Cruz Nominated To Fill Manchester Town Clerk Vacancy

MANCHESTER, CT — Manchester Democrats this week nominated Dr. Maria Cruz to serve as town clerk and fill the vacancy created by the recent passing of Town Clerk Darryl E. Thames Sr.

The recommendation of the Democratic Town Committee now goes to the town Board of Directors. The Directors are expected to act on the recommendation at their Aug. 1 meeting.

If approved by the Board of Directors, Cruz would serve as town clerk until the current term expires in 2025. She would then be eligible to seek election to a new four-year term.

Thames, who was elected to his first four-year term as Town Clerk in 2021, passed away on June 28.

Cruz, who currently works for the state Office of the Child Advocate, had a "distinguished" career in social work with the state Department of Children and Families, where she had broad responsibilities involving budgeting, management, and supervision of staff. She is also a former member of Manchester’s Board of Education and has served on numerous town boards and commissions.

Said Democratic Town Chairman Michael Pohl of the nomination, "Darryl Thames was an

extraordinary presence in our community – and in his role as town clerk, he was
building on the work of his predecessors to continue improving the ability of this
important office to meet the needs of all of our residents. We know that Dr. Cruz has the management skills, expertise, and commitment to our community needed to pick up this mantle and continue moving the town clerk's office forward. She will also be a strong representative of the diversity of our community as the first woman, and first Latina, to serve as town clerk here."

Cruz called Thames "part of a legacy of dedicated, innovative, and service-oriented town clerks in our community" dating back to Edward Tomkeil and then to Joseph Camposeo.

"I would be honored to become a part of that tradition – and I would bring to the town clerk's office a deep love and respect for this town, and for all of our residents, and a real understanding of the important work of that office," Cruz said.

Cruz has been a member of the Manchester DTC since January 2007, currently serving as vice chairwoman.

She served from 2009 through 2016 in the positions of executive secretary, treasurer and delegate for AFSCME Local 2663. As treasurer, she was responsible for keeping detailed record of revenues and expenditures and reporting out to the National AFL CIO.

Cruz was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Manchester Board of Education in June 2009 and was then elected to two terms. Cruz co-chaired the curriculum, building and sites, and policy committees of the board.

Cruz currently serves on the Redevelopment Agency and the Advisory Board of Health.

She previously served on the Manchester Arts Commission; the Manchester Commission on Human Relations, Elderly Service and People with Disabilities; the Charter Revision Commission; and the Ethics Commission.

During her career in social work for the State Department of Children and Families, and now as an assistant child advocate for the Office of the Child Advocate, she has broad experience in managing staff, overseeing, and managing budgets, conducting administrative work, project management, communicating and listening to the community and partners, informing the public,
and conducting research.

Cruz founded the Manchester Latino Affairs Council in January 2007 and, in 2019, created an event that has become a tradition in Manchester — Hispanic Heritage Day.

She is currently working on building a foundation for an educational scholarship.

The Town Clerk in Manchester is an elected position with a four-year term.