Old Lyme — Republicans unanimously endorsed Cathy Carter for first selectwoman and a slate of candidates for the November municipal elections at their caucus on Thursday.

The Republican Town Committee nominated incumbent Arthur "Skip" E. Sibley Jr. for second selectman, and non-incumbents Erick Cushman and Stacy Winchell for the Lyme-Old Lyme Board of Education.

Incumbent Andrew Russell, the current Board of Finance chairman, secured an endorsement for the finance board.

Carter, who has a background in municipal administration and works in admissions for the Williams School in New London, said she is running for first selectwoman because there are a lot of pressing issues facing the town.

"Old Lyme is a fantastic place to live," she said. "I think we have to err on the side of being fiscally conservative and keep an eye on spending so we don't tax out residents."

Carter said she comes from a politically active family — her father, John Quine, was mayor of Meriden — and she has worked for housing authorities in several communities in the state.

She raised two children in Old Lyme and previously helped coach the Lyme-Old Lyme Girls' Varsity Lacrosse Team. 

"She's very involved in the community," said Republican Town Committee Chairman J. David Kelsey. "She has been an active member of the town's Republican party, and I think everyone is extremely excited to have her represent our party."

School-board candidate Winchell is a co-president of the Lyme-Old Lyme Junior Women's Club and an alternate on the Zoning Commission.

Cushman, another candidate for the school board, is a commander in the U.S. Navy and an engineering supervisor at General Dynamics Electric Boat.

Also on Thursday, former First Selectman Timothy Griswold received an endorsement for town treasurer.

The slate of candidates endorsed on Thursday included Kelsey and Robert Jose as alternates for the Board of Finance; Rod White for the Board of Assessment; Harold Thompson and Christopher Kerr for the Planning Commission, Jane Marsh for the Zoning Commission and Judith Tooker for tax collector. 

The Democratic Town Committee is expected to nominate its slate of candidates at an upcoming meeting. First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder, a Democrat, ran unopposed during the 2013 election.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich