Old Lyme — The Republican Town Committee has endorsed Judith Danenhower Read to run for first selectwoman and Chris Kerr to run for selectman in the Nov. 7 municipal elections.

Read serves on the boards of MacCurdy Salisbury Education Foundation and the Old Lyme Historical Society. She has a background in financial management and accounting services and has served on the Board of Finance and the Board of Education.

Kerr, a small business owner and lifelong resident, has experience on the Board of Finance and the Planning Commission and with the Old Lyme Fire Department. 

The Republicans also endorsed Rick Goulding (incumbent) for the Lyme-Old Lyme Board of Education; Grub Garvin (incumbent) for the Board of Finance; Dave Kelsey (incumbent) for an alternate position on the Board of Finance; Vicki Urbowicz for Town Clerk; Dan Montano for Zoning Board of Appeals; Alan Todd and Paul Orzel (both incumbents) for the Zoning Commission; and Tim Griswold (incumbent) for Board of Assessment Appeals.

"I am very thankful for our candidates who are dedicating a part of their lives to high-quality civic service," Kelsey, the Republican Town Committee chairman, said by email. "This is a group with outstanding experience, both with public service, as well as extensive high-quality small business experience. I could not be more happy with our slate, and can only hope that more folks of their quality offer to serve our community. I have been dismayed at the drop off of folks of any political affiliation willing to get involved in the constructive management of our town over the last ten years, and I hope that will change soon. Involved community is the basis of a good society."

The Democratic Town Committee has endorsed First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder and Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal, along with a slate of candidates.