WESTBROOK – Members of the Democratic caucus unanimously nominated Mayor Colleen Hilton for re-election Sunday night, officially making the mayor’s race a rematch of the 2009 election, where Hilton defeated Mayor Bruce Chuluda by less than 150 votes.

The Democrats also nominated incumbent City Clerk Lynda Adams for re-election, to challenge former Finance Director Sue Rossignol, who secured the Republican nomination for the position at that party’s caucus on Sept. 11.

The Democrats did not, however, nominate anyone to run for the Ward 4 City Council seat to be vacated by Dorothy Aube, who confirmed earlier this month that she would not be seeking re-election. The vacancy leaves no Democratic challenger to Republican nominee Ernest Porell.

Chuluda secured the mayoral nomination at the Republican caucus, and Sunday night Hilton said the race would be tough for her, but she expected to win.

“I’m getting great feedback from across the city, so I’m confident,” she said. “I’m not arrogant, just confident.”

More than 50 people attended the caucus at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center at the Westbrook Middle School. After a short series of ward conferences, the caucus made its nominations. City Council President Brendan Rielly, who himself received nomination for re-election to his council seat, moved to nominate Hilton for mayor.

In a short speech, Rielly praised Hilton for promoting economic development, streamlining city government, and also for leading the city out of a scandal involving sexual harassment lawsuits in the fire department.

“We had a problem with the fire department. We asked her to fix it. She did,” Rielly said.

After securing the nomination, Hilton took the stage to thank the caucus, and to thank the family members of the nominees for putting up with the long hours that often come with public service.

Hilton said she took office to bring “leadership and accountability” to the city.

“I really think we needed some real reckoning,” she said.

Hilton also addressed many criticisms that had been leveled at her since she took office. Among them, Hilton said, was what she called a “myth” that the city has spent too much money on costly lawsuits. During Hilton’s term, the city settled the two harassment suits brought on by two female firefighters. The city also settled a suit with former Fire Chief Daniel Brock, who sued for wrongful termination after Hilton removed him from office during her inaugural speech in 2009.

Hilton acknowledged that the settlements were costly, but noted that the city settled fewer lawsuits this year than in previous years, and the settlements were calculated moves designed to save the city money.

“We would have spent considerably more if those cases had gone to trial,” she said.

Hilton also addressed critics who said she couldn’t keep the tax rate flat. This year, taxes went up by 4.1 percent, the first increase after several years of no tax hikes at all. Hilton pointed out that the city cut $1.5 million from the budget in the same year, and suggested that a lack of tax increases, while popular, isn’t always the most responsible course.

“Keeping the tax rate flat doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve done a good job,” she said.

Hilton said she looked forward to a second term.

“I’ve truly enjoyed serving the citizens of Westbrook,” she said.

For the City Council positions, the caucus nominated Rielly for Ward 1, Victor Chau in Ward 2, Paul Emery in Ward 3, and Michael Sanphy in Ward 5 for re-election, as well as Michael Foley for one of the at-large seats. In addition to the Ward 4 seat, the caucus also did not nominate a second at-large candidate. The Republicans nominated one at-large candidate, John O’Hara, and Michael Lawson for the Ward 5 seat, in addition to Porell in Ward 4.

The Ward 1, 2, and 5 School Committee seats, plus one at-large School Committee seat, are also up for grabs. The Democrats nominated Alex Stone for Ward 1, Veronica Bates for Ward 2, and Jim Violette for Ward 5. The caucus also nominated Suzanne Salisbury for the at-large School Committee position.

All of the committee candidates are incumbents except for Bates, nominated to succeed Greg Smith, who has declined to seek re-election. Bates said Sunday night that she is a political newcomer, but often does work in the school district, and has a 9-year-old daughter who attends Canal School.

“I have a keen interest in what goes on in the schools,” she said. “I always have.”

Bates said she has wanted to run for office before, but her work schedule didn’t permit it. Now, she runs a small business out of her house, “so now I’m able to dictate my own hours.”

Bates said she followed the budget crisis that unfolded over the spring and summer with interest, but said she had an interest in running for school committee even before that happened.

“It did increase my interest, but I probably would have run regardless,” she said.

Adams, who has already served two terms as clerk, will face off against Rossignol in what will be her first actual contested race, but when asked about the race, Adams said she was more concerned about it affecting her job.

“It puts me in a bad position at work,” she said.

Now that she is herself running for office, she is restricted as to what parts, if any, of the clerical election work she may participate in, leaving many of the clerk’s duties to Deputy City Clerk Debra Gordon. The restrictions will get worse, Adams said, as the election approaches.

“On Election Day, you’re considered a candidate,” she said.

As to her contender, Adams said, she might have worried about it two years ago, but she has since grown into her position, and is confident she has served the city well. Adams said she is more worried about how Rossignol would be able to serve the city if she wins, a question that so far has no clear answer. Rossignol’s job as finance director was eliminated by Hilton two years ago. Hilton replaced it with a chief financial officer position, which is now occupied by Dawn Ouelette.

Rossignol, who served the city for 32 years, has said she felt she was treated unfairly by her removal, and by a one-year ban from City Hall that came in March 2010. Hilton said Rossignol had approached her “begging” for her job back, and in a written complaint indicated that the former finance director made her feel “threatened and frightened.”

Not long after that ban expired, Rossignol was banned again in May 2011, after a series of visits to City Hall. Rossignol said they were routine visits to pay bills.

At the time, City Administrator Jerre Bryant declined to describe the city’s case in detail, but did say employees reported Rossignol was “making them feel very uncomfortable,” and called Rossignol’s actions “disruptive.”

Adams said she was more concerned about whether the staff would get along well with its new clerk if Adams loses.

“I would feel bad about City Hall having to deal with those issues,” she said. “I’m thinking about everybody else rather than myself.”

Voters will also choose a new warden and ward clerk on Nov. 8. For warden, the Democrats nominated Joseph McDonnell in Ward 1, Beverly O’Gara in Ward 2, Myra (Micki) Crimmin in Ward 3, Conrad Metivier in Ward 4, Marie Kimball in Ward 5, and Robert Fairbrother for the at-large position.

For ward clerk, the party nominated Shirley Jordan-Brooker in Ward 1, Ann McAlpine in Ward 2, Juanita Valierini in Ward 3, Maryanne Usher in Ward 4, William Loring in Ward 5, and Joan Morton for the at-large position.