ATTLEBORO - State representative candidate Kate Jackson said Wednesday she wishes she could tell people she has led a "fairy tale" life that included being a great student, homecoming queen and going off to an Ivy League college.

But the reality is quite different, she told the Rotary Club at a political forum that included her opponent, state Rep. John Lepper, R-Attleboro.

Jackson, the Democrat, said she became pregnant in high school when she was 17 and never attended college.

Although some people tried to make her life a "hell," Jackson said she received a lot of support from her family, worked as a waitress and later became a dental hygienist.

"I'm human and I've overcome some overwhelming challenges, but I am strong," she told about 50 people at a luncheon. Jackson said later that she told the story because she wanted voters to know who she is.

She said there has been a lot of talk on the campaign trail about the educational background of the candidates, and she thought an explanation was required.

Her opponent, state Rep. John Lepper, R-Attleboro, has a doctoral degree in political science.

Jackson and Lepper were talking to the group about their campaign for state representative.

Under Rotary rules, no questions were allowed, so the candidates made statements.

Lepper emphasized his 12 years in office and his record of securing funding for the city's water treatment plant, the Spatcher swimming pool and the city's new industrial park, among other items.

In 2002, he was named one of the Massachusetts Municipal Association's Legislators of the Year, he said.

"Every day I go to the Statehouse, I bring my experience - and experience counts," he said.

Lepper said he has worked hard to form alliances with Democrats, especially committee chairmen, because he knows Republicans are outnumbered.

"It shows I can work across the aisle with Democrats. You know, I have to, there are 135 of them. There are only 21 of us," he said. Jackson said she is running for state representative because she learned when she was a city councilor that she loved working on constituent services to help people.

She said she wants to go to the Statehouse to work on issues such as getting funding for reconstruction of the high school.

Downtown revitalization is another issue Jackson said she in interested in.

Other communities, such as Athol and Franklin, have rebuilt their downtowns, and Attleboro can, too, she said.

"I have a vision of Attleboro as a destination, and not just a place to park to catch a train," she said.

The election is Nov. 7.