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NORTH ATTLEBORO - Ed O'Reilly is an unconventional candidate and he has an unconventional proposal to open up government to ordinary citizens.

O'Reilly, a Democrat running against U.S. Sen. John Kerry, promised Monday that if he is elected, he will post on his Web site every meeting he is scheduled to attend as a senator.

That means, he said, that citizens can find out if he is meeting with lobbyists and can come to his office and attend.

Opening what are normally private meetings to the public would also allow watchdog groups such as Common Cause to monitor what lobbyists are saying, he said during an after an appearance on North Attleboro cable TV.

O'Reilly said lobbyists and special interests have taken control of Washington, and he wants change that. "I want to break up the clubby atmosphere," he said.

He points to the current mortgage crisis as an example of what is wrong with Washington.

Special interests and lobbyists prevented Congress from establishing regulations that would have prevented the subprime mortgage meltdown, he said.

Regular citizens do not have access to politicians, so their concerns are not heard, he said, pointing out that Kerry holds fundraising events that cost $1,000 to $2,300 to attend.

"That buys access," he said.

O'Reilly is a lawyer who once supported Kerry, but now opposes him. The son of a Watertown fire chief, O'Reilly said he worked as a firefighter, lobster fisherman and prison guard before getting a law degree.

He briefly served on the Gloucester City Council and Gloucester School Committee, but has never held a high office.

His campaign consists of driving from town to town to attend political gatherings and do interviews. He has not advertised on TV.

A Democrat running in the September primary, O'Reilly said he also has a unique idea for developing alternative energy.

Rather than rely on big corporations to turn natural resources into profits, he proposals federal loans to cities and towns to start municipal renewal energy departments that would benefit the public. "It would create local jobs for a green economy and help stop global warming," he said.