Bozrah— Republicans on Wednesday endorsed Norwich Republican Nick DeLucia as the party’s candidate in the 139th state House of Representatives district that includes Bozrah, Montville and Norwich.

DeLucia, 33, a sales manager for AT&T, has served as a U.S. Marine and is vice president of AT&T’s veterans employee resource group for Connecticut and New England.

DeLucia will challenge longtime incumbent Democrat Kevin Ryan of Montville.

“It’s time for a change,” DeLucia said in a news release. “Kevin Ryan has been up in Hartford for 26 years. We need fresh ideas and a new direction. We need to build a Connecticut that people can afford.”

Norwich Alderman William Nash nominated DeLucia at the convention held Wednesday at Bozrah Town Hall. Nash has known DeLucia since the candidate was in fifth grade and Nash served as the DARE officer for Norwich police at the middle school. Nash later became DeLucia’s high school football coach.

“Nick is a born leader and team player,” Nash said in the news release. “When we send him up to Hartford, it’s not going to be the Nick show. He will be representing us.”