Groton Democrat Primary: Bruce Jones Seeks Nomination

GROTON, CT — Tuesday Sept. 14 is the Democratic Primary For Groton Town Council for a two-year term which runs from Dec. 7, 2021 to Dec. 5, 2023. Voters must be a registered Democrat in order to participate in the primary.

Groton Patch contacted primary candidates to answer questions about their campaigns.

Bruce Jones, 66, is seeking the Democratic Party nomination for Town Council.

Occupation: Small Business Owner, Graphic Designer

Family: My wife Louise and two grown daughters

Experience: RTM District 7 and Representative Town Meeting

Family in government: No

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

I think there are several issues facing the Town of Groton. Housing: we have a continual need for affordable housing of all kinds. Families and individuals are finding it hard to secure housing as we come out of the pandemic. Creating additional housing of all kinds is vital for our community. Economic: bringing new businesses into the community and supporting our existing ones is vital. About 80% of our workforce leaves Groton every day for work, and 80% of our jobs are filled with workers from outside of the town. Somehow we need to re-balance those numbers to have more people who live here also work here. Infrastructure: we have roads, bridges, and buildings that all need repair and upgrades. These all cost money. We need careful planning and commitment to tackle these projects. Groton is a coastal community, and coastal resilience and conservation are high with many people. So it is hard to pick just one topic. It has to be a blend of many as we work to move the Town forward.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I have successfully built a business from the ground up and maintained it for over 35 years. This process gives me a good insight into the struggles and successes that a business can bring to a community and to families. Businesses are built on ideas, listening, compromise, and leadership. Strong, and effective businesses are one of the backbones of a successful community. I want to be able to support our economic development team to continue bringing in and working with our businesses. And to bring the skills that I have learned to the Council.

Accomplishments:

I am currently the RTM representative for District 7 in Groton. Also, the Chairman of the RTM Recreation Committee (Parks and Rec). Because of being on the RTM, I have been able to learn how the Town works, who the key people are, and the budget process. I am also on the Board of Directors for our public access station, SEC-TV. I am a member of the sustainability crew for GOSA, and (Groton Open Space Association).

Other issues:

I have three areas that I am focusing on. 1. Working with our open space and conservation land. Covid proved how valuable open space and trails are for the citizens of Groton. Many people came outdoors to walk trails and explore all our open spaces. Land usage increased tremendously. Outdoor recreation is a great way to increase and maintain health and fitness in our community. 2. Making it easy to open and maintain a business is a top priority. Along that direction is effective and efficient economic development. I am a small business owner and love small businesses. Successful businesses contribute to successful communities. We have an excellent economic development team here in Groton and keeping them strong and keeping businesses strong is important to our growth. 3. The National Council on Aging and the National Institute of Senior Centers have recognized the Groton Senior Center for its outstanding service. We have one of the best in the State if not the country. 14% of our population is 65+ so it is important to have a strong senior center with great programs and services for our community. I hope to keep the momentum going and our center strong.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I have been involved in volunteering in my communities for the past 15 years. Over the past few years and I have increased that to public service and elected office. I am also an author and a product developer.