Groton — The Groton Democratic Town Committee’s slate for the municipal election Nov. 3 includes four council incumbents, a retired corporate executive, a lawyer and a civics teacher.

“We worked hard to get a strong slate of candidates who have experience with both business and government, and our goal would be to enhance the economic development opportunities in Groton,” said Conrad F. Heede, chairman of the committee.

Candidates were endorsed at a meeting July 22 in Groton Public Library. The slate was filed with the town clerk on Wednesday.

Incumbents Mayor Rita Schmidt and councilors Joe de la Cruz, Bob Frink and Rich Moravsik are seeking re-election. Bill Smith, a retired general manger and corporate vice president for Hewlett Packard, is also running for council.

“If you look at our assets, whether it’s the shoreline community’s very strong industrial base or great people, I think what Groton needs to do is focus on what we are as a community 20 years from now — what our vision is for the community, and then work collaboratively on the strategies that get us to where we want to be,” said Smith, a member of the RTM.

Patrice Granatosky, a member of the RTM since 1995, said she considered running for council before but couldn't devote enough time to it. Granatosky has a son in college, a daughter in graduate school, and teaches civics at Ella T. Grasso Southeastern Technical High School.

Lawyer Brandon Marley is also on the Democrats' slate for council.

For the Board of Education, the Democrats endorsed school board Chairwoman Kim Watson and vice Chairwoman Rita Volkmann for re-election.

Democratic incumbents Elizabeth Gianacoplos and Patricia Doyle are not seeking re-election. Gianacoplos served 20 years on the board, with a short gap. "It's time for me to take a break and time for a fresh face, but I thoroughly enjoy it," she said.

Democrat Lee White was sworn in Wednesday to take over the school board seat vacated by former board member Joey Schick, who resigned in June. White will run for the seat in November.

The endorsed candidates are:

Town Council: Joe de la Cruz, Bob Frink, Patrice Granatosky, Rich Moravsik, Bill Smith, Rita M. Schmidt and Brandon Marley.

Board of Education: Kim Watson, Rita Volkmann, Lee White and Rosemary J. Robertson.

RTM District 1: Joe Baril, Antonio Burley, Roscoe Merritt, Scott Meyer and Ivy R. Williams.

RTM District 2: Lian Obrey, Juliette M. Parker and Ludwig Pulaski.

RTM District 3: Alicia T. Bauer, Conrad F. Heede, Brandon Marley and Lisa McCabe.

RTM District 4: Christine Conley, Shawn Powers, Judith Strode and Patricia Wagner.

RTM District 5: Jordan Brayman, Robert M. Garcia, Kathy Neugent and Richard J. Pasqualini Jr.

RTM District 6: Jeanne Baker, Jim Loughlin, Douglas Monaghan, Richard Semeraro and Fred Turnbull.

RTM District 7: Bobbi Jo Cini, Gary Burfoot and Patricia Sparkman.

For more information, contact Chairman Heede at (860) 800-4784.

d.straszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim