COST's Executive Director

Elizabeth "Betsy" Gara

Elizabeth (Betsy) Gara is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST), serving as the chief advocate for small towns at the state Capitol and before state agencies. She and her staff are committed to giving small towns a strong voice in the legislative process.

Prior to being appointed as COST’s Executive Director, Betsy was a principal in a lobbying firm she founded, representing a wide range of clients on state legislative and regulatory issues, including COST. Prior to that, Betsy was an Associate Counsel at the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA), the state’s largest trade association. In that capacity, she represented businesses on legislative and regulatory issues relating to education and training, labor and employment, and civil litigation.

While working full-time as a Senior Insurance Examiner for the Connecticut Insurance Department, Betsy received her law degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, where she majored in political science. Betsy lives in Durham with her husband where she has been an active member of the community, serving on the Board of Education and other local committees.