MANSFIELD— Mayor Antonia Moran, an 83-year-old Democrat, resigned at Tuesday’s town council meeting because she did not want to search for a new town manager after the last one resigned controversially.
Moran thanked the town’s residents and staff members and tearfully said that she wished everyone the best. Moran has been re-elected as the town mayor since 2019 and first became a council member in 2009.
“The last 10 months have been anything but stable and at several points it became clear to me that I no longer wanted to manage the difficult decisions and challenges of being mayor,” Moran said.
She added how she originally didn’t plan on running for Mayor and had told the Democratic nominating committee that the previous term was her last. Moran said she would end up changing her mind because she felt healthy, but searching for a new town manager changed that.
“My unwillingness to do that work outweighs any desire I have to continue to serve on the council,” Moran said.
Other members of the council like Democrat Carlita Cotton said they understood her decision to resign and expressed sadness over her departure.
“I guess I’m particularly sad because I wouldn’t be on the council if it weren’t for your encouragement,” Cotton said.
Moran said that she had notified University of Connecticut officials like Nathan Fuerst, the vice president for student life and enrollment, of her departure. She added that she was confident in the current town council to take on her role in leadership.