Ladwig retires after long career as Stonington town clerk
Dec. 24—STONINGTON — In 1977, when she was just 20 years old, Cindy Ladwig was looking for work and her mother suggested she go to Town Hall and apply for a job.
"I didn't even know where Town Hall was. So my mother took me," she recalled on Dec. 21, while sitting in her office at Town Hall.
While her mother waited outside, Ladwig, then Cindy Costa, walked into the first selectman's office, said she was looking for a job and filled out an application. A few minutes later, she was hired by Evelyn Clemens, the assistant for then-First Selectman Jim Spellman.
Now, 44 years later, the longtime Democratic town clerk is calling it a career and will retire on Thursday, Dec. 30. She will be replaced by her longtime deputy Sally Duplice, a Democrat, who like Ladwig did for so many years, ran unopposed and endorsed by both parties in the November election.
"It's just the right time for the two of us to enjoy each other," said the 64-year-old Ladwig, who is married to attorney Ted Ladwig, when asked why she decided to retire.
Ladwig, who grew up in the borough and has always lived in town, said she and Ted would like to drive around the country to see states they have never visited.
"I want to do it now while we're both healthy," she added. "So many people I know, one of them gets sick. You work your entire life and then you don't get to do things together."
Asked about her philosophy of being town clerk and being responsible for duties ranging from elections, marriage licenses and death certificates to land records and fishing and hunting licenses, Ladwig said it was always about being "hands on."
"Out there is the most fun," she said pointing toward the counter where she, Duplice and Assistant Town Clerk Leslie Packer help attorneys, title searchers and members of the general public. "I love interacting with the people, even the times when someone is testy."
Ladwig began to wipe away tears when she said it would be those people at the counter, along with her co-workers, who she would miss the most.
"This has been my second home for 44 years," she said.
Ladwig recalled that for the first few weeks in Town Hall, she worked under the close supervision of Clemens, who made sure all the new hires did things the right way. When Ladwig kept finishing assignments and asked what else there was to do, Clemens told her to find something to do in another part of the building. That brought her to the Building Department, where new Town Planner Bob Birmingham did not have an administrative assistant. So Ladwig began working for him. After a few days, Clemens came looking for her and Ladwig told her she had found something to do. She stayed in that office for a year and a half.
In 1979, positions opened up in tax assessor's office and the town clerk's office. Ladwig was hired as an assistant town clerk. Then in 1997, when former Town Clerk Ruth Waller retired, Ladwig ran for the position and won. It was the only time in 11 elections she faced an opponent. She has been there ever since.
Over the years, Ladwig said one of the biggest changes, along with more responsibilities, was the advent of computer technology for all aspects of the office. When she began, she said, everything was done on a typewriter with carbon paper.
Another change has been the expanding role of the town clerk when it comes to elections.
Ladwig said the biggest challenge came last year, when in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic she, Duplice and Packer issued 5,000 absentee ballot for the 2020 presidential election — almost five times more than normal. They were helped by a group of volunteers and worked on weekends, all in addition to their many daily responsibilities.
"But we did it without issues. It was an amazing feat for the three of us," she said. "I pat myself and my assistants on the back."
She also thanked the volunteers, saying their work made it possible to not only get out the absentee ballots on time but allowed Ladwig, Duplice and Packer to assist the public who needed their help on everyday issues.
She said the ballot work was very stressful, as lines stretched outside Town Hall and some voters were "cynical and mean" as they questioned the integrity of the absentee ballot process.
"They didn't believe what we were doing with the ballots," she said.
So Ladwig showed the critics the vault where the ballots were stored, processed and counted and explained the process to them. When the ballots were ready to be mailed, Ladwig had a police officer accompany her to the post office and the process was recorded on video and posted on the town website.
Republican Rob Simmons, who had served as first selectman and is a former 2nd District U.S. House member, praised Ladwig for her "incredible dedication" to the town.
"To serve in any capacity for 40 years is just an amazing record," he said. "This is the kind of service that makes this community what it is. A community where good people like Cindy dedicate their lives to the town and its people."
Simmons stressed that never in his many interactions with Ladwig did politics ever invade their discussion.
And when he comes to that counter in the office, Simmons said he is always greeted "with a smile and a cooperative attitude."
"I find that refreshing and wonderful," he said.
Former Democratic First Selectman Don Maranell also heaped praise on Ladwig, calling her the "ultimate professional."
"So many times I had a question," he said. "She would not only go out of her way to answer it but then she would answer the next question you didn't know you had."
"She touched the lives of so many people in this town," he added. "She seemed to know everybody, which is a strong skill to have if you're the town clerk."
Maranell marveled at Ladwig spending four decades working for the town.
"How she's going to wake up in the morning and not automatically end up at Town Hall, I don't know," he said. "I wish her and Ted the best of luck."
Asked if she has any plans to use her vast experience in town government to run for office or serve on a board or commission, Ladwig answered almost before the question ended.
"No," she said. "I'm not planning on doing anything other than stop working and see where life takes me."
