FARMINGTON – Town Clerk Leanne Pinkham has always wanted to be a town manager.

She worked her way up from the age of 19 when she won her first election as town clerk in Anson to becoming the manager of the town of Bradford near Bangor.

“It is something I always wanted to do,” Pinkham said Monday.

She has served as Farmington’s town clerk for 13 years.

Her last day in that position is Aug. 10 but she plans to come back and help when needed and help train the person who is hired to replace her.

Pinkham said she gave her notice Friday.

“I’m excited. I think this is kind of a new chapter, a new career, even though it is still in municipal government,” Pinkham said.

She has worked in municipal government for more than two decades.

“I’ve done this for 22 years. I’ve been a town clerk since when I was 19 in Anson and I won my first election,” she said.

Pinkham worked in Anson for 18 years, then moved on to Waterville as a welfare case worker and general assistance for three years.

Then she came to Farmington.

“I’m a lifetime clerk,” she said.

She served as administrative assistant, secretary and town clerk in Anson.

Her inspiration to get into town government and stay were the late, first Selectman Bob Garland of Anson and Ruth Cushman, town manager of Jay.

At 19, Pinkham of North Anson went to pay her parents’ taxes in Anson. It was then that Garland told her he had her nomination papers ready, she said.

I told him “I don’t think so Bob, who is going to elect a 19-year-old,” she said.

She won.

She worked under Cushman, whose last name was Marden at the time, as town manager.

“Ruth was a stay-at-home mom and got involved in Strong, as a selectman. She went on to become town manager of Anson, Livermore Falls and now Jay,” Pinkham said.

She has enjoyed her time in Farmington and said she will miss the people and her co-workers.

“I am going to miss it,” she said.

Pinkham is the mother of 5-year-old Allison and is married to Redmond Pinkham.

[email protected]