A Norwich professional photographer will make his first run for political office by challenging five-term incumbent state Sen. Cathy Osten in the 10-town 19th state Senate District.

Pietro Carmandella, 66, of Norwich was endorsed at the 19th District Republican convention Monday night in Hebron.

Carmandella is semi-retired from his photography business, Artphoto by Pietro in the Greeneville section of Norwich. Carmandella said he immigrated to the United States and Norwich 40 years ago. He became a U.S. citizen in 1987 and registered to vote as an unaffiliated voter. Carmandella said he has voted in every election but never sought a run for political office.

This spring, when approached about the possibility of running for state Senate, he was told he would need to register as a Republican to seek the party endorsement.

“I’m running because we the people have been feeling for a while, especially in Connecticut, that the illustrious people in Hartford do not pay attention to the needs of the common folks,” Carmandella said, “especially for the small-business owners.”

The 19th District covers the towns of Montville, Ledyard, Norwich, Lisbon, Franklin, Sprague, Columbia, Lebanon, Hebron and Marlborough.