Mayor Jill Rusk was sworn into office the evening of November 10, 2025 in a ceremony at the City of Groton Municipal Building. The ceremony saw five City Councilors sworn into office as well - Paul Norris, Christine Piazza, Stephen Sheffield, Jean-Claude Ambroise, Nick Johns. A sixth City Councilor, Beverly Washington, was unable to make the event and is being sworn in at a later date. At the end of the evening Stephen Sheffield was chosen at the new Deputy Mayor by council vote.
Rusk, a Democrat and Town Councilor since 2023, was elected Mayor of the City of Groton following last Tuesday’s municipal election. Rusk brings a decade of public service experience to the role, having served four years on the City Council, four years on the Representative Town Meeting - including two as moderator - and two years on the Town Council. She also previously worked in the mayor’s office as executive administrator for three years.
In addition to her government service, Rusk has been a dedicated community leader. She currently serves on the Bill Memorial Library Board of Trustees and is an active member of both the city and town Democratic committees. Professionally, she previously worked as a community impact resource manager at a local nonprofit organization, a position she left, along with her Town Council seat, before taking office as mayor.
Rusk and her family have been proud members of the Groton community for 26 years, including the past 20 within the city. Her husband, Jason Rusk - now serving on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission - was stationed in Groton during much of his 21-year U.S. Navy career, leading the family to make the city their permanent home. Together, they have three adult children and a grandson.
