SEYMOUR — Annmarie Drugonis, who has served as the town’s Deputy First Selectman for the past two years, and has been a member of the Board of Selectmen since 2007, became the town’s new leader Thursday.
The board, during a virtual meeting, unanimously voted in favor of naming Drugonis to fill the recent vacancy left by longtime First Selectman Kurt Miller. She will earn an annual salary of $85,000.
Miller officially left the job — which he held for nearly a decade — on Tuesday. The 50-year old father of two announced his resignation in September. Miller left before his fifth term was up, which expires December 2021. He took a job in neighboring Ansonia as the city’s new Chief Financial Officer.
Since the Republican Miller was officially off the clock Tuesday at 5 p.m., Drugonis, a fellow Republican, assumed the role as “acting” First Selectman. The title is now official.
Drugonis, 51, a Shelton native and Valley girl at heart, said she was honored to win the support of her fellow selectmen in taking over the role of First Selectman. She was sworn in to the new post by state Rep. Themis Klarides, who joined Drugonis and her sister Nicole Klarides-Ditria to watch the virtual meeting to see who the next town leader would be.
Drugonis called the Klarides sisters her “biggest cheerleaders,” in giving her the support and confidence to throw her hat in the ring for consideration by the board.
“Thank you all for voting for me and giving me that confidence,” Drugonis said following her appointment. “I was asked to serve (on the board) in 2007 by Roberta King, who said just finish out the term … but here we are in 2020. It’s been a pleasure. I look forward to continuing Kurt’s legacy, while making our own progress and taking our team even further.”
Co-owner and Executive Vice-President of an environmental and safety consulting company, Drugonis currently serves on the town’s WPCA and is chairman of the Board of Public Works. She will have to resign those seats, but will continue to serve in an ex-officio capacity.
Drugonis, a 1987 graduate of Shelton High School, and her husband, Chris, have one daughter, Alana, 16. She is thrilled to hit the ground running.
“I have been honored to serve on the Seymour Board of Selectmen for the last 13 years, and am proud of the work we’ve done under the leadership of Kurt Miller,” Drugonis said. “I wanted to continue giving back to Seymour in whatever way I could. When the First Selectman position opened up, due to the retirement of Kurt Miller, I felt it was a great way for me to help continue to give back to the town I love.”
The board also unanimously voted to fill Drugonis’ newly vacant seat by naming former Deputy First Selectman Patrick Lombardi to the post. Lombardi has served on numerous boards and commissions over many years, is a former Fire Chief and current President of Citizens Engine Co. No. 1 (where he’s been involved for 39 years) and is the former downtown traffic enforcement officer.
“I’m really excited about joining this team,” Lombardi said. “I’m humbled and honored to serve again on a legislative board.”
Board members lauded both Drugonis and Lombardi.
“I want to welcome Annmarie to her new role…this is a nice move,” said Selectman Robert Findley. “Losing Kurt was a big deal, but gaining you on the same team will be great.”
Selectman Christopher Bowen told Drugonis “you’ve been a breeze to work with and this is definitely something you deserve … the only tragedy is I no longer have anyone to fight with to be the first one to adjourn meetings,” he joked.
CT House Minority Leader Themis Klarides administers the oath of office to new Seymour First selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis.
“I’m looking forward to moving the town forward and building upon the foundation that Miller put down for our community,” said Selectman Al Bruno, who was named Deputy First Selectman. “And I welcome you to gang, Pat, you’re a wonderful addition to the group.”
Town Attorney Richard Buturla added “Seymour will be a better place for having you (Drugonis) in this position…this is a really good night for Seymour.”
Klarides-Ditria, a former Deputy First Selectmen herself, is confident in Drugonis’ abilities to lead the town.
“I have known and worked with Annmarie for many years, as colleagues on the Board of Selectmen in Seymour and in my role as state representative,” said Klarides-Ditria. “I find her to be hard-working, bright and completely committed to the Town of Seymour. I think she will be a great asset and fighter for all things Seymour.”
