In late July, I agreed to debate Steve Kane on Aug 9, but that didn't happen because Mr Kane scheduled vacation with his kids. I later agreed to debate Mr Kane again in late August but that didn't happen because there was no time for the Dem Committee to properly organize a debate.

The lack of time and planning is why I am insisting on debate early in this general election.

The legislature is in summer recess, and won't meet in formal sessions until after the election. It is a crock that Ross needs to be in Boston for meetings. It appears he needs to be in Boston for meetings as cover to avoid meeting in debates in Attleboro. It's probably a smart political move. How would he explain to the voters in a debate why he voted against "Hurricane Irene" disaster relief, which meant $138,000 for Attleboro.

Sounds like he has nothing but time to kill. I love going to Boston for the day, so many great places to have lunch. Must be nice having the summer off, last time I did that was 1978. I hope he is cleaning out his desk because Paul is going to win this race in a landslide.

@deb... about the upcoming Romney/Obama debates

I think Romney will hold his own. Obama does not do well without a teleprompter, although I'm sure they will both get the questions ahead of time. I expect to see Obama smile a lot and toss off one-liners, but don't expect too much substance. Romney will appear to be the adult in the room. Of course, comedy central is all about laughing and poking fun so Romney will lose a few points there.

Seems to me if you are doing the job the people of Attleboro elected you to do, then you would welcome the chance to debate! Ross says; my opponent has to the time to launch "baseless" attacks against me, well, show the people of Attleboro why they are "baseless"! Prove it with a debate! What have you got to loose???

I'm voting for Paul Heroux as are most informed voters.

Sounds like a cop-out to me. If Ross really wants the seat, he should put himself out there in the public eye so voters can make a real choice. He should do whatever it takes, as Paul Heroux did for the Primary in campaigning throughout the City and visiting voters in their homes. George Ross ill-serves his constituents by ducking out of the other debates.

then tell me, open minded voter, though I do favor Paul Heroux, why doesn't Mr. Ross post this info. himself. And don't tell me 'he doesn't have time.'

I can only speak with what I believe it is to be. The answer, in my belief is because he is trying to remain as positive as possible. He is disturbed with the amount of negativity that politicians express during campaigns. That, to my belief, is the reason why he does not post the info himself.

Adam, first of all, there is no such thing as a 9 seat cut. When George fed you the comment, you should have had him write it out: it is a 9C cut. When we made the 9C cut, we were falling deeper into the recession, had not yet bottomed out, and tax revenues were declining. Today, the economy is improving and tax revenues are increasing: In fact, George voted to put $161 million in the rainy day fund, while voting against local aid, some of which comes from the federal government as Hurricane Irene aid. Also, the revenue to support it exists. It was clearly a partisan vote that was not good for his constituents.

Adam, I'm glad you have done some additional research, but I'm not sure your state rep would characterize the vote to put $161 million into the rainy day fund as a vote to fund a slush fund.

Richard...Calling someone a lier is down right nasty. If you can't comment nice and stick to the facts, why bother to comment.
Compare the unemployment rate one or two years ago with today. Granted it's still to high
BTW...If we want to talk about mistruths, I believe it is Mr Ross calling Paul Heroux's challenge of Ross's record dirty.....While in fact that is what campaigns are all about....exchange of ideas...there is nothing (dirty) about a healthy exchange of ideas

Richard,
Two years ago, the unemployment rate was around 10%, and state revenues are increasing, not decreasing. That is why the legislature was able to make a $161 million payment to the rainy day fund. Things are still horrible, but not like the disaster we faced two to three years ago.

Bill,
Tell that to the thousands of people with Bachelors, Masters and Associates degrees who are in the unemployment line in Massachusetts, these people have had to go through not only unemployment, but also they have had to use their retirement savings as well because the fact of the matter is, companies aren't hiring because of the policies of the tax and spend liberal Democrats both on Beacon Hill, and in Washington. The jobs that are being created aren't in the private sector, they are mostly state construction type of jobs. The reason why revenues are up is because of the high taxes in Massachusetts.

Richard
Remind me not to hire you for your economic expertise. You are correct about the people that are hurting in this economy, but your analysis of why revenues are increasing is nonsence. You say revenues are increasing because of taxes increasing. That might be true if the income taxes had increased in the past two years, but they haven't. Corporation are running leaner operations, not hiring lots of new employees, but making profits. It is these profits that are generating increased revenues. You, however, have forgotten, perhaps intentionally, that Ross voted against local aid for cities and towns, including $138,000 for Attleboro in the light of revenue that has increased significantly increased: enough to put $161 million in the rainy day fund. Hurricane Irene hits, and the federal government provides us disaster relief funding, and Ross votes against it. That is the issue. Is this the Republican agenda?

The Democrats will always vote to raise taxes, not vote to lower them. Remember that in 2009 the Democrats voted to adopt an ammendment to house bill H4100 that increased the sales tax from 5 percent to 6.5 percent and Bill Bowles was one of them who voted for the higher tax. Paul Heroux belongs to a political party that advocates for higher taxes, anti-business legislation, more regulations and corrupt house speakers. The issue is clear for me, the Republicans advocate for lower taxes, pro-business legislation that will lead to the creation of higher paying jobs, less govenment intrusion into our lives, and legislative leaders who you can trust that will work for you and me. George Ross has my full support and my vote in November.

Well Richard, you certainly have the Republican talking points down, and don't seem to be constrained by the truth. For example, I voted against the budget that included the sales tax increase.
Your just parroting Ross's mantra about delivering $348k for Attleboro. It's like talking to a chair. If you want to find out how Ross and Heroux differ on taxes, then let them discuss it in debate. Oh yea, Ross is doing the peoples business in Boston, while the House and Senate are on summer recess.

@ Bill Bowles
www.thesunchronicle.com/...tax-vote/article_90b56bb1-0698-5b16-... According to this article you voted for the sales tax increase. Google Bill Bowles state rep vote for tax increase. You may have voted against the budget but not the tax increase. If your going to twist your record, be a little smarter about it. Twisting the truth is as good as lying.

a reminder, folks. This is about today and Paul Heroux because Heroux represents the future for Attleboro.
So please don't drag his candidacy into this with your old, tired squabbles. I don't want voters to miss out on a superb candidate. As I drive around the City, I see SO many signs and those were put up there by people Paul visited on his own, rain or shine. The signs represent people who like Paul and respect him because he listens and doesn't start with an ideology and an agenda first. Paul started with home visits and was received with hospitality by hundreds of votes. Listen to them. Well, anyway. They will have their say in November.

Gretchen,

As I stated earlier, Paul Heroux belongs to a political party that advocates for higher taxes, out of control spending, ant-business legislation that would halt the ability of companies to create jobs, and of course, Mr. Heroux belongs to a political party that advocates and supports corrupt house speakers. Besides that, the Democrats have had majority rule in Massachsetts for far too long, and it is about time that people wake up and start voting conservative or Republican, only then will we see real economic growth with low unemployment in our commonwealth.

Richard,

If the republicans are so great at being business friendly then why is the Republican Controlled city of Attleboro (Mayor/City Council) a horrible place to do business in. No one wants to open up here and they keep leaving. Taxes are so damn expensive in this city for a business to open up in and there is so much red tape. We need to eliminate the red tape and make it easier for people to locate their companies here not make it harder. So your REPUBLICAN friends seem to be the problem in our local community not the Democrats. So before you go ahead and say that Democrats are not friendly to businesses then you sir should get your facts straight - you little liar you.

Paul Heroux: I agree with most of your very heartfelt letter to the Sun Chronicle. But it leaves me perplexed. You wrote: "And neither Obama nor Romney could have prevented this recent attack."
Do you really mean this?