Date: Fri 28-Aug-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Registrar-of-voters-Aurelia

Full Text:

Karen Aurelia Takes Over As Republican Registrar

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Karen Aurelia was born in England, but she has been in the United States ever

since 1963 when she came across the Atlantic on holiday and decided to stay.

She moved to Newtown a year later with her husband, John, and had three

daughters: Debbie, Wendy and Susan. In 1978 she became an American citizen.

Next Tuesday, Mrs Aurelia will take over as Republican registrar of voters in

Newtown, replacing the outgoing Shirley Lawrensen.

Mrs Lawrensen announced her retirement earlier this month, ending a 4«-year

run. Just last year, Susan Fernandes stepped down as registrar of voters for

the Democrats. She was replaced by her daughter, Linda Connor, the former

deputy registrar.

Mrs Lawrensen, who celebrated her 64th birthday on Sunday and her 42nd

anniversary on Tuesday, decided to retire following a trip out West. She and

her husband, Don, were out visiting their children in Oregon and Washington

when it finally dawned on her. She was headed to Mount Ranier outside Seattle

when she thought, "I could be doing this every day."

"My son asked me when am I going to retire and move out there. Then my

daughter-in-law started in on the same thing," Mrs Lawrensen recalled. "I got

home and decided to retire and spend more time with Don."

Mrs Lawrensen said she leaves office with mixed emotions. She'll miss the job,

but will appreciate her free time, which may eventually be spent somewhere

west of the Rocky Mountains. The Lawrensens love Newtown, especially after 30

years of fond memories. However, they are being pulled westward toward their

children and their roots. Shirley was born in Arizona and Don was born in

Oregon. They met at Oregon State.

"It's so beautiful out there. Don wants to go somewhere west of the Rockies,"

she said.

Mrs Lawrensen has been an active member of the Newtown Women's Club for 29

years and has served as treasurer of Newtown Meals on Wheels for 16 years. She

was a long-time chairman of the Commission on Aging.

Mrs Aurelia, who served as Mrs Lawrensen's deputy registrar for three years,

said she has no plans to make any major changes in the registrars' office.

"We have one of the best offices around as far as our database of information

goes," she said.

As for the appointment of a deputy registrar, Mrs Aurelia is still deciding.

"It's not a job you can come in to with much knowledge," she pointed out.

"It's more on-the-job training."