Ronald “Mr. T” Trufant, 49, is the Independent candidate for City Clerk and a newcomer to the Westbrook political scene. He was born and raised in Portland and moved to Westbrook from Windham two and a half years ago. He has been married for 26 years, has one daughter and one grandson and calls himself a business entrepreneur.

Trufant has 20 years of experience owning and operating his own businesses. In 1987 he started a coffee service for offices, which he ran for 10 years before selling the company. He then opened a print shop with a partner who later bought out Trufant’s share in the company. Most recently, Trufant ran a pet shop, Animal Antics, in South Portland, which he recently closed “because you can’t compete with the big guys.”

In his earlier years, Trufant worked in printing, and has a two-year degree in graphic arts and printing.

Trufant said while going door to door campaigning the biggest question residents have had is “what’s on your resume?” Trufant said his wide experience in business and customer service gives him a good background to run the clerk’s office.

Trufant said he would never run against City Clerk Barbara Hawkes, but when he went into the office this summer and found out Hawkes was retiring he thought he’d be able to fill the position nicely.

Trufant said Hawkes does an excellent job, and he’d like to see the office running the same as it is now.

“I don’t think you have to go in there and do anything differently,” he said.

Trufant prides himself on being an independent thinker, and a registered Independent. With the clerk’s position being non-political, he thinks his independence makes him a good fit.