Groton - As Betsy Moukawsher was sworn in as Groton's new town clerk, her predecessor, Barbara Tarbox, left her post with 24 years of experience."I think we're going to miss her tremendous knowledge," said Janet Downs, Groton's deputy town clerk, who has worked with Tarbox for two decades. "I'm sure Betsy will get that, but Barbara was probably the most expert clerk in the state."

"I think we're going to miss her tremendous knowledge," said Janet Downs, Groton's deputy town clerk, who has worked with Tarbox for two decades. "I'm sure Betsy will get that, but Barbara was probably the most expert clerk in the state."But Downs and her peers at town hall are certain Moukawsher, who was sworn in Monday at Town Hall Annex, is a worthy successor.

But Downs and her peers at town hall are certain Moukawsher, who was sworn in Monday at Town Hall Annex, is a worthy successor. "She does have big shoes to fill," Downs said. "But if anybody is the person to do that, Betsy is."

"She does have big shoes to fill," Downs said. "But if anybody is the person to do that, Betsy is."And the women who staff the clerk's office said they are eager to help Moukawsher, who began training with Tarbox after the November election.

And the women who staff the clerk's office said they are eager to help Moukawsher, who began training with Tarbox after the November election."We each have the bits and pieces and soon enough Betsy will have all that too," said Sally Whitney, an assistant town clerk who works directly with the Groton's Representative Town Meeting.

"We each have the bits and pieces and soon enough Betsy will have all that too," said Sally Whitney, an assistant town clerk who works directly with the Groton's Representative Town Meeting. The brief ceremony drew the families of both women, who are Democrats, town hall employees, elected officials and local politicos.

The brief ceremony drew the families of both women, who are Democrats, town hall employees, elected officials and local politicos."This hasn't occurred for 24 years, and I was on that side of it then," Tarbox said. "It has been a pleasure and an adventure and I enjoyed every minute of it."

"This hasn't occurred for 24 years, and I was on that side of it then," Tarbox said. "It has been a pleasure and an adventure and I enjoyed every minute of it."Moukawsher said she looked forward to continuing Tarbox's legacy of service to Groton.

Moukawsher said she looked forward to continuing Tarbox's legacy of service to Groton."I look forward to the next four years and, if I'm re-elected, the next eight, and so on," Moukawsher said. "I don't think I'll ever compare to Barbara, but I'll do my best. Now everyone, back to work."

"I look forward to the next four years and, if I'm re-elected, the next eight, and so on," Moukawsher said. "I don't think I'll ever compare to Barbara, but I'll do my best. Now everyone, back to work."Antoinette Pancaro, who maintains the town's vital records, started at Town Hall the same year Tarbox did. Like her coworkers, she said she will miss Tarbox's company in the clerk's office.

Antoinette Pancaro, who maintains the town's vital records, started at Town Hall the same year Tarbox did. Like her coworkers, she said she will miss Tarbox's company in the clerk's office."We'll be missing that familiar face we've seen behind that desk for 24 years," Pancaro said.

"We'll be missing that familiar face we've seen behind that desk for 24 years," Pancaro said.