Groton — Lauren Gauthier, a Republican member of Groton's Representative Town Meeting and special projects manager for an oyster farm, has announced that she is running for state representative for the 40th District.

Gauthier, 24, said in a news release announcing her candidacy that "she is running because she believes that a new generation of leadership needs to step up and help correct the course that Connecticut has been on, both for herself and her son."

“As a young professional, I want to thrive here and I want to be able to see my son thrive here as well,” she said in a statement.

“One of the recurring themes when talking about Connecticut’s economic development is, ‘How do we get millennials to stay?’" she added. "As a millennial who has decided to stay here, I can tell you that first and foremost I need a government that respects its citizens and performs the way it’s supposed to. I don’t think Connecticut has a 'cool factor' problem; Connecticut has a trust problem, going back decades. I need confidence that the state is honoring its obligations to citizens, and that we are all working toward a better future. That’s where we start.”

In the release, she cited that she will back "innovative and emerging industries such as data storage centers and hemp production" to help the state's economy and support municipalities' "need for consistent, reliable funding sources from the state so they can plan long-term and keep property taxes stable."

Gauthier said she will graduate with a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Connecticut in May and is interning with the Connecticut State Contracting Standards Board.

Democratic incumbent state Rep. Christine Conley, D-Groton, announced last month her reelection plans.