Candidate Spotlight | Martha H. Shoemaker |First Selectman & Regional Board of Education
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I was born and raised in New London and graduated from St. Bernard High School. After graduating from Assumption College (now University), I began my teaching career with a one-year position at Hebron Elementary School. The following year I was hired by the Waterford Public School system and retired from there in 2017. The last twelve years of my time in Waterford I served as President of the Waterford Federation of Classroom Teachers. It is this position which enabled me to develop my skills of negotiation, mediation, and consensus building. I also served as a Vice President of the American Federation of Teachers of Connecticut Executive Committee. I was the Membership and Structure Committee Chair and served on the Personnel Committee and Scholarship Committee. |
Since retiring, I have been employed by FiberQA, a developer and manufacturer of fiber optic inspection and cleaning stations for use in aerospace, defense, and telecom companies worldwide. My role at FiberQA has grown from purchasing to production and project management.
My husband and I moved to Old Lyme in December 1996, with our sons David and Timothy. In 1998, our youngest son Peter was born. Our children all graduated from Lyme-Old Lyme High School. My husband, Scott, is a Senior Advisor for CVS. My volunteer opportunities in Old Lyme began when my children were in school. I have co-managed the Little League stand at Cross Lane for three years and served as President of the Friends of Music. I am currently serving as a member of the Board of Education, co-chair of the Lyme – Old Lyme Prevention Coalition and as President of the Friends of Old Lyme-Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library.
If elected to the position of First Selectwoman I would concentrate on the following issues in the first three months:
- Working with the ARPA Committee to finalize our plans for utilizing the funds that will be distributed to Old Lyme.
- Enhance communication with residents and town hall staff.
-Complete the wage study survey, revise town hall job descriptions, and seek a part time HR person for town hall.
- Depending on the current sewer bids that should soon be opened, determine the best way to move forward. This will include many conversations with the various constituents/committees involved.
- Provide support to those responsible to finalize zoning language for the new Village District.
- Working with the ARPA Committee to finalize our plans for utilizing the funds that will be distributed to Old Lyme.
- Enhance communication with residents and town hall staff.
-Complete the wage study survey, revise town hall job descriptions, and seek a part time HR person for town hall.
- Depending on the current sewer bids that should soon be opened, determine the best way to move forward. This will include many conversations with the various constituents/committees involved.
- Provide support to those responsible to finalize zoning language for the new Village District.
My favorite parts of Old Lyme are walking on any of our wonderful beaches and driving along 156 as the sun is setting. We are so fortunate to have these vistas in our town.
In my spare time you may find me refinishing furniture in my garage, planning the next home improvement project, baking bread or cookies or sitting on my front porch while visiting with family or friends.
In my spare time you may find me refinishing furniture in my garage, planning the next home improvement project, baking bread or cookies or sitting on my front porch while visiting with family or friends.
