Politics & Government

Campaign Attacks Hit Attleboro Mailboxes

Anonymous newsletters about the Attleboro City Council and Mayoral candidates have hit the streets of Attleboro.

Personal attacks toward candidates running for Attleboro City Council have hit the streets of Attleboro in the form of a newsletter/questionaire called The Fruit Fly Express. 

The author of the newsletter attacks the sexuality of Current Ward 2 City Councilor Mark Cooper, Ward 5 City Council Candidate Jeremy Denlea and Attleboro Mayor Kevin Dumas. The newsletter also takes a stab at City Councilor Kimberly Allard comparing her to Rosie O'Donnell and the Mayor's run for reelection by referring to his campaign with the Simon and Garfunkel song title, "Bridge Over Troubled Waters."

Denlea, who received a copy of the paper newsletter from someone in the community Thursday morning, said the author has the right to Freedom of Speech but the hateful attacks on his and other candidates sexuality shows the author does not have the best interest of the City of Attleboro in mind. 

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"I think it shows [the author] is clearly threatened by my candidacy," Denlea said. "If anything, it bodes very well for my candidacy."

"I’m actually encouraged by the fact that its so early on and I’m already being attacked," Denlea added.

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Denlea, who is married, said he does not attack the author for being heterosexual and so he should not be attacked for being homosexual. 

The candidate said believes the negative campaign literature is being written by one of his Ward 5 opponents. Candidates Jerry Chase and Howard Levine are running against Denlea in the Sept. 20 preliminary election. 

"He has the right to call me what he wants," he said. "My only plan is to be transparent and give the public information."

A different version of the newsletter attacks City Councilors Brian Kirby, Frank Cook and Mayor Dumas.


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