Lauren Gister: Making A Life Changing Decision Is Never Easy

CHESTER, CT — You might say the town of Carbondale, Colorado made Lauren Gister an offer she couldn't refuse!

We've all done it, looked through the job postings of far-off jobs on a whim, never expecting to really get an interview, much less a full-blown offer of employment. Well, that's exactly what happened to Chester's First Selectwoman, Lauren Gister.

"Honestly, I applied for my new position on a whim," said Gister, who has called herself a Chester resident for the past 25 years (which is longer than she has lived anywhere else in her life). "I really never thought anything would come from it. Then I got a call for an interview. I didn't hear back about a second interview so I really didn't think about it again and I just went on with things."

But, she did hear back about the position this fall.

"I went round and round in my head, should I even go out to the interview? What would they have to offer me to turn my life upside down and others' lives upside down?," explained Gister. "But then I thought, there is something working here to tell me that I should pay attention to this."

So Gister, who is in her fourth term as the first selectwoman of Chester, went on the interview, and although she was sure she was a long shot, she got the job!

"I won't be working two jobs anymore," said Gister with a smile.

A mammoth selling point for Gister agreeing to take the job, she explained, was the work-life balance the position as Town Manager of Carbondale offers her. The position also appeals to her innate intellectual curiosity. She said she is very excited to learn all the ins and outs of a new town and is looking forward to helping Carbondale navigate the future.

In addition, her new position is an employee of the town, so it is not an elected position, which means no more uncertainty and running for office every two years.

Gister explained that Carbondale is very much like Chester, in the fact that it is a small town. "It's very artsy and the community is very connected to the land," she said.

However, one way the town differs from its New England counterpart is that it is reportedly sunny 280 days a year, which Gister is looking forward to very much. She plans on taking full advantage of the favorable weather and hopes to get back into horseback riding, skiing, biking and hiking.

She and her dog Apollo, as well as one of her daughters, will be making the 2000 mile trek to Colorado on January 8th. Her last official day at the Chester Town Hall will be January 5th.

"I am looking forward to this new opportunity," said Gister. "It was extremely hard to get past the personal feeling, that I was letting Chester down. But, I have full faith that Chester is in good hands and will be shepherded by people who love the town as much as I do."

She added, " This is a jewel; Chester! The people who live here are well aware of that and I will miss it very much."