Margaret Novicki
Margaret Novicki, who serves on the Orange Board of Selectmen, announced today she is seeking the nomination of Orange Democrats as their candidate for town clerk in the November election to replace Patrick O’Sullivan, who has announced his retirement.
“I would be more than honored to follow in Pat O’Sullivan’s illustrious footsteps and support our citizens in their need for information and guidance about elections and town policies and practices. Having worked my entire career in communications, I know how important it is to share information in a transparent, accessible and friendly manner. My door will always be open to our town residents for any and all of their needs,” Novicki said.
Jody Dietch, chair of the Orange Democratic Town Committee, said, “I can’t think of a better qualified person to fill the shoes of Pat O’Sullivan than Margaret. Her background, coupled with her knowledge of Orange, make her the ideal next town clerk for our town.”
Novicki has been active in Orange politics since her retirement from the United Nations in May 2017. She was elected to a two-year term on the Board of Selectmen in 2019 and also ran for first selectman in 2017.
As a selectman, she serves on the Emergency Management Advisory Council and played a role in keeping Orange residents informed of COVID-19 developments as a member of the EMAC COVID Subcommittee. She also sits on the Personnel Committee. From 2018-2019, she was a member of the Community Services Commission, supporting seniors, youth and needy in the town.
Novicki had a long career in public service, communications and management, having retired from the United Nations in May 2017 after serving the organization for 22 years – 12 years at UN headquarters in New York and a decade in four African countries.
Her family has deep roots in Orange. Her late parents, Ted and Martha Novicki, raised their four children in Orange and were active members of Holy Infant Church and the Paugusset Club. Her two brothers, David and Robert, and other family members continue to reside in the town.
Novicki lived in Orange for the first 18 years of her life, attending Mary L. Tracy grammar school, Holy Infant Junior High School and Lauralton Hall in Milford. She received a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C. in 1977 and a master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of International Affairs in New York in 1979. She moved back to the Novicki homestead in Orange with her family – husband Amadou Ndiaye, son Thomas and their beloved Scottie dog, Rupert – in 2013.
“My roots are deep and strong in Orange. Nothing would make me happier than having the opportunity to work every day on behalf of and in service to the wonderful people of this town,” she said. “And being elected town clerk after Pat O’Sullivan would be the high point of my career.”
“As Pat has so nicely characterized the job, I would love to be the next ambassador for the town and a bridge between all levels of government,” she added. “I have the skills and experience to do so.”