Lyme, Matthew Cini is a graduate of East Lyme High School and Trinity College in Hartford. Following college, Cini worked at the Connecticut State Capital and for the US Congress before starting his own business in Niantic.
As a Local Businessman...
In 1999, with the help of family and friends, Cini founded The East Lyme Tymes weekly newspaper. The newspaper quickly began to grow, and soon the Tymes had a sister paper in Waterford and also expanded its reach into Salem. The paper, now known as The Lyme Times, is now part of a 16 weekly newspaper group reaching 300,000 readers in 27 towns along the Connecticut shoreline.
As a Community Leader...
As one of the founding organizers of Celebrate East Lyme, a director of the East Lyme Library, a former director for the Downtown Niantic Light Parade, and a board member of the Children's Museum; Cini has donated his time and energy to help make many of East Lyme's premiere events and establishments even better.
As a Public Servant...
With four years experience on the Board of Finance in East Lyme, Cini learned the intricacies of the town budget, mill rates, taxation, bonding, and the process behind each was an integral part to serving on the board of Finance.
Cini was also appointed, by the Board of Selectmen, as Co-Chair of the East Lyme Waterfront Development Sub-Committee. The committee was given the task of reviewing the town's needs and resources and developing a comprehensive vision for the future of East Lyme's waterfront.
Cini has also worked for three years at the State Capitol in Hartford and one year with a United States Congressman. In differing roles at State Capitol, Cini served as staff in the Finance and Judiciary Committees, and as legislative liaison for the State Comptroller's office where he worked with all levels of state government to find new and innovative ways to manage and review Connecticut's multi-billion dollar budget. While with the Congressman, Cini worked as a liaison between residents of the district and the Internal Revenue Service and also worked with small businesses and banks to help secure SBA loans.
As Part of a Family...
Matthew Cini is the son of Sally Cini and the late David Cini. His father was an active public servant in East Lyme who served four years on the Board of Education, and then served from 1989 till his passing in 1997 as First Selectman.
Matthew's mother, Sally Cini is a 37 year veteran of the East Lyme school system, where she currently teaches English at East Lyme High School. She is also currently a volunteer for the Niantic Main Street organization.
Matthew's two sisters also reside in East Lyme. Heather and Ken Roberts live in Attawan Beach with their three daughters Kaley, Kendall, and Daven. Holly Cini and her fiancé Michael Manifold live in Black Point.
Matthew's wife Jessica is the assistant general manager at Tanger Outlets in Westbrook. Matthew and his wife live in downtown Niantic.
As a Coach...
Cini took up the sport of rowing and excelled at the sport through high school and college. In his career, Cini won the New England Championship, and competed at the prestigious Henley Regatta in England. After college, Cini got back into the sport as a coach. He began as a coach of the East Lyme Summer program, and then coached the East Lyme High School Freshmen team. He then moved into collegiate racing by taking the position of men's freshmen coach at the Coast Guard Academy in New London. His success as a coach at the Coast Guard earned him a promotion to head men's coach of Coast Guard rowing in 2003.
