Groton ― An unaffiliated candidate has entered the race for the 41st House District, which covers the southern section of Groton and southwestern part of Stonington.

James “Jake” Dunigan, 36, who lives on the Groton side of Mystic, has worked in the defense industry since graduating from Drexel University in 2008, according to his biography. He joined Electric Boat in 2012 and worked there until January, serving as a waterfront support engineer, operations supervisor and mechanical engineering specialist.

He recently earned his law degree and interned for a federal bankruptcy judge, after attending the University of Connecticut School of Law at night for the past four years while working at Electric Boat. His goal is to work at a medium-sized law firm.

“I’m running because I don’t think that either party represents the vast majority of people’s interests and that they’re often more concerned about wins for their particular side, rather than for the public in general, and that needs to change,” he said.

Dunigan received confirmation on Aug. 23 from the Office of the Secretary of State that his nominating petition was approved and he is qualified to appear on the Nov. 8 ballot as a petitioning candidate for state representative for the 41st district.

Dunigan said in a statement that he “is running to be a representative that considers and votes for the interest of all constituents, building on our strengths, responsibly deploying our resources and improving Connecticut for future generations.”

On his website at www.your41st.org, he said he would work to end political gerrymandering; create a service-based program in Connecticut, similar to AmeriCorps, in which people can receive tuition for educational institutions in Connecticut after they finish their service, and create incentives for health care reform.

Robert Boris, a Republican and the president of Command Technology in Groton, and Aundré Bumgardner, a Democrat and Groton Town Councilor, also are running for the seat.

State Rep. Joe de la Cruz, D-Groton, who currently holds the seat, is not running for re-election.

k.drelich@theday.com