In Congress race, more than one candidate

ATTLEBORO - When Paul Heroux announced he was running for Congress in the 4th District, he walked into The Sun Chronicle alone and talked about his decision with a single reporter.

When Joseph Kennedy III announced he was running for the same office, he walked into Morin's restaurant with a carload of staffers, several supporters and about two-dozen media representatives who crowded around to record his every word.

Heroux, an Attleboro resident, said he understands that's the way it's going to be in his quest to defeat a member of America's most famous political family in the Democratic congressional primary.

"I was actually in Morin's last week having lunch, and I don't think anyone recognized me," he joked.

Heroux said he hears Kennedy is a good guy and he does not begrudge him his advantages in the race, including name recognition.

"The media is going to give him a lot of coverage because in our pop-culture world we're interested in the Kim Kardashian-type celebrity," he said.

Kennedy has acknowledged that the initial attention paid to his campaign is largely a result of his famous last name.

He said he's proud of his family, but is running as his own man.

The former prosecutor said he intends to earn the respect of voters and hopefully the congressional seat by being an advocate for the middle class and by outworking the other candidates.

One of those other candidates, Brookline School Committee member Elizabeth Childs, a Republican, said she believes eventually all the excitement over having a Kennedy in the race will dim.

When voters start focusing on issues and credentials, Childs said, she believes the attention will turn to her.

A psychiatrist, Childs was the commissioner of mental health under former Gov. Mitt Romney.

"I think over time people will look at us as candidates and will look at our experience. I have a lot of experience in public management. I have been elected before," she said.

Childs is running in the Republican primary against Sean Bielat, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat two years ago.

Bielat, a former Marine and businessman, ran against incumbent U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Newton, but Frank is retiring.

Bielat could not be reached for comment Friday, but earlier in the week he issued a press release on the subject.

"Election day is a ways off and we believe that working families are more concerned about making ends meet right now than they are in which Kennedy is looking to step into another political office," he said.

Heroux, 35, a first time candidate for any office, said he hopes voters are looking for someone like him for a change.

A native of the district who was born in Taunton and graduated from Attleboro High School, Heroux said voters can better relate to someone like him.

"I think they're looking for someone from the middle class to represent the middle class," he said.

His middle class credentials include being the son of small business owners, working part-time as a janitor at the North Attleboro Council on Aging and beginning his higher education career as a evening student in community college.

He said he later went on to get a bachelor's degree from University of Southern California and masters' degrees from Harvard University and the London School of Economics.

Heroux said he has had a number of jobs, including director of research and planning for the state corrections system and as a consultant helping non-profit and government agencies do cost-benefit analysis.

While Kennedy has a staff that includes heavyweights in the world of Massachusetts politics, Heroux has been standing out in the cold by himself at places like Stop & Shop supermarkets collecting signatures for the nomination papers.

He said he is counting on that type of grassroots campaigning to help him overcome the resources Kennedy has at his disposal.

- BY JIM HAND, SUN CHRONICLE STAFF