Groton — Town Councilor Aundré Bumgardner announced in a news release that he submitted a petition Monday with the necessary signatures to challenge City of Groton Mayor Keith Hedrick to a March 8 Democratic primary for city mayor.
City Clerk Deb Patrick said she received the primary petition with 168 certified signatures, and the city will proceed with holding a primary.
Kristen Venditti, Groton's Republican registrar of voters, said by state statute, a candidate needs 5% of electors on the active enrollment list, or 92 signatures in this case, so Bumgardner submitted more than was needed. She said the application was completed before deadline and brought to the registrars for certification, and he then brought it to the city clerk for filing with the secretary of the state.