Groton City mayor won't seek re-election
Groton — Groton City Mayor Marian Galbraith announced this week that she would not seek a fourth term in the upcoming city election on May 1.
Galbraith, a Democrat, told the City Council on Tuesday that she intended to serve six years when she first ran in 2011. She has served three consecutive terms as mayor. Before that, she served as deputy mayor for two years, and as a city councilor from 2002 until 2011.
After she leaves office, Galbraith said she would continue to work with United Way, the Mobile Food Pantry, Thames River Heritage Water Taxi and on bringing back the sail of the USS Groton.
She said she is proud of what the city has accomplished. The city has improved safety, she said, citing a contract with firefighters that mandates a minimum of four firefighters on each shift and the hiring of City Police Chief Thomas Davoren as examples. She praised the work of the city public works and planning and building departments as well.
Groton Utilities also is in better shape than when she arrived, and the city was able to divest itself of the financial responsibility for Thames Valley Communications, she said.
Taxes have risen largely because the town cut its contribution to city highway maintenance, Galbraith said. The city had to increase taxes to then pick up that cost. The city later won when it fought the town's decision and took the issue to arbitration two years in a row.
“I am particularly proud of the relationships we’ve built in the past six years,” she said. “The City of Groton, the City of New London and the Town of Groton have worked together on several important initiatives from Coast Guard Summer to Submarine Century, from Innovation Places to the Heritage Park.”
Groton City Democrats will hold a caucus Jan. 10 to vote on a slate of nominees for mayor, City Council and city clerk.
Councilor Conrad F. Heede, who is the city Democrats' secretary, said the committee plans to endorse Councilor Keith Hedrick for mayor and incumbents Larry W. Gerrish, Stephen Sheffield, Jill Rusk and himself for re-election to the council. The party also will endorse two newcomers: Rashaad Carter, a state trooper, and Jamal Beckford, an engineer at Electric Boat. Councilor Andrew Ilvento has decided not to seek re-election, Heede said.
The City of Groton Republican Committee will hold its caucus Jan. 12. Former City Councilor Jay Dempsey said he hopes the party will run some candidates. In 2015, all candidates for city offices were Democrats, and all ran unopposed.
“We can’t have all the same thinking,” he said.
Dempsey, formerly a Republican, changed his party to unaffiliated and will not run for office, he said. But Dempsey said he would remain involved in the city and continue advocating for greater efficiency.
"I just want the city and the town to work together to lower taxes, and one way to do that is to share services to be cost-effective," Dempsey said.
Heede praised Galbraith’s service, citing in an email the reconstruction of Thames Street, the Summer in the City initiative to create more community-oriented programs and the Thames River Heritage Park water taxi service.
“I can’t say enough about how much I respect and enjoy working with the mayor as both a councilor now, and previously as (a Representative Town Meeting) member when I lived in the Town. I hope she continues to stay involved and vocal,” Heede wrote.
In addition to her service as mayor, Galbraith worked for 33 years for Groton Public Schools, including 25 years at West Side Middle School. She was named Connecticut Teacher of the Year in 2002 and received the National Education Association Heroism in Education Award in 2001.
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