An organization that states it is focused on "unrigging" the state’s election system has endorsed unaffilated voter Danielle Chesebrough in the race for Stonington first selectman and independent Mike Urgo as he seeks reelection in North Stonington.

SAM, formerly known as Serve America Movement, also endorsed unaffiliated candidate Michelle Harrold for reelection to the Tolland Board of Education.

Chesebrough is running on the Democratic ticket, as she has been endorsed by the Stonington Democratic Town Committee.

SAM said the three endorsements are part of its efforts to build on its successes in New York, where it achieved party status as a result of the votes secured by its candidates in 2018. In the upcoming November elections, SAM is running more than 100 candidates in municipal and legislative races.

In announcing the endorsements, SAM Chairman Scott Muller said, “We’re building a new type of political party as an alternative to the divisive practices and ideologies of the Democrat-Republican duopoly. Our new party champions candidates who pledge to be transparent, accountable, and committed to pursuing common sense solutions to the wide range of issues that we face on the national, state, and local levels. We are proud to endorse Danielle, Michelle, and Mike as public servants who embody these values, and we look forward to working with them as we pursue initiatives to unrig the election system in Connecticut.”

Former Connecticut gubernatorial candidate Oz Griebel, chairman of the SAM-CT Task Force, said “Danielle, Michelle, and Mike have demonstrated that their priorities are voters and not partisan politics. Their values and commitments are at the heart of the Task Force’s initiatives to unrig our election structure by opening the State’s primaries, including the 2020 Presidential primaries, and passing legislation that establishes ranked-choice voting and term limits. By doing so, voters will dramatically benefit from greater competition and more choice rather than being boxed in by the 'lesser of two evil' option that too often characterizes our elections.”