State Rep. Kathleen McCarty, R-Waterford, is seeking her fifth term in office.

She was nominated by Waterford First Selectman Rob Brule and endorsed unanimously by 38th District Republicans last week. With the reconfiguration of House seats after redistricting, the district will cover Waterford and parts of the Uncasville and Oakdale sections of Montville.

According to a news release from McCarty’s campaign, “Surrounded by family and friends, McCarty pledged to continue to work diligently in a bipartisan and open manner for the best interests of all of her constituents.”

McCarty has spent her tenure in office primarily concerned with health care and education issues. She is the ranking House member of the legislature's Education Committee and serves on the Public Health and Appropriations committees. Her caucuses include Women’s, Individuals with Disability, Tourism Arts & Culture.

“McCarty said she has unfinished business in the legislature and that she would continue to advocate for quality education for all students, a new ECS (Education Cost Sharing) funding formula, domestic violence protections, reduction in taxes for lower and middle income families, elimination of outdated and redundant mandates on schools and businesses and enhanced services for veterans,” her campaign’s news release reads.

McCarty defeated Democratic challenger Baird Welch-Collins for a second time in her most recent reelection campaign. She taught French at Wilton High School for 13 years and later served on Waterford's Board of Education for 20 years, she said. She earned a bachelor's degree at Sacred Heart University and holds a pair of master's degrees: in teaching French from Fairfield University and in medieval studies from Fordham University.

Nicholas Gauthier, a two-term Waterford Representative Town Meeting member, is the Democrat-endorsed candidate McCarty will face on Election Day, Nov. 8.

s.spinella@theday.com