Groton clerk's job is up for grabs after 24 years

Groton - While the Town Clerk office is an elected position in Groton, this fall is the first time in 24 years there has been competition for the job.

Current clerk Barbara Tarbox, who has served six consecutive four-year terms, decided against running again, so voters must choose between Republican Nicki Bresnyan, the executive assistant to the town manager, and Democrat Betsy Moukawsher, the chairwoman of the Democratic Town Committee, when they go to the polls next week.

Bresnyan, who has worked in Groton for 29 years, said her experience in town government means she can easily take over for Tarbox in January.

"I think I'm the best person for the job because of my experience," Bresnyan said. "I'm already familiar with rules, procedures state statutes, other employees. You name it, I have it. I can start right from day one."

Bresnyan has spent the last six years as the executive assistant to town manager Mark Oefinger, a job that she said requires her to interact with nearly every aspect of town government on a daily basis.

"I have quite a history of staffing the various boards and commissions and have a pretty broad overview of the organization as a whole," she said. "Fortunately, my six years in the town manager's office have really solidified that."

Bresnyan said she learned early on that Tarbox would be retiring, but said she put off deciding whether to seek the office, her first foray into politics.

"My entire career, I have not been involved in politics," she said. "And that's one of the things that I like about the Town Clerk's office: It's an elected position, but it's not a political position. And when this process is over, I can go back to being an administrator serving the citizens of Groton."

Moukawsher has worked as a contract analyst for Electric Boat and in human relations. A mother of four, she now spends her time volunteering and campaigning for causes like Livestrong, which raises money for cancer research.

"I can really organize a group and motivate everyone to work together," she said.

Her first work in politics was about two decades ago, when she organized volunteers to bring more federal aid to Groton in an effort to finance services provided to the Sub Base, whose residents do not pay taxes to the town.

"We split up volunteers all over town and we went door-to-door to get signatures to bring to Washington," she said. "And we did it, we were successful. We almost doubled it and got a massive increase."

Moukawsher's family is well-versed in government: her husband, Thomas Moukawsher, is a lawyer who has served in the state legislature and her brother-in-law, Ted Moukawsher, is the assistant majority leader in the state legislature, where he represents Groton and New London.

"I'm a familiar face to most people in Town Hall and also I'm a familiar face - and name - to a lot of people in Groton."

m.collette@theday.com