East Lyme — The Republican convention for the 37th State Assembly District met on Monday at the East Lyme Senior Center, and delegates from East Lyme and Salem unanimously endorsed Holly H. Cheeseman as their candidate for the Nov. 8 election.

In her acceptance speech, Cheeseman, a Niantic resident who serves on the East Lyme Board of Selectmen, thanked the delegates and pledged to run a grass-roots campaign for the people of East Lyme and Salem, according to a news release.

“I care deeply about our community and our state," she said in a statement. "I grew up in Connecticut and raised my children here, but the Connecticut we used to know is long gone. This past week in Hartford was a true demonstration that our state is broken and mismanaged by one party rule."

"If I am elected, I will work to reduce the ever-increasing cost of government and bring spending under control," she said in the statement. "I will do my best to serve the people of East Lyme and Salem and bring about the change we need in Hartford."

Cheeseman is the executive director of the Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut.

She grew up in New London, is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass., and has five children and four grandchildren, according to the release. 

She is also president of the board of trustees of the East Lyme Public Library and a member of the Niantic Bay Yacht Club.