Old Lyme ― An announcement Friday that retired state trooper John Mesham intends to seek the Republican endorsement for first selectman came as a surprise to the man who currently holds the office -- fellow Republican Tim Griswold.

A news release announcing Mesham’s intentions, which was also posted on the Republican Town Committee website, said he retired from the Connecticut State Police in 2020 as a master sergeant with 29 years of experience in law enforcement. He is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

His running mate is small business owner and longtime Board of Finance member Judith Read.

Griswold in a phone call Friday said he thought announcements would be made after the slate of candidates is nominated Tuesday at the Republican Town Committee caucus. But upon conferring with the committee’s chairman, Randy Nixon, Griswold confirmed he would not be seeking reelection.

“The plan is to have Mr. Mesham run, and I will be put out to pasture,” Griswold said, before pausing and adding “voluntarily.”

The 78-year-old first selectman did not explicitly state what his own intentions had been prior to Mesham’s announcement.

“I was thinking of not running,” he said.

Griswold returned as first selectman in 2019 after having held the office for seven consecutive terms from 1997 to 2011.

“After 18 years, it’s probably time to have somebody else take it along,” he said.

He previously served 15 years on the town’s Board of Finance.

He said he will not seek a seat as a selectman on the three-member board.

Griswold said Republican Selectman Matt Ward, who was his running mate in 2021 and was being groomed as a possible replacement, decided to take a full-time job in accounting rather than pursue the first selectman job. Ward is also a retired state trooper.

Mesham Friday said he did “not recall” telling Griswold he’d be announcing his candidacy Friday.

But the presumptive candidate said he’d talked with members of the town committee – Griswold included – about running after the first selectman “made it known” he would not be seeking reelection.

“I have spoken with Tim about town issues and find him to be a great resource and inspiration for my upcoming bid to campaign,” he said.

Mesham was serving as executive officer at the Troop E barracks in Montville when he retired. He has also worked at Troop F in Westbrook and as the Essex Resident Trooper, according to state police. He previously served in the Guilford Police Department.

The news release said Mesham oversaw the daily operations at two state police barracks, managed police personnel in Old Lyme, developed community programs with municipal governments, and negotiated collective bargaining agreements.

Mesham serves on the Inland Wetland and Watercourse Commission. He was described in the release as instrumental in the 36-1 Buttonball Committee’s recommendations to the Board of Selectmen regarding public access to the Black Hall River.

Griswold said leaving the town’s top spot doesn’t mean he won’t have a presence in town. The Vietnam veteran has been involved in numerous organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Old Lyme Historical Society.

“I’ll be around,” he said. “Not to be a nuisance, but just to be around.”

The Republican Town Committee caucus will be held 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Town Hall.

e.regan@theday.com