By John Schwing

WESTPORT — With the first selectman’s job up for grabs this November, as incumbent Jennifer Tooker focuses instead on running for governor in 2026, Westport Democrats are getting an early start on claiming the post that has eluded them for the last 12 years.

The Democratic Town Committee, in a statement Monday afternoon, announced that its Nominating Committee, after interviewing four “strong” candidates to lead its ticket, has selected two to be recommended for the full town committee’s formal endorsement in July.

In the meantime, however, in a somewhat unusual step, the town committee plans to make what it calls an “informal” endorsement at its March 18 meeting.

One of those two contenders, Board of Education member Kevin Christie, has agreed to address the gathering, which is set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, in the Town Hall auditorium, 110 Myrtle Ave.

The other contender — who was not identified in the party’s announcement —“has decided not to participate in the early informal endorsement process, but is free to seek the nomination in July.”

Other candidates also could emerge in the interim to try to win the Democratic Town Committee’s backing to run for the first selectman’s office in the Nov. 4 election.

Endorsed candidates could be challenged in a Sept. 9 primary.

Christie, elected to the Board of Education in 2021, serves as chairman of the panel’s Policy Committee.

His profile on the Democratic Town Committee website says that he is a “stay-at-home” father of twins. He previously worked more than 15 years in finance, investment banking, and corporate development and strategy, according to the profile.

He has volunteered for the Coleytown Elementary School PTA and as a coach for his children’s teams in the Westport Soccer Association.

Christie holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.S. in applied mathematics from Union College.