Groton Candidate Profile: Lauren Gauthier for Town Council

GROTON, CT — Groton’s election season is heating up.

Groton Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Lauren Gauthier, 23, is a Republican running for election to the Town Council.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you'd be representing.

Father-in-law is a retired Town of Groton Police Officer.

Education:

B.A. Maritime Studies, UConn AVPT (minor in History and Political Science). Master's Public Administration, UConn Graduate School, May 2020 (concentration Public Finance & Budgeting, certificate Nonprofit Management)

Occupation:

Special Projects Manager, ~3 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

None

The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Fiscal stability; I plan on developing and implementing a long-range plan that holistically addresses the Town's dependence on state aid, increases the grand list, and incorporates planning strategies that make Groton a hub for Southeastern CT by attracting different populations and making them want to stay here.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

What I find critically different between myself (plus the Republican slate) and the Democrat slate, is that we are interested in being fully transparent and working with all members of our government, regardless of party. There has been a keen disrespect shown by members of the current Council, who have used their position for political gamesmanship, have threatened community organizers with lawsuits, used "caucusing" as a means to hide open discussion of Town policies.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

Long term planning, transparency, economic development

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

When I first started my position, I was able to help members of industry, local government and state government to end a long standing stale mate over responsibility of each body and hindrances to production. We came together to hash out misconceptions, develop a strategy and share resources that is to this day helping the towns, the industry and the state shellfish authority. Open communication and a willingness to work together to find solutions are the bedrock of strong government. I don't presume to have all the answers, but I know that I can collaborate with others to come to a solution.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

A quote from President Calvin Coolidge, actually (and I'm paraphrasing): "If you do what you're supposed to, 50% of your problems will take care of themselves, and 50% will just go away." What I understood it to mean is that if each individual strives to always do the right thing, no matter how hard, or if it means swallowing their pride, doing the right thing, however that can be defined, should always be the priority because many of the problems we encounter come from our own making. And if we can get past those, then we can start tackling issues that aren't of our own making, and we will have more bandwidth to deal with them and a solid foundation behind us.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I absolutely love Groton. I want to serve my community and help it achieve long-term success and growth. This is the place where I want to grow with my family, and I want to share how special it is with everyone.

Are you running for office in Groton? Contact Ellyn Santiago at ellyn.santiago@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Groton Patch.