LYME DEMOCRATS ENDORSE CANDIDATES

Lyme — The Democratic Town Committee unanimously endorsed First Selectman Steven Mattson Monday to run for a full term as the town’s top official in the Nov. 7 elections.

At its caucus, the town committee also unanimously endorsed its chairman, John Kiker, to seek his first term on the Board of Selectmen, as well as a slate of mostly incumbents for town boards and commissions.

Mattson stepped into the role of first selectman on July 3, when the Board of Selectmen appointed him to serve the remainder of Ralph F. Eno Jr.’s term that ends in November. Eno retired as first selectman after serving in the position since 2006 as well as from 1991 to 2001.

Mattson, a retired business executive with 13 years experience as a selectman, has said that Eno ran the town well and residents won’t see major changes with the transition. He said he would like to focus on longer-term planning for the town. For example, instead of a one-year plan for the town, he would like to adopt a three- or five-year plan.

“I’m very happy the committee wanted to endorse me,” Mattson said. “I take that as a good sign. Hopefully, it’ll be a nice, easy smooth election.”

Kiker, the Democrats’ endorsed candidate for the Board of Selectmen, is a chief strategist at a marketing and communications firm who has experience on the Zoning Board of Appeals and Board of Assessment Appeals.

He said he is running for the Board of Selectmen because he loves the town and wants to protect it. He also wants more people to get involved with the town committee and local boards and commissions and hopes that his decision will encourage others.

The DTC also endorsed Jarrod Leonardo for an alternate position on the Board of Finance; Winnifred Gencarella for Zoning Board of Appeals; Stacey Leonardo for Lyme-Old Lyme Board of Education; Susan Cole, Diane Brown and Judith Ulrich for the Lyme Library Board of Directors; Ann Rich for Planning and Zoning Commission; and Linda Winzer, a Republican, for Town Clerk.