Democratic challenger Paul Jacques says he is opposed to a planned natural gas pipeline through the area and criticized his opponent, state Rep. Steven Howitt, for staying “eerily silent” on the issue.
However, Howitt, R-Seekonk, said the pipeline is a complicated issue and he is “listening and learning and weighing the facts like everyone else.”
He said the impact of the pipeline needs careful evaluation.
Jacques, a Democrat from Rehoboth, said Howitt’s lack of action on the issue has left residents without enough information and threatens to allow a pipeline and compressor station he says would lower property values.
“Unlike my opponent, I won’t stand idly by while our community needs help. I’ll stand side-by-side with our neighbors, with our community, and I will work tirelessly to protect our interests, our homes and our way of life,” Jacques said.
Jacques is competing with Howitt for the state representative seat in the 4th Bristol District, which includes Rehoboth, Seekonk and parts of Norton and Sawnsea.
The pipeline and a compressor station in Rehoboth are proposed by Spectra Energy as part of a $3 billion project to bring more natural gas to the region.
Rehoboth selectmen Chairman Skip Vadnais said a large meeting was held with Spectra representatives Monday evening to get more information.
He said the company answered several questions, but the board wants more details and Spectra will come back with those.
Town and state officials have no authority to approve or block the pipeline and compression station, as it is a federal issue, he said.
Jacques, he said, was welcomed to the meeting to offer any information he had, but Vadnais said he stopped Jacques when he started to criticize Howitt. Vadnais said the meeting was not intended to be a political one.
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THE SUN CHRONICLE
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