Sprague — First Selectwoman and state Sen. Cathy Osten was endorsed unanimously by the Democratic Town Committee to run for her fifth term as the town's top elected official.

Osten, who was elected last fall to her second term as state senator in the 10-town 19th Senate district, had said at the time that this would be her final term as first selectwoman.

But Osten said Thursday that with the controversial closing of Fusion Paperboard — the town's top taxpayer at the time — and the lingering issues over environmental contamination and unpaid property taxes by the parent company, the town committee asked her to run again.

Democratic Selectwoman Denise Dembensky also was endorsed for re-election.

Osten said she has proven she can handle both state and town positions and said during her first four years as first selectwoman, she was employed full time as a state corrections officer. She has since retired from that position.

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday