Lyme — The Democratic Town Committee issued an announcement Wednesday that former First Selectman Ralph Eno, who retired in July, endorsed Steven Mattson for first selectman in the first contested election for that office in more than a decade.

Mattson, a Democrat, and Mark Wayland, a Republican, are running for the town's top office. Mattson is serving the remainder of Eno's first selectman term ending in November, while Wayland is serving the remainder of Mattson's selectman term, also ending in November.

"If Lyme is to maintain its longstanding tradition of fiscal responsibility and attendant low mill rates, it is imperative that the next first selectman be thoroughly conversant with the budget development process, as well as its implementation and management," Eno said in a statement. "A positive relationship history working with Lyme's Board of Finance will be key as well."