Heroux Kicks Off State Rep Campaign

About 30 supporters gathered at  restaurant in Attleboro on Wednesday to celebrate the opening of Paul Heroux's campaign for representative of the 2nd Bristol District in the state House of Representatives.

Heroux, 35, grew up in Attleboro and graduated from  in 1995. Currently working as a public consultant, Heroux has worked with youth and in the administration at the local , in state government as director of research and planning for the Massachusetts Department of Correction and in the human resources division of a bank in Saudi Arabia.

The Democrat will face Steve Kane in the primary election. If he makes it past that hurdle, Heroux would challenge Republican incumbent George T. Ross.

Heroux spoke with Attleboro-Seekonk Patch at his campaign kick-off party.

Attleboro-Seekonk Patch: Why are you running for office?

Paul Heroux: I'm running because the citizens of Attleboro need representation in a way that they are not currently getting.

Patch: OK, please explain what that means.

Heroux: What we need is somebody who will aggressively fight for jobs. We need somebody who is going to aggressively fight to keep . We need somebody who is going to look aggressively at where our state programs are being wasted and whether our programs work or not, rather than just saying, "OK, I'm going to spend less because I'm a Republican" or "OK, I just want to spend because I'm a Democrat."

What I want to do is see what works and what doesn't, and fund programs based on that. A lot of Democrats like to say, "OK let's just fund it because people need a service." A lot of Republicans say, "Let's cut it because we don't need to spend money." I say, let's make sure what we're going to cut or fund is going to reach the outcome that we are looking for. It doesn't matter if you're a Republican or a Democrat, that's a message everybody should agree with and it's something that's not being done right now.

Patch: What makes you qualified for this position?

Heroux: First and foremost, I'm a member of this community. People of this community have experiences that are very similar to mine. Once upon a time, I was a janitor working at a senior center while I went to night school. I worked my way up, so I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I actually understand what it's like to work hard and make something of myself. And that is the kind of success that people are looking for.

Also, I worked with kids and families for seven years right here in Attleboro at the YMCA. I worked for a state agency, the Massachusetts Department of Correction. When I was working in that capacity, I worked with a lot of other state agencies. I understand where state agencies are trying to be successful. I also understand where they are not getting people what they need.

I have a long background in criminal justice reform, long background in working with kids, long background in working on government accountability. I am on the record talking about the economy, writing for the Huffington Post, offering a lot of original ideas on how to stimulate the economy.

Patch: Do you have the base needed to win an election?

Heroux: This is my campaign kick-off, and I am in the process of building that base right now. But I am not going to take Steve Cane for granted or George Ross, the incumbent, for granted. Steve has been in this race longer than I have, so he is ahead of me. George has the support of the Republican party. I have my work cut out for me.

Patch: Do you feel like you are the underdog? 

Heroux: You never take an incumbent for granted, whether or not they are popular, unpopular or have a good record or bad record. You never take an incumbent for granted because they are in there and they have a lot of support that got them there. But stranger things have happened than an underdog winning a race. Once upon a time, people said Scott Brown will never beat Martha Coakley.