Politics & Government

Challengers Pull Council Nomination Papers

Heather Porreca would be running for the first time. Bert Buckley lost his bid for a seat in 2011, but looks to reverse his fortune on a second try.

There is definitely one new challenger in the contest for five at-large Attleboro City Council seats and there could be a second. Attleboro Farmers Market manager Heather Porreca and local businessman Bert Buckley pulled nomination papers this week for the fall election. Porreca told Attleboro Patch she was "definitely contemplating running" and Buckley guaranteed he would compete for a seat.

Porreca has never run for public office. A 13-year Attleboro resident, she has managed the farmers market since it started in 2011. Porreca and her husband Eddie have three children in the public school system and she is a bus driver for the district.

"My focus has always been on local politics because that is where the decisions are made that affect our daily lives the most," wrote Porreca in an email to Patch. "I will listen to residents and I have the background and vision needed to be a productive leader for the people of Attleboro. I will make decisions that are in the best interest of the community."

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Buckley ran for an at-large council seat in 2011, placing sixth of nine candidates in a contest for five seats. He owns Citywide Disposal Services, co-owns The Clam Shack with his wife attorney Stacie Buckley and does public relations for Brewster Ambulance.

"There are a whole host of things that motivate me to be active in our local government," Buckley told Patch. "There is the fact I'm a small business owner, we have five children in the public schools and I pay a boatload of taxes in this town."

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The Attleboro native said he wants this city to return to something similar to the place he remembers as a child 35 years ago.

"I know we can't go back to those days, but there are things we can do to make [Attleboro] a whole lot better," he said. "That's why I'm active in the community. My kids' futures depend on a strong foundation, a great community, an active community and a prosperous community. I was not successful [in the election] the first time around, but I'm hoping to be successful this time around."


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