My name is Beth Shortell Lynch and I am the Democratic candidate for Town and City Clerk in the City of Ansonia. My husband Tom and I are lifelong Ansonia residents and raised our three sons here. Four of our seven grandchildren live here as the sixth generation of my family to call Ansonia home.
With more than twenty years working in municipal government, I’ve done the job, and I’m looking to put my training, knowledge and practical experience back to work for our city, as the Town and City Clerk.
Professionalism and a deep knowledge of the many laws that govern the town clerks’ responsibilities are essential to fulfilling this role…experience matters. The Town Clerk plays a significant role in facilitating our sacred election procedures, and provides the professional link between the citizens, governing bodies, and agencies of government. The Clerk’s office is the heart of the city, facilitating our legal public notice obligations, and swearing in public officials serving on boards and commissions.
The Town Clerk is frequently the face of City Hall, administering all of the city’s public records, vital statistics and licensing, but it’s a lot more than that. This role is about relationships and being the faithful steward of the documents related to many of the special events in the lives of the people in our community. The staff might issue you a copy of your birth certificate, your first fishing license, register you to vote, issue your marriage license as well as record the deed of the purchase of your very first home, all very special and memorable rites of passage. They also offer support in times when a visit to the office is necessary due to the loss of a loved one. Throughout many of life’s milestones, the staff is there to diligently record and keep these records for posterity.
During the time I served as Ansonia’s Town Clerk, I operated the office efficiently within the Aldermen approved budget. To preserve our city’s history, I secured on-going annual grants awarded by the State of Connecticut to preserve local historic documents. Most importantly, I enjoyed serving all residents of Ansonia in a non-partisan and apolitical fashion, maintaining the respect and professionalism of the office. Should I have the pleasure of serving residents again, I’ll be looking to secure more grants for technologies that help streamline procedures and deliver better quality of service to residents at less cost.
In my twenty years working for multiple towns and cities, I have learned the importance of building relationships with the people I work with as well as the people I serve. If elected, I pledge to continue the highest level of respect for each and every person who enters the office. Thank you for your support and for helping my family serve and call this city home for six generations.
The writer is a candidate for Town & City Clerk in Ansonia.
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