Biography
State Rep. Dorinda Keenan Borer was elected to represent West Haven’s 115th Assembly District on a special election on February 2017. Currently serving her second legislative term, she has been appointed House Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee and is a member of the Environment and Public Health Committees.
Born and raised in West Haven, Borer received her B.S. in Business Administration and Management at Southern Connecticut State University and her M.B.A. from the University of New Haven.
She started her own management and consulting business, PureFire Executive Consulting, after working as vice president for United Healthcare. She also worked in government for both the Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport for ten years as well an additional 7 years in banking including management of auditing and branch administration.
Outside of her professional work, Rep. Borer was Bailey Middle School PTA President, served on the local Board of Education from 2009–13, and founded the West Haven Early Childhood Development Commission. She served on the board of directors of the ACES and the Clifford Beers Mental Health Clinic. Her community activism also included serving on the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and founding the West Haven Italian Street Festival in 2003, for which she was chairwoman until 2011.
Her work in the community was honored in 2014 when she was named "Irishwoman of the Year" for the city's 23rd annual celebrating her work. Amongst those in attendance praising her work were U.S. Representative Rosa L. DeLauro and Senator Richard Blumenthal. Eleven years earlier, she was Grand Marshal of the event's parade. She is on the Board of the Rotary Club and is an Elk member as well.
Dorinda has also been recognized by both the Black Coalition and Hispanic Society for her work building better communities through diversity.