To the Editor:
As a candidate for Groton Town Council, I want to present, briefly, four case studies of why I believe this Groton Town Council election is a land-use election:
- Mystic Oral School – incumbent councilors tried to give tax incentives and a development deal to a developer convicted of public bribery and corruption. Citizen action and the Planning and Zoning Commission stopped the development.
- Groton Heights – After losing the most recent development deal, there’s allegations of quid pro quo with a new developer and incumbent councilors went on a smear campaign against the dissenting Councilor Bordelon.
- Data Centers – incumbent councilors tried to push forward a horribly contentious deal. Citizen action and the Planning and Zoning Commission effectively stopped that development.
- Short Term Rentals – increasing complaints about vandalism, noise and housing costs forced a community organization to stand up to stop the Council from implementing a disastrous short-term rental policy that would exacerbate these problems. Ultimately, the Planning and Zoning Commission came up with the regulations which stand today.
This sampling of issues from recent years under current Democratic leadership dovetails with their multiple attempts to exert political retaliatory action against volunteer members of land-use commissions. Specifically, Personnel Appointments Committee Chair Bruce Jones and member Jill Rusk, have tried to use their power to rid these commissions of individuals that they think impugned their ability to force unpopular, and often legally-dubious developments on the residents of Groton, such as the contentious removal of Planning and Zoning Chairman Jeff Pritchard, and the demotion of myself to an alternate seat for questioning the legality of his removal process. On-going alleged harassment of John Goodrich, Historic Distric Commission Alternate, has led to several lawsuits, including a federal civil rights case.
Councilor Portia Bordelon, a Democrat running for Town Council not complicit in these alarming crusades, has been subject herself to constant antagonism, personal attacks, and oppresive use of parlimentary rules to silence and punish her opposition to the majority on these issues.
Advocate groups like ‘Keep S.B. Butler Green’ are right to engage directly with the political ramifications of this municipal election by hosting a candidate forum. While many believe Mystic is safe from the huge developments happening in Western Groton, it would do to remember the fight necessary to protect Noank Gardens and the Mystic Oral School. A few of the individuals in those issues have changed, but the myopic mob-mentality demonstrated by this majority group has not. Nearly all of the incumbent candidates have demonstrated a lack of integrity and foresight in their words and their votes.
Soon, Groton will adopt the revised Plan of Conservation and Development, a 10-year guide to what gets built and what gets protected in Groton. The Council elected on November 4, 2025 will vote to adopt that document and could significantly shape the course of development for a decade to come. Moreover, within the next two years, the commission seats of Planning and Zoning Chair Sue Sutherland, members Hal Zod and Steven Hudacek, will be up for reappointment for 5-year terms. These members have successfully defended Groton in the past.The Council elected this November will determine the makeup of the vital Planning and Zoning Commission.
The November 4th election presents Groton residents with the opportunity to elect candidates, like myself and the Groton Independents, who understand the need for responsible development and preservation of community character, and who have a proven track record to back it up. I am asking that you vote for candidates who have the knowledge, experience and integrity to serve Groton in this critical moment. Because Groton deserves better.
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Gauthier is a running on the Groton Independents ticket for Groton Town Council