Heroux Wins Democratic State Rep. Primary in Landslide

Paul Heroux on Thursday won the Democratic nomination for state representative of the 2nd Bristol District, which includes all but one precinct of Attleboro. He received 1,118 (78.18 percent) of the 1,430 votes cast. His lone opponent Stephen Kane earned 310 votes (21.68 percent). There were two votes for write-in candidates. 

Voter turnout was 10.9 percent.

Heroux, 35, will face Republican incumbent George Ross in the November general election. Ross, 62, just completed his first term as a state representative after serving seven terms on the Attleboro City Council.

"I first want to congratulate my opponent Stephen Kane on a good campaign," said Heroux on Thursday in an interview at his home where he waited for the results with a small group of supporters who were also watching the Democratic National Convention on television. "We did not have a nasty primary where we were at each other's throats all the time. We were very cordial."

Kane did not respond to a Thursday night voicemail left by Attleboro Patch.

Heroux, who was born in Taunton and grew up in Attleboro, credited his victory to lots of door knocking. He said this led to "substantive conversations" with constituents.

"I knocked on thousands of doors and I'm very happy with the number of doors I knocked on, but I didn't knock on enough in my opinion," he said. "I need to knock on even more."

Looking forward to the general election campaign, Heroux said voters will see major differences between the candidates because he is man with ideas, while his opponent has been what he called "an ineffective legislator."

"I don’t think he has any original ideas," said Heroux about Ross. "I don't know if he has the work ethic for it. I don't know if he has the professional background to bring new ideas. And from what I see, he just votes with his party all the time. It's pretty much a rubber stamp. Being a rep is not about being a party person, it's about being a person for the people."

Heroux said Ross' best legislative accomplishment was getting bath salts banned.

"OK, that's fine, but there's a lot more that needs to be done on crime policy than just banning bath salts," he said.

Heroux said his experience working in the private and public sector as well as his extensive education, which includes three master's degrees, give him the background to be an effective leader.

The Democrat challenged Ross to four debates—a general one and topic-based duels on crime policy, economic policy and values.

Look for more of Heroux's election night interview with Attleboro Patch on this site soon.

Results By Precinct

[results are unofficial until they are certified]

Ward 1, Precinct A
Heroux 94 (78.33%)
Kane 26 (21.67%)
Voter Turnout - 9.91% 

Ward 1, Precinct B
Heroux 96 (86.49%)
Kane 15 (13.51%)
Voter Turnout - 8.7% 

Ward 2, Precinct A
Heroux 166 (83.24%)
Kane 33 (16.58%)
Voter Turnout - 14.08% 

Ward 2, Precinct B
Heroux 101 (82.79%)
Kane 21 (17.21%)
Voter Turnout - 8.36% 

Ward 3, Precinct A
Heroux 120 (73.17%)
Kane 44 (26.38%)
Voter Turnout - 12.42% 

Ward 4, Precinct A
Heroux 73 (75.26%)
Kane 24 (24.74%)
Voter Turnout - 8.86% 

Ward 4, Precinct B
Heroux 130
Kane 39
Voter Turnout - 11.66%  

Ward 5, Precinct A
Heroux 72 (69.23%)
Kane 31 (29.81%)
Write-In 1 (.96%)
Voter Turnout - 9.47% 

Ward 5, Precinct B
Heroux 93 (75.61%)
Kane 30 (24.31%)
Voter Turnout - 10.65% 

Ward 6, Precinct A
Heroux 74 (77.08%)
Kane 22 (22.92%)
Voter Turnout - 7.55% 

Ward 6, Precinct B
Heroux 99 (79.2%)
Kane 25 (20%)
Write-In 1 (.8%)
Voter Turnout - 8.59% 

Ward 3's Precinct B is in the district represented by Betty Poirier. She is running unopposed.