Political independent Scott Dubuc said Monday he is running for state representative against incumbent Rep. Betty Poirier.
He pointed to issues involving the Registry of Motor Vehicles office leaving North Attleboro, budget problems resulting in the closing of a school, and arguments over changing the form of town government as examples.
Challenging the status quo and injecting energy into government would be priorities, he said.
The owner of a hair salon in Attleboro, Dubuc said he served one year in Representative Town Meeting.
He also took out nomination papers years ago to run against Poirier, R-North Attleboro, but decided his children were too young at the time, so he never returned the papers.
Married with three children, Dubuc said his children are now grown, with one having graduated from college and two others now in college.
He describes himself as a conservative on fiscal issues and a liberal on social issues. When he was younger, he was a “Reagan Democrat,” he said, but switched to independent, or unenrolled, in the mid-1980s.
Dubuc grew up in South Attleboro and moved to North Attleboro in 1996.
Poirier welcomed him to the race, saying that is the democratic way.
She said she does not know how he will criticize her for the leadership of the town, when she is a state – not a town – official.
Poirier said she works closely with town officials and civic groups, but does not try to tell them how to do their job.
The second assistant minority leader in the House, Poirier has been in office since winning a special election in June 1999 after her husband Kevin Poirier resigned his state representative seat.
The last time she had an opponent was in 2004, when she defeated Brian Geoghegan.
Poirier represents the 14th Bristol District, which includes all of North Attleboro, Ward 3B in Attleboro, and Precincts 1 and 5 in Mansfield.
The contest shapes up as the second legislative race for the November election to get under way in the area, with Rehoboth Democrat Paul Jacques challenging Rep. Steven Howitt, R-Seekonk, in the 4th Bristol District.
Source Author:
JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
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