OLD LYME – Former Marine, law enforcement officer, and community advocate John Mesham has formally announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for First Selectman.
Mesham, father of three, recently retired from a distinguished 29-year career in law enforcement in which he oversaw the daily operations at two of the largest state police barracks, managed police personnel in Old Lyme, developed community programs with municipal governments, and negotiated collective bargaining agreements.
Prior to his career in law enforcement, Mesham was deployed as a Marine infantryman on the USS Iwo Jima and served at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. He holds a BS in Criminal Justice from Charter Oak State College.
In addition to managing police personnel in Old Lyme, Mesham, father of Owen, Anna, and Emily, served as a Scoutmaster for 10 years for Troop 26 Lyme & Old Lyme Boy Scouts. He has been married to his wife Nancy for 29 years. Mesham currently serves on the Inland Wetland and Watercourse Commission and was instrumental in the 36-1 Buttonball Committee recommendations to the Old Lyme Board of Selectmen.
In conjunction with Mesham’s announcement, Judith Read, a dedicated public servant, has also announced her intention to seek the Republican nomination for Second Selectman. Read, a small business owner, has nearly two decades of experience serving on the Old Lyme Board of Finance. She also served one term on the Region 18 Board of Education.
Mother of Megan Overdurff Read and Will (Sloan) Danenhower, Read has lived in Old Lyme for over 40 years, volunteering as a Girl Scout leader and as the Treasurer for the MacCurdy Salisbury Educational Foundation. She currently is a business management consultant, with a specialization in business organization.
Read attended Central Connecticut State College where she studied Business Administration. She has been married to Sloan Danenhower for 40 years.
The prospective Mesham-Read team is focused on continuing fiscal responsibility, supporting Old Lyme senior citizens, maintaining excellence in Region 18 school system, and protecting the natural beauty of Old Lyme.
The Old Lyme Republican Town Committee will caucus on Tuesday, July 18, at 6 p.m. At that meeting, members will select the candidates they wish to endorse for the November 2023 election.
Editor’s Note: The article above is based on a press release issued this morning by the Mesham & Read 2023 campaign.