---

ATTLEBORO - State representative candidate George Ross was endorsed by Citizens for Limited Taxation and three local legislators Wednesday, who said Ross would hold the line on new taxes.

Ross, a Republican city councilor, has signed a no-new-tax pledge sponsored by Citizens for Limited Taxation.

Francis "Chip" Faulkner, executive director of the group's political action committee, said Ross would help protect the property tax limitation law known as Proposition 2 1/2 and will not raise income taxes.

Faulkner said more tax conservatives are needed at the Statehouse because Gov. Deval Patrick and the Democrat-controlled Legislature are going to want to raise taxes to get out of a budget crunch.

"Hold on to your wallet," he said. Ross also was endorsed by state Reps. John Lepper, R-Attleboro, Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro, and state Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham.

Lepper said Ross is a former small business owner who understands that revenue for government services is dependent on a healthy private sector.

Holding the line on taxes will help the business sector, he said.

Lepper also took shots at the two Democrats who hope to run against Ross.

He said City Councilor Bill Bowles supports raising taxes on small business to help pay for the state's universal health care program.

Democrat Kate Jackson, he said, recently claimed she wants to change the state's formula for school aid to reflect Attleboro's growing enrollment when the city's school population has actually declined every year since 2002.

Jackson, a former city councilor, and Bowles faced off in a Democratic primary Tuesday, but the winner still is not known because election officials have not finished tallying the votes.

Bowles was winning by three votes among ballots counted by machine.

The winner of the Nov. 4 general election will take the seat being vacated by Lepper.

Poirier said the winner has big shoes to fill, and that Ross "has a wealth of experience and knowledge for the job." Brown said Ross "is a great guy who loves this community" and would be "a great asset to the community and the state."

Ross, a former restaurant owner, said he knows how to "sling hash" for a living, so he understands the concerns people have about the weak economy.

"I worry that people are going to freeze in their homes this winter," he said, referring to the rising cost of heating oil.

Ross said he is the most "well-rounded" candidate in the race, and not just a numbers guy, referring to Bowles, who is running on his financial expertise.

Ross said he was "humbled" by the endorsements, and was anxiously waiting to find out who he would be running against.

JIM HAND covers politics for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0399 or at jhand@thesunchronicle.com.