By Clark Judge
(November 26, 2025) — When Nancy Gorski stepped down two years ago after one term as Killingworth’s First Selectwoman, she admitted that she was ready for retirement because “life is short and meant to be lived.” Yet, here we are two years later, and Gorski is back — returning as a Selectwoman and one of two Republicans elected to Town Hall
“It feels great to be home,” she told the Board of Selectmen at this week’s meeting, her first since departing in 2023.
So what happened? We asked, and she answered.
Q: The last time we talked you said you couldn’t wait to embrace retirement because, as you put it, “life is short and meant to be lived.” But now you’re back after only two years. Why?
GORSKI: Yes, life is short, and I didn’t want a full-time job. But coming into a Selectman’s role is tantamount to a part-time job. You’ve got two to three meetings a month … you have to go to town meetings … and you have to be involved. But I can be home with my husband. I can do things with him. And I can go on vacation.
Q: When we ran into each other recently I asked you what happened, and you said, “I missed it.” What did you miss?
GORSKI: I missed what’s going on in town. Now that I’m retired, the house is clean enough … my husband and I have been on vacation … and we do the things we want to do. So we’re enjoying life. But I have enough room here that I can be prepared for meetings, can talk to constituents and can address e-mails. I think that’s a good spot to be.
Q: No one I’ve spoken to — including town historian Tom Lentz — can remember a First Selectman or Selectwoman leaving the job, then returning two years later as a Selectman. So you may have made local history. How and when did you realize this is the next step you wanted to take?
GORSKI: I found myself catching the Monday meetings. I would either go in person or I would dial in remotely. I’m very concerned about PFAS (Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). I live near Ground Zero (the Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company), and we’re one of two homes on this street that does not have a filtration system — because we don’t meet the criteria. So, I really want to continue following up with PFAS. The other thing I’m curious about is whether we should consider moving to a town manager. Now, mind you, I’m going to be a minority Selectman again –a position I held two years ago. But, I’d like to see us just study it, understand what we would have to do and let the people decide.
Q: Why does the idea of a town manager appeal to you?
GORSKI: It’s very difficult to find people to run for First Selectman … even Selectman. Keep in mind that, if we did go to a town manager, we would have somebody with experience running towns, but we would still have a town council. So you would have to elect people to sit in those positions. Change is hard in Killingworth, but I think it’s a possibility we should consider.
Q: Consider or support?
GORSKI: Yes.
Q: Any notable examples?
GORSKI: Well, Clinton has been under town management for years, so I’ve been paying attention to that space. Of course, town managers can come and go. But, at the same time, you’re getting people with that experience. Eric (Couture, Killingworth’s First Selectman; photo above, left, with Selectman Joel D’Angelo, center, and Gorski, right) is learning as he goes, and it’s a steep uphill battle. But he possibly could apply for the town manager’s position and likely get an uptick in pay. It’s just something to consider. I think the townspeople would embrace something like that.
Q: Getting back to PFAS, I know that it was a priority of yours as First Selectwoman, and it was again this fall when you said that it, as well as affordable housing, were your most immediate concerns. Where are we now with the PFAS mediation?
GORSKI: I don’t know all the details, but the one thing I was concerned about is the lack of transparency. There’s not a lot of communication about what is happening with PFAS. When I was in office, we had Town Halls and people coming in to hear what’s going on. I would be speaking with DPH (the Department of Public Health) and DEEP, getting their feedback and bringing it to Selectman’s meetings.
Q: Is that why you are so outspoken on, say, the necessity for an Ethics Commission?
GORSKI: Yes. First of all, we can’t finish an employees manual until we have an ethics policy. So, the first step is to have an ethics policy. Then, once you have an ethics policy you have an ethics commission to enforce it. A team was charged almost two years ago with delivering a policy. It’s almost finished, but let’s move this along.
Q: Was there some lack of transparency or event, transgression … something … that triggered your push?
GORSKI: No, it’s referring more to PFAS. There’s nothing insidious going on in Town Hall. Absolutely not. The point is that we’re out of compliance with state statutes for not having an ethics policy. We can’t finalize our employees manual without an ethics policy. It’s simply: Let’s get things done.
Q: So what would you like to accomplish in the next two years?
GORSKI: I’d like to get the committee for studying forms of government started because our charter revision committee asked for it to be set up. I’m not going to say it will get finished because look what happened with the ethics committee. I’d like to see that committee finalize its work so we can establish an Ethic Commission and finish the HR plan. I also want to see that we have another grant in place for additional remediation for the town campus. I want to get a better handle on what’s happening with our water pollution and how we solve it.
Q: When you left office in 2023, your advice to your successor was to “be patient.” As a Selectwoman and one of only two Republicans in Town Hall, can you follow your own advice?
GORSKI: I think I learned patience being alone as First Selectwoman. It’s not an easy place to be. I’m happy to be back. Mind you, Eric (Nunes, former Republican Selectman) and I were a few votes (107) within each other. So I’m happy to serve at least a couple more years.
Q: Ah, but that leads to an obvious question. Now that you’ve returned to politics, do you have interest in running for First Selectman again in 2027?
GORSKI: I don’t know about the full-time job thing because there are a lot of days where you’re in the office every day and meetings every night. There were nights (as First Selectwoman) when I didn’t close my laptop … or get home … until after 9:30 p.m.
Q: I didn’t hear you rule out the possibility of running for the First Selectman job.
GORSKI: No, I really have. I can’t imagine working all those hours. I love my life at home.
Q: OK, but that’s not a definite “No.”
GORSKI: It’s a hard “No.”
Photos by Clark Judge
Nancy was the best Selectwoman I worked with as Chair of the Parmelee Farm Committee. She was always looking to see how the town should fulfill its obligations to the farm. Unfortunately she would run into a lot of headwinds and was outnumbered but always worked with us as best she could. And given all her responsibilities running the town, she and Les were always one of the first to step up and volunteer to help on any projects or events. The town should be grateful she is back at town hall.