ATTLEBORO - George Ross says he is not the type of city councilor who goes around looking to create headlines.

Instead, he said, he works quietly with others to get things done for the city.

And that is the type of state representative Attleboro needs when Rep. John Lepper, R-Attleboro, retires at the end of the year - someone who can work with the rest of the House. A Republican, Ross said that while he has been on the council's public safety committee, the city has purchased several new fire trucks and ambulances, but he has never sought credit for it. "I'm a people person. I get along with people," he said.

Ross contends his opponent in the Nov. 4 election, Councilor William Bowles, does not get along with people because he is always seeking publicity.

Bowles, a Democrat, responds that he has a long record of accomplishment while Ross' only contribution to the council is to make the motion to adjourn at the end of a meeting. Ross, 58, is a former restaurant owner who more recently worked for the state food stamp program, but is now campaigning full time. He said Bowles cannot match his long record of public service, which includes stints on the housing authority, police commission, planning board and the council.

"I think I'm the best person for this job. I have a well-rounded background. I can communicate with people," he said.

His years on the housing authority were full of controversy as the state took over running the operation after accusing the authority of mismanagement. Kai Shang, the mayor at the time, tried to remove Ross and the rest of the authority board because of the problems, but the city council voted 6-5 to retain them.

"We were acquitted," he said, adding the charges of mismanagement were unfounded.

Ross said he was one of only two city councilors to originally oppose a new industrial park for Attleboro as unnecessary.

He said Attleboro had plenty of empty industrial and business buildings at the time, and the city knew that Texas Instruments would soon be moving away, opening up more buildings.

The park has run into sever financial problems, but Ross said the city is in too deep to stop now the project.

If elected, Ross said he would work to get Attleboro High School renovated. The state is never going to approve a complete rebuilding of the building, he said, so the city should work on getting the job done in phases, even if it takes 15 years.

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