Jill Rusk

Jill Rusk is the Mayor of the City of Groton, Connecticut, having been sworn into office on November 10, 2025, at the Groton Municipal Building. A resident of Groton for more than 26 years, Rusk first moved to the city with her husband, Jason, when he was stationed there serving in the U.S. Navy aboard submarines. Following his retirement, the couple chose to settle on Groton Bank, where they raised their three children. Rusk holds a Bachelor's degree in History and Political Science and has built a 25-year career in social services across Southeastern Connecticut. Most recently prior to becoming Mayor, she served as Community Impact Resource Manager for United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, where she coordinated volunteers and oversaw mobile food pantries serving hundreds of families each week.

Rusk's record of public service in Groton spans more than a decade. She served on the Groton City Council from 2015 to 2019, the Representative Town Meeting – District 3 from 2019 to 2023 (where she was elected Moderator by her peers), and the Groton Town Council from 2023 to 2025. She also worked as Executive Administrator to the Mayor of the City of Groton from 2019 to 2022. Additional civic roles have included serving as a trustee of the Bill Memorial Library Board since 2021, membership on the City of Groton Youth Advisory Board from 2014 to 2018, and serving as Ombudsman for the USS Connecticut (SSN-22) from 2003 to 2006. As Mayor, her stated priorities include revitalizing the Thames Street corridor, expanding public parks and recreational trails, and supporting housing options for working families through zoning reform.