Town Council Candidate: Frank O'Beirne, Jr.

Editor's note: Seventeen candidates are running for 9 seats on the Groton Town Council on Nov. 8. Below is a Q&A with one of the candidates.

Name:  Frank "Mick" O'Beirne, Jr.     

Age:  75  

Education:  Bachelor's degree, U.S. Naval Academy; master's degree in administration, George Washington University; graduate of Industrial College of the Armed Forces Navy Nuclear Power Program  

Work Experience:  30-year career in U.S. Navy, including Commanding Officer of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine USS George Washington Carver;   Commanding Officer, Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, Georgia; 1 year as Deputy Program Manager, Textron; 2 years Naval Liaison for State of Connecticut.

Civic/Political Experience:  One year on Groton Zoning Commission; 18 years on Groton Town Council; Mayor, Town of Groton, 2001 - 2003; major author/presenter in local action group testifying before the Base Realignment and Closure Commissions. Presentations in 1993, 1995 and 2005, resulted in the BRAC overruling of the Defense Department proposals to close the Submarine Base.  

Family: Married 52 years, 2 children, 4 grandchildren  

Why are you running for this office?  I believe that I have much to contribute to the successful management of the town, while bringing a level of strong, conservative fiscal management in a tough economic climate. We have to keep budgets and taxes to an acceptable level. I have the experience of what has worked, or not worked, in the past on issues which tend to resurface periodically, and can adapt the historical view to new issues.  

What do you believe is the greatest challenge Groton faces today, and what would you do to meet this challenge?  The greatest challenge is maintain the operations, desired programs and facilities of the town and Board of Education within affordable limits, while keeping Groton a great place to live, work and raise families. Included in this is the challenge of upgrading/ maintaining educational facilities without saddling the town with a huge debt.  

How would you rate the performance of the current board overall, and what, if anything, would you do differently?  The current council has done a good job in management/oversight and policy. Further work needs to be done in weeding out non-productive programs, and in encouraging the BOE to do the same. The next council needs to get involved with the BOE in the early planning for the upgrade of school facilities. We cannot afford another situation like the failed Phase II proposal.