Ledyard — A little more than four months after his February retirement from the Ledyard Police Department, Michael Finkelstein announced his mayoral bid Monday night on the steps of Town Hall.

Finkelstein, the police department's first-ever lieutenant, said he hadn't given much thought to the position until Mayor John Rodolico announced last month he wouldn't seek a second term.

"I had a large number of people contact me, encouraging me to run," Finkelstein said. "They thought I would be great fit."

Still, he said, he wasn't immediately sold. Finkelstein, who graduated from Ledyard High School and spent more than 25 years with the town's police department, thought his personality — one he called "apolitical" — might not be right for a politician.

"I tried to talk to as many people as possible," he said. "They said working so long just to solve problems and working with the community is really what the mayor should be: a leader, not just a politician."

Finkelstein, looking first to get the Republican Town Committee's endorsement, said his knowledge of the community — its businesses, its movers and shakers, the way things run — will be a benefit for him as a candidate.

"I care very deeply for the community," Finkelstein said. "It's been part of my life for the last 30 years."

Additionally, Finkelstein considers his experience trying to find the most efficient ways to deliver services through the police, animal control and dispatch departments to be a positive.

"That's something I look to continue," he said. "Instead of just three departments ... the mayor's office is overseeing everything."

If elected, Finkelstein's first priority would be to "come up to full speed on every aspect of town government." Then, he'd focus on a continuing evaluations of all town services to "make sure everyone is being provided what they're paying for" in the best manner possible.

Another aspect of Rodolico's term as mayor Finkelstein said he'd like to continue is a commitment to transparency.

Rodolico, a Republican, garnered almost 1,780 votes in the 2011 election, defeating Republican incumbent Fred Allyn Jr. by more than 1,000 votes. Allyn ran as a petitioning candidate after failing to get the party's endorsement.

Under Rodolico's watch, the town has continued to develop openledyard.com, an online portal where people can see meeting minutes, comments, agendas and much more. One of the biggest parts of Rodolico's platform was a pledge to create and maintain an open government.

In 2008, Finkelstein said, he helped the Ledyard Police Department transition to a system in which email releases were sent out to media immediately.

"To me, (transparency) is huge," he said. "It helps citizens know what's going on and be part of it."

Finkelstein, who holds a master's degree from Salve Regina University in administration of justice and homeland security, said he doesn't have a long list of things that need to be changed in Ledyard.

"I think Ledyard is in a good spot — it's been managed well," Finkelstein said. "The goal is just carrying the torch and continuing to move forward. That is a very big mindset of mine, looking for new and innovative ways to improve."

l.boyle@theday.com

Twitter: @LindsayABoyle