East Lyme — First Selectman Mark Nickerson has announced he isn't seeking reelection in 2021, citing as reasons his other job at GEICO, a lack of interest in being a "career politician," and a desire to spend more time with family.

But Nickerson told The Day Monday he "might be on the ballot somewhere, because I deeply, deeply love our town and want to ensure a smooth transition and continuity," and that he "might be back in the seat someday. I'm not ruling it out."

Nickerson, 57, made the announcement in a letter with the title "It's time..." that was first published in an East Lyme Parks and Recreation publication on Friday. He also posted the letter to his Facebook page Sunday.

Nickerson, a Republican, said he's "not going away" and that perhaps he will serve in a larger regional role, on a nonprofit board, or both. He currently serves as chairman of the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments.

After getting his start in town politics on the East Lyme Zoning Commission, starting as alternate in 1999 and rising to chairman, Nickerson was first elected to the Board of Selectmen in 2009. He was appointed first selectman in January 2015, filling the vacancy caused when Paul Formica was elected state senator.

Formica said Monday he thinks Nickerson "has been a strong, steady and capable leader for the town," and pointed to his work to get a new public safety building, saying it may have been controversial to some but needed to happen.

Nickerson was elected in 2015 with 65.2% of the vote, and reelected with 70.3% in 2017 and 51.7% in 2019.

On Monday, he said that "one side of the coin" in his decision not to seek reelection is that his business at GEICO has grown and could use him back full-time.

In his letter, Nickerson credited GEICO with allowing him the opportunity for a seven-year "sabbatical." He brought on people for bookkeeping and marketing, and continued working for GEICO the past six years, but said "obviously the balance tips towards Town Hall."

Nickerson also said he wanted to serve East Lyme "but the longer you're in there, the more of a politician you become."

"I deeply believe in term limits, for all public officials, and I think it's healthy for our system to have turnover, to have new people and new ideas, new blood," he added. Nickerson said even if there wasn't a pandemic this year, he still would have opted against seeking reelection.

He isn't ready to look back yet, saying there's still a lot he wants to accomplish.

Nickerson pointed to land acquisition issues, downtown enhancements, finishing the new public safety complex, looking at changes to the town charter, hashing out a sewer agreement with Waterford and New London, and kicking off a study that looks at the straightening and widening of part of Route 161.

Some changes in East Lyme that have happened during Nickerson's tenure as first selectman include the approval of the new public safety building, $38 million in elementary school renovations, the conversion of the former Mobil station at Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue into a park, and the transition from a resident state trooper program to an independent police department.

Kevin Seery, first deputy selectman for Nickerson's entire tenure, said the first selectman "tackled a very unpopular topic with the police building" and was able to see through what people have been trying to do for 30 years.

Nickerson also wrote in his letter, "Mistakes and second guesses bring on sleepless nights. The concern and worry that comes with managing a town full of dedicated employees, hundreds of volunteers, and countless organizations is overwhelming at times."

He added to The Day that sleepless nights have come from tough personnel decisions, budget cuts, and COVID-19.

"We are not out of the 'Covid Woods' yet ... not even close," Nickerson wrote in his letter. "During this spirit-dimming ordeal, please continue to show kindness, tolerance and compassion. Remember that EVERYONE is going through something."

East Lyme Republican Town Committee Chairman Larry Fitzgerald said in an email that his reaction to Nickerson's announcement was "simply gratitude for his years of public service, for his leadership and long list of accomplishments that simply made East Lyme better."

He said Nickerson "did not shy away from doing the important and sometimes difficult work whether to add to the Niantic Main Street renaissance, complete the Gateway Commons and Costco developments, renovate our aging elementary schools, or deliver finally on a home for our Public Safety employees."

Democratic Town Committee Chairman Jason Deeble said being first selectman is a "tough, thankless job, and this was a really ugly time in American history and a really difficult time to be involved in politics and to be a political figure, and I respect the man for having to go through what he went through." He said he wishes Nickerson well in whatever he chooses.

e.moser@theday.com