Groton — Portia Bordelon, a Democratic Town Councilor, announced in a news release Friday that she is pursuing a primary campaign for reelection to Town Council. 

She said she is collecting signatures to appear on the ballot for a Sept. 14 primary.

“I am excited to engage with the Democratic Voters of Groton to offer a broader diversity of opinion, experience and perspective to their array of choices for elected representatives this election season,” Bordelon said in a statement.

The nominating committee did not include Bordelon for council as part of its proposed slate. Rep. Chris Conley, D-Groton, nominated her at last week’s DTC meeting, but Bordelon did not secure enough votes.

Bordelon believes the vote "did not accurately or equitably represent the actual will and desire of the Groton Democratic Voters."

The DTC endorsed Bordelon for Board of Education and Representative Town Meeting.

Bordelon, who was appointed to the council in 2019 and elected during the last municipal election, said she "consistently worked to make government function better for the people of Groton and give a voice to everyone in our community.” The release notes that in the council race, Bordelon received the second-highest number of votes "out of the remaining incumbents" and that she has "a perfect attendance and voting record on both the RTM and Town Council, despite having a number of health concerns during that time."

Bordelon said the "most important functions for a councilor" are "to serve as an honest broker of information, to be a frank and efficient facilitator of community conversation and to engage with the public as a responsive representative for the constituents.”

“To perform these functions at a high level, one must have a passion for the people and value the diversity of voices and vocations that live in this town,” she added. “My record on the Council, and the RTM before that, along with my overall experience in life leading up to and through this campaign, testify to the fact that these qualities resonate within me.”

Bordelon, a mother, lifelong Groton resident, board member for Noank Community Support Services and previously a delegate for the Connecticut Democratic Party, “believes in environmentally responsible, sustainable and community-rooted economic development; equitable access to educational and vocational opportunities; coastal access and preservation of open spaces; as well as a proactive planning of maintenance rather than reactive repairs,” according to the release.