Ledyard — Of the 11 people the Democratic Town Committee nominating caucus unanimously endorsed Monday night, one is currently a Republican on the Board of Education and one used to be.

Doreen Soldato, whom the Republican Town Committee appointed to fill a vacancy on the school board in February 2014, is the Policy Committee chairwoman and is a Strategic Planning Committee member.

The RTC did not endorse Soldato, a professor at University of Saint Joseph who has a doctorate from Brown University, during its nominating caucus last week.

"She's experienced, she's dedicated, she knows what she's doing," said Jeff Kulo, nominating committee chairman. "She was not endorsed for suspicious reasons, I would call them. There is no reason to think she's not qualified."

Also endorsed for the school board were its three incumbents — Stephanie Calhoun, Kate DiPalma-Herb and Rebecca Graebner — as well as Kevin Difilippo and Gordon Strickland.

Strickland, who resigned from the school board in January after 11 years of service as a Republican, said he had become disenchanted with the party over the past several years.

When he learned more about what the Ledyard Democrats stand for, he said, he realized "it's about taking care of the town" — something he said meshes with his goals.

"This is a great bunch," Strickland said. "We have a chance to sweep six and it would be awesome."

DTC Chairwoman Naomi Rodriguez said she and her fellow Democrats would like to keep politics out of the Board of Education.

"We are the Ledyard Democratic Party and we're different," she said. "We all have kids who went through or are in the school system. You think for yourself, you vote for yourself — all we want is what's best for the children."

Caucus voters also endorsed the Town Council's three incumbent Democrats: Lou Gabordi, Mary McGrattan and Bill Saums.

Kulo said the three of them have persevered in carrying out Democratic principles even "in an environment where they're the minority."

In addition, Elizabeth Peterson, an engineer at the Dominion Millstone Power Station and chairwoman of the Economic Development Commission, will run for a council position for the first time.

Current Planning and Zoning Commission Vice Chairwoman Rodriguez, who has run for a seat on the council in the past, will give it another go.

Kulo said the DTC didn't put forward a mayoral candidate for the coming election for two reasons.

First, he said, the people its members thought could be competitive and possibly win weren't available to run.

Second, retired Ledyard Police Lt. Michael Finkelstein, whom the RTC caucus nominated to run for mayor last week, "has a lot of name recognition."

Still, several of the Democrats expressed excitement Monday night.

"Sitting here tonight with my fellow candidates, I feel reenergized," Calhoun said. "This right here would be an amazing team going forward."

l.boyle@theday.com

Twitter: @LindsayABoyle