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08/12/2020 08:30 AMWhether through coaching their kids in Little League, going for walks around town, or serving on the town’s boards and commissions, Tim Guerra is a familiar face to many in Clinton.
Currently, Tim serves on the Town Council, a position to which he was elected in November 2019.
“I think the best way to put it is I try and practice what I preach, and I always told my kids that when you get older and settle down, it’s important to do things to give back to the community,” Tim says of his decision to get involved in the council.
While Tim says he’s always had an interest in politics, he wasn’t always active in town politics. In fact. Tim credits his involvement in town to an unusual source: his love of sports and his kids.
Tim recalls that when his kids were born, he and his wife wanted to make sure they were exposed to as many different interests as possible.
“I was an athlete to a certain extent when I was growing up, so one avenue I offered my kids was athletics,” Tim says.
For 16 years, Tim coached Little League and basketball, and later became a referee. Tim began to work closely with the town’s Park & Recreation Department, so much so that he continued to coach Little League for several seasons after his sons were no longer in the league.
“I kind of evolved into becoming an umpire, that’s how I got my start in town, through sports,” says Tim.
When his kids reached high school, Tim became involved in the Morgan booster club, but soon he realized he’d need a new hobby to sustain him.
“I really wasn’t active at the time in any political party. Once my kids graduated high school, I said, ‘Well, what do I do now?’” Tim says.
Tim had been a major in history and political science when he was in school, so he says he’s always been interested in politics and decided to get involved in Clinton’s political arena .
Tim first ran for and was elected in 2005 to the Planning & Zoning Commission, on which he served for 12 years. Eventually, Tim decided he wanted to pursue a higher goal. Tim had been concerned with the direction the town was headed in, and in 2017 chose to run for a spot on the Board of Selectmen.
“I’m a believer in if there’s something you don’t like, fix it,” Tim says of his decision to run for the Board of Selectmen.
Tim served on the board for two years before it was dissolved due to revisions to the town charter that created the Town Council. Tim says he was “especially proud” to be a member of the Board of Selectmen with the other selectmen and of the items that board was able to accomplish.
After nearly three years serving on the Board of Selectmen and now Town Council, Tim explains that there have been both rewarding experiences and hard decisions.
“I get a lot of satisfaction in seeing the town move forward and feeling like I had something to do with it,” Tim says.
Examples of the forward progress Tim is proud of include the ongoing development of Indian River Landing at the site of the Old Morgan School, the improvements to the train station, and the budding developments at the former Unilever site.
“When I think about it, when I’m no longer involved in town, I think that will be the thing I’m most proud of,” says Tim.
However, Tim also concedes that serving on high profile boards and commissions is not always easy. Balancing work obligations, family obligations, and the responsibilities of the board and commission can be a difficult act.
“You’ve got to do your homework and understand the issues being presented and, in most cases, form an opinion,” says Tim.
Another difficult aspect is that the decisions reached by the boards can have political ramifications that lead to upset feelings, but Tim says, “My goal is to make the choice that’s best for Clinton. It can’t be political in nature.”
Tim was born and raised in Massachusetts and then enjoyed a long career in sales. His company was based in Branford, so initially Tim rented a home in Clinton for a year before he was transferred to work in Texas for a few years. Upon his return to Connecticut in 1985, he and his wife decided to look to purchase a house in Clinton since they had liked their time there years earlier. It’s been home ever since.
“Clinton has given me a wonderful life with my wife and our three boys. I think Clinton is a great small town and a great place to live and have a family. It’s given me a sense of accomplishment growing older,” says Tim.
In his spare time, Tim can be found walking or playing golf to stay fit, as well as gardening or house work. Tim says his favorite hobby by far is to be spending time with his wife Morna, and the rest of his family.