1 September, 2023
Out on the Town is HCAM's limited series produced by HCAM Journalist Intern Sidhi Dhanda. View this Out On The Town episode here.
Connor Degan is a dedicated Hopkinton resident. He grew up in Hopkinton, attended high school, and now serves as the town clerk in his hometown.
Degan’s journey into public service was not an immediate one. However, Degan says his mother recalls him wearing a blazer and declaring he would be the President of the United States one day.
“I was all over the place for a little while just right after college, but then it was when I decided I wanted to refocus that brought me back to town,” Degan said.
Degan initially volunteered in the Town Clerk’s office, working under his predecessor for about 11 months before she decided to retire. Degan hadn’t thought about running for the position before, but he realized that there weren’t many residents who were able to run at that time.
“I started to put out my feelers about it and people were receptive to the idea,” Degan said. “So I thought maybe I actually have a shot of running for this after all.”
Reflecting on his decision to run for Town Clerk, Degan shared that he wanted to really earn the position. He actively engaged with the community and went out to build connections and garner support from the community.
Degan’s responsibilities span a wide range of tasks. Degan sees community members frequently, from issuing dog licenses and business certificates to managing birth and death records.
“I like to say we see people at every point in their lives. We see people when they’re coming in to get married, we see them back here for their first child to pick up their birth certificates, and we see them when they lose a loved one,” Degan said.
His office also plays a crucial role in elections, from prepping for the presidential primaries to staying abreast of new law changes to scheduling election workers.
One of Degan’s favorite aspects of his work is the opportunity to officiate wedding ceremonies. Whether the ceremony takes place at Town Hall, a local venue, or a couple’s home, Degan enjoys being part of that special moment in people’s lives.
Beyond his work, Degan is an avid lover of barbecue and enjoys firing up his Texas-style smoker to make smoked meats. Traveling is another passion that Degan shares with his wife. Their last trip was to Mexico, and they plan to visit Italy next.
