By John Schwing

WESTPORT — Democrats, who hold majorities on all of Westport’s elected boards and commissions, are itching to take back control of the town’s top job — the office of first selectman — that has eluded their control for 12 years.

With uncertainty clouding future plans by the incumbent, Republican Jennifer Tooker — who is apparently considering a 2026 run for governor rather than seeking re-election this November — Democratic officials are already focusing on selecting their standard-bearer.

In a Friday statement, party officials announced they are soliciting “applications” from registered Democrats interested in becoming the party’s first selectman nominee for the Nov. 4 municipal election.

“We are seeking a candidate with the experience, drive, vision and compassion to lead our incredible town,” Michelle Mechanic, the party chair, said in the statement.

And while the invitation throws open the field for the party’s endorsement, some potential candidates probably would not be required to fill out an application form.

That could include, should they be interested in this year’s nomination, state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, who narrowly lost the race to Tooker in 2021 but rebounded with strong re-election victories in 2022 and last November, as well as his ’21 running mate, Selectwoman Candice Savin, a former Board of Education chair, or Board of Finance members Lee Caney, the panel’s chair, and Danielle Dobin, who until 2023 was the Planning and Zoning Commission chair.

Regardless, party leaders clearly hope to capitalize on local Democrats’ huge advantage in registered party members, which outstrips both unaffiliated voters and Republicans, by settling the top of this fall’s election ticket early.

Democrats last held the first selectman’s post under Gordon Joseloff, but with the election of Republican Jim Marpe in 2013, who served two terms, and was succeeded by his running mate Tooker in 2021, the majority party has lost three consecutive races for the top office.

The application process to be considered as Democrats’ first selectman nominee involves submitting a statement of interest and biography or resume to Michael Gordon, the Democratic Town Committee’s nominations chair, at mgordon906@gmail.com.

Deadline to submit applications is 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24.

John Schwing, interim editor of the Westport Journal, has held senior editorial and writing posts at southwestern Connecticut media outlets for four decades. Learn more about us here.