Groton — Groton Advocates for Tax Efficiency will run two candidates in the upcoming municipal election in Groton: one for the Board of Education and another for Representative Town Meeting in District 5.

Scott Aument, chairman and co-founder of GATE, will run for Board of Education. Rosanne Kotowski, treasurer and co-founder of GATE, will run for the RTM in District 5.

"The overall mission of GATE is to advocate for fiscal efficiency in our town and transparency in our local government," a news release by the political party said. "We believe that GATE reflects the values and principals of the residents of Groton. GATE supports the education for our children and town operations that we can afford, as well as a board of education and town government that is transparent in all its actions."

Aument, a 27-year resident of Groton who works at Millstone Power Station, said he initially planned to run for Town Council, but then decided to run for the school board because that's where most of the money is spent.

"I think the Board of Education needs some good leadership. I think I can give them that," he said. "I'm not liking what the status quo has been, so I want to change that."

Aument served on the RTM from 2011 to 2013.

Kotowski, a Groton resident since 1984, originally was involved in Friends for Affordable Education, the political action committee that helped defeat the Phase II school construction program in May 2011. Aument also was part of the affordable education group.

Kotowski works in the building department for Ledyard Town and has been a mentor in the Groton Public Schools for eight years at Claude Chester Elementary School. She previous served two terms on the RTM and currently is completing the term of John Scott, now serving as state representative in the 40th District.

Kotowski said she'd like to see government spending reduced. "I'm a strong believer in a budget referendum and in term limits."

dstraszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim