North Stonington — Members of the Democratic Town Committee nominating caucus endorsed eight people for as many positions Monday night.

Of those, seven are incumbent to their seats.

"It's a small town — there are only so many folks that are able to participate," said Selectman Mark Donahue, whom the committee again endorsed. "It's always a challenge to fill ballots."

Donahue, also chairman of the DTC, said the Democrats are not putting forward a candidate for the first selectman position.

Republican First Selectman Nick Mullane, who has had the position almost continuously since 1983, said last week that he will seek only a regular selectman position in the coming election. Republicans Shawn Murphy — a former running mate of Mullane's — and Selectman Bob Testa are expected to vie for first selectman in November.

Michael Urgo, an unaffiliated candidate whom the DTC endorsed for a Board of Finance position, is the lone non-incumbent on the Democrats' slate.

The president of Mike Urgo Consulting LLC, he's served on the town's Board of Finance in the past, when was appointed to fill an open Republican seat in November of 2012.

"We thought he did a good job when he was on the board," Donahue said, adding that the Republican Party would not endorse Urgo because he is unaffiliated. "We asked him to consider running again."

Others endorsed include Mustapha Ratib for the Board of Finance, Darren Robert for the Board of Education, David Isom for the Economic Development Commission, Paula Woodward for the Board of Assessment Appeals, James Lord for the Zoning Board of Appeals and Anne Nelson for a Zoning Board of Appeals alternate position.

Altogether, Donahue said, any one party could try for more than 20 vacant positions in the coming election.

"It would have been nice to fill everything," he said.

He explained that some new positions, such as finance and education board alternates, were added this year because of recent ordinance changes.

"We're just struggling to enlist people that have the time to commit to the town," he continued. "It's my understanding this is something that is widespread in southeastern Connecticut."

l.boyle@theday.com

Twitter: @LindsayABoyle