Paul Heroux Explained

Paul Heroux
Office:Sheriff of Bristol County
Termstart:January 4, 2023
Predecessor:Thomas M. Hodgson
Office1:Mayor of Attleboro
Term Start1:January 2, 2018
Term End1:January 3, 2023
Predecessor1:Kevin Dumas
Successor1:Cathleen DeSimone[1]
State House2:Massachusetts
District2:2nd Bristol
Term Start2:January 5, 2013
Term End2:January 1, 2018
Predecessor2:George T. Ross
Successor2:Jim Hawkins
Birth Place:Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Education:University of Southern California (BA)
University of Pennsylvania (MS)
London School of Economics (MSc)
Harvard University (MPA)

Paul Heroux (born 1976) is an American politician who is the Sheriff of Bristol County, Massachusetts. He previously served as Mayor of Attleboro, Massachusetts, and a State Representative from the Second Bristol District, elected in 2012.

Career

State representative

Heroux served as a state representative from 2013-2017.

Electoral history

Paul Heroux was first elected in November 2012 as the State Representative from the Second Bristol District, Massachusetts.

Issues

Heroux's work as a state representative included creating a $38 million school internet infrastructure grant program that offered money to school districts all over Massachusetts,[2] [3] was a cosponsor of the transgender public accommodation bill, which is now law as the Massachusetts Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Initiative,[4] was a cosponsor of the ban on gay conversion therapy,[5] which is now law,[6] adding money to several state budgets for homeless children's programs,[7] and fought to try to get the state to measure prison program outcomes on reducing recidivism.[8]

Mayor

Paul Heroux served as mayor of Attleboro, MA for five years from January 2, 2018 until January 3, 2023.

Electoral history

Issues

As mayor, Heroux pushed the redevelopment of the city center,[12] prioritized business support,[13] prioritized education spending by repairing roofs that leaked for 20 years,[14] boosted education funding and created a special education stabilization fund,[15] [16] maintained the city's AA bond rating despite hard financial times inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] Heroux created a rent and mortgage assistance program for Attleboro residents who fell behind on rent and mortgage payments to help avoid evictions and foreclosures.[18] [19] [20] Heroux has made efforts to recruit women and people of color fill vacancies on city boards and commissions.[21] Heroux promoted advanced training in unconscious bias, duty to intervene to prevent excessive force, and de-escalation training for city police officers,[22] [23] and made sure that every firefighter has two sets of protective fire gear for the first time in city department history by funding in the budget every year.[24] Heroux made news across the country when he implemented a strict zero tolerance policy for people who leave dogs in hot cars,[25] [26]

The Sun Chronicle said "Paul Heroux will surely go down as the most environmentally-conscience mayor in Attleboro’s history."[27] During Heroux's tenure as mayor, he has taken many decidedly pro-environmental positions. These include purchasing the bankrupt privately owned Highland Country Club and turning it into the city owned Highland Park[28] and putting a monarch butterfly population in the new park,[29] making all city government buildings 100% wind powered,[30] ordered city workers to use recycled paper products whenever practicable and cost effective,[31] formed a special committee to update the city's Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan and Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Report to prepare for the possibility of greater impact from climate change,[32] [33] changing all of the city street lights and city building lights to LED lights,[34] moving the city fleet of vehicles to hybrids where possible,[34] putting solar panels above city owned parking lots,[34] making Attleboro a Green Community,[35] banning single use plastic bags,[36] banning plastic and Styrofoam take away cups and containers from restaurants and convenience stores,[37] banning body and face washes that have plastic exfoliating beads,[38] banning the intentional releasing of balloons into the air, banning the distribution of plastic straws, the sale of fluorescent light bulbs containing mercury and bee killing insecticides containing neonicotinoids.[39] Heroux also submitted ordinance proposals that would triple the Wetland Protection Zone,[40] [41] [42] and ban single use plastic water bottles, and plastic miniature alcohol bottles.[43] Heroux is also seen around the city picking up litter with his dog or with groups of volunteers.[44]

In 2017, on the day of the preliminary election, Heroux was featured by several media outlets for being bitten by a dog the day before while campaigning for mayor, his sixth dog bite in 5 years.

Sheriff

On 10 January 2022, Heroux announced he is running for Sheriff of Bristol County, Massachusetts against incumbent Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson.

Heroux took office on 4 January 2023.[47] Heroux started new recruitment and retention incentives,[48] hired an expert to review inmate suicides,[49] released the suicide report unredacted and redesigned the bunk beds to make them more suicide resistant,[50] and offered a plan to close the Ash Street jail, which is the oldest jail in operation in the country.[51] Heroux extended the training academy for new corrections officers from eight weeks to nine weeks to add classes focused on de-escalation, dealing with mental illness, duty to intervene, and implicit bias.[52] Heroux reduced the burden of a high commission on optional inmate commissary goods from 31.75% to 20%, a 12% reduction in what inmates pay, and started providing shower sandals to all inmates; Heroux called it "unconscionable" that inmates were forced to buy shower sandals from the commissary or go without.[53]

Personal life

Heroux was raised in Attleboro to small business drug store owners.[54] [55] He was awarded the 'Most Genuine' class superlative from his 1995 high school class for a complete abstinence to alcohol and drugs. Heroux holds two Ivy League master's degrees; one from Harvard University, a master's in Public Administration, and the other from the University of Pennsylvania, a master of science in Criminology, respectively, a master of science in International Relations from the London School of Economics, and a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of Southern California. In 2017, Heroux published a book on US foreign policy in the Middle East, has lived in Saudi Arabia, and has been to North Korea, Israel and Palestine including the West Bank.[56]

Prior to elected office, Heroux worked in the Philadelphia jail system, as the director of research in the Massachusetts prison system, for the national security think-tank Institute for Defense and Disarmament Studies, as an English teacher in Saudi Arabia, and with kids for seven years at a YMCA. Heroux, after earning instructor level ranks, also taught Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Kali, and Jiu Jitsu at a studio he opened at 19 years old.

From October to November 2018, Heroux took a 12-day, 8500miles road trip across 24 states and Canada with his dog Mura, posting pictures on his Facebook page. The trip went viral after being picked up by news outlets across the United States and in dozens of countries.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: DeSimone pulls off surprise win in Attleboro special mayoral election .
  2. Web site: Hand . Jim . Attleboro area legislators make mark on tech bill to improve school, public safety access . The Sun Chronicle . June 30, 2014.
  3. Web site: Hand . Jim . Heroux plan would net schools $38M for technology . The Sun Chronicle . October 17, 2013.
  4. Web site: Restrictions for Massachusetts restaurants easing on Monday. news.yahoo.com.
  5. Kay . Khan . Kay Khan . Act . 1190 . 19 January 2017 . 1606 . House Docket . Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . An Act relative to abusive practices to change sexual orientation and gender identity in minors. . https://web.archive.org/web/20220120121101/https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H1190.pdf . 20 January 2022 . 8 February 2022 . en-us . dead . PDF . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: Massachusetts becomes 16th state to ban 'gay conversion therapy'. NBC News.
  7. Web site: Hand . Jim . Little complaint by Attleboro area legislators on $36.2B House budget . The Sun Chronicle . en . May 1, 2014.
  8. Web site: Letters: Readers react to fatal cop shooting. 17 April 2018.
  9. News: Rhodes . George W. . 2019-11-06 . 2019-11-05 . Attleboro mayor wins second term by a landslide . live . . en-us . 1053-7805 . 16645175 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211130070605/https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-mayor-wins-second-term-by-a-landslide/article_37cc89e0-b2f7-5923-a12f-9750cf1d9c21.html . 2021-11-30 . 2022-02-08 . limited . dmy-all .
  10. News: Sun Chronicle Staff . 2021-09-21 . Attleboro voters narrow mayoral field to Heroux, McGhee . live . . en-us . 1053-7805 . 16645175 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211119191656/https://www.thesunchronicle.com/attleboro-voters-narrow-mayoral-field-to-heroux-mcghee/article_ff9c0368-277a-58a4-bcf5-da7c235e6833.html . 2021-11-19 . 2022-02-08 . limited . dmy-all .
  11. News: Rhodes . George W. . 2021-11-02 . Heroux soundly defeats challenger to win third term as Attleboro mayor . live . . en-us . 1053-7805 . 16645175 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211220071446/https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/heroux-soundly-defeats-challenger-to-win-third-term-as-attleboro-mayor/article_c5741dd2-b873-5ae6-a58c-73450f167eda.html . 2021-12-20 . 2022-02-08 . limited . dmy-all .
  12. News: Peterson . Stephen . 2021-08-27 . 2021-08-25 . Attleboro alley has a new look thanks to local artist . live . . en-us . 1053-7805 . 16645175 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211216070510/https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-alley-has-a-new-look-thanks-to-local-artist/article_51083984-dd33-5e00-be2b-cfdce9810a1c.html . 2021-12-16 . 2022-02-08 . limited . dmy-all .
  13. News: Rhodes . George W. . Downtown Attleboro businesses get state grants to help with coronavirus shutdown . MassDevelopment . The Sun Chronicle . May 14, 2020.
  14. Web site: Attleboro library and school roof projects on track. George W. Rhodes. grhodes@thesunchronicle.com. The Sun Chronicle.
  15. Web site: $152M budget presented to Attleboro's city council. George W. Rhodes. grhodes@thesunchronicle.com. The Sun Chronicle.
  16. Web site: Heroux boosts education spending but Attleboro school board says more needed. Jim. Hand. The Sun Chronicle.
  17. Web site: Attleboro maintains bond rating, financial outlook stable. George W. Rhodes. grhodes@thesunchronicle.com. The Sun Chronicle.
  18. Web site: Our View: Mayor's rent-relief plan a good start. The Sun Chronicle.
  19. Web site: Attleboro mayor announces up to $500,000 in rental assistance. Stephen. Peterson. The Sun Chronicle.
  20. Web site: Attleboro mayor expands rental assistance plan to mortgages. George W. Rhodes. grhodes@thesunchronicle.com. The Sun Chronicle.
  21. Web site: Attleboro has more than 30 volunteer jobs open. George W. Rhodes. grhodes@thesunchronicle.com. The Sun Chronicle.
  22. Web site: Attleboro police get training to prevent excessive use of force. George W. Rhodes. grhodes@thesunchronicle.com. The Sun Chronicle.
  23. Web site: Linton . David . Attleboro police complete bias, de-escalation training, mayor says . The Sun Chronicle . September 24, 2020 . limited.
  24. Web site: Mayor: City will purchase second set of gear for Attleboro firefighters. July 3, 2019.
  25. News: Rhodes . George W. . 2018-07-26 . Attleboro begins issuing costly tickets for leaving dogs in hot cars . live . . en-us . 1053-7805 . 16645175 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211216070511/https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-begins-issuing-costly-tickets-for-leaving-dogs-in-hot-cars/article_af99a39e-355e-553a-9ba7-47dcaec15d0b.html . 2021-12-16 . 2022-02-08 . limited . dmy-all .
  26. Web site: Mayor adopts zero tolerance policy against leaving dogs in hot cars. July 7, 2018. WFTV.
  27. Web site: Our View: A change for the better.
  28. Web site: Rhodes . George W. . Attleboro City Council votes to purchase Highland Country Club property . The Sun Chronicle . June 26, 2018.
  29. Web site: Monarch butterfly garden taking root in Attleboro's Highland Park. George W. Rhodes. grhodes@thesunchronicle.com. The Sun Chronicle.
  30. Web site: Attleboro turning to windmills to power City Hall, other municipal buildings.
  31. Web site: Attleboro mayor adds new effort to his green agenda.
  32. Web site: Archived copy . 2021-06-23 . 2021-06-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205345/https://www.cityofattleboro.us/DocumentCenter/View/5079/2020-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-HMP--Municipal-Vulnerability-Preparedness-MVP-Plan-?bidId= . dead .
  33. Web site: Attleboro committee will tackle natural hazards, climate change in all-day session. George W. Rhodes. grhodes@thesunchronicle.com. The Sun Chronicle.
  34. Web site: Rhodes . George W. . Mayor plans to steer police cruisers, other city cars, toward hybrid gasoline-battery powered vehicles . The Sun Chronicle . October 13, 2019.
  35. Web site: Hand . Jim . Attleboro wins Green Community designation and $244,000 grant . The Sun Chronicle . February 4, 2020 . limited.
  36. Web site: Rhodes . George W. . Plastic bags banned in Attleboro . The Sun Chronicle . January 8, 2019 . limited.
  37. Web site: Attleboro banning plastic and Styrofoam cups, food containers in restaurants, convenience stores. Stephen. Peterson. The Sun Chronicle.
  38. Web site: Attleboro City Council rejects bans on single-use plastic bottles, nip bottles. George W. Rhodes. grhodes@thesunchronicle.com. The Sun Chronicle.
  39. News: Rhodes . George W. . 2020-12-22 . 2021-06-02 . Attleboro City Council OKs ban on plastic straws . live . . en-us . 1053-7805 . 16645175 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211126090007/https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-city-council-oks-ban-on-plastic-straws/article_a52e30c9-0aeb-5a2e-ab8d-ba267e60e387.html . 2021-11-26 . 2022-02-08 . limited . dmy-all .
  40. News: Reilly . Tim . 2021-09-25 . Our View: City needs to follow a greener path . live . . en-us . 1053-7805 . 16645175 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210928041152/https://www.thesunchronicle.com/opinion/our-view-city-needs-to-follow-a-greener-path/article_1a5d1918-4784-5172-8177-a0d5288f9c50.html . 2021-09-28 . 2022-02-08 . limited . dmy-all .
  41. News: Studebaker . Tim . 2021-03-04 . Attleboro Mayor proposing expanded wetland protection buffer zones . live . . en-us . https://web.archive.org/web/20210419191139/https://www.abc6.com/attleboro-mayor-proposing-expanded-wetland-protection-buffer-zones/ . 2021-04-19 . 2022-02-08 . dmy-all .
  42. News: Rhodes . George W. . 2021-08-18 . 2021-02-26 . Mayor proposes expansion of Attleboro's wetland protection zone . live . . en-us . 1053-7805 . 16645175 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211129001342/https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/mayor-proposes-expansion-of-attleboros-wetland-protection-zone/article_46595e1a-b569-50a3-bca9-b4164ac1aee4.html . 2021-11-29 . 2022-02-08 . limited . dmy-all .
  43. News: Rhodes . George W. . 2020-09-08 . Attleboro mayor proposes his own 'green new deal' . live . . en-us . 1053-7805 . 16645175 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211202135939/https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-mayor-proposes-his-own-green-new-deal/article_3d210395-6a46-5e49-b62b-477fcba30d86.html . 2021-12-02 . 2022-02-08 . limited . dmy-all .
  44. News: Rhodes . George W. . 2021-04-06 . Attleboro mayor adds street cleaning to job duties with many pitching in . live . . en-us . 1053-7805 . 16645175 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211129050427/https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/attleboro-mayor-adds-street-cleaning-to-job-duties-with-many-pitching-in/article_b7c39d77-7c78-5cdf-92c1-953fec72b79f.html . 2021-11-29 . 2022-02-08 . limited . dmy-all .
  45. Web site: NEWS . NBC 10 . 2022-09-07 . Heroux wins Democratic primary for Bristol County sheriff . 2022-09-13 . WJAR . en.
  46. Web site: PD43+ » 2022 Sheriff General Election Bristol County .
  47. Web site: Rozas Rivera . Adrianna . 4 January 2023 . Heroux becomes first new Bristol County sheriff in 2 decades . wpri.com.
  48. Web site: Silvia . Michael . 3 February 2023 . Bristol County Sheriff's Office rolls out new recruitment and retention incentives . NewBedfordGuide.com.
  49. Web site: Ferro . Marcus . February 2, 2023 . Bristol County Sheriff Heroux Contracts with Inmate Suicide Prevention Expert . 1420 WBSM.
  50. Web site: Mulligan . Frank . April 14, 2023 . All 7 inmate suicides at Bristol County House of Correction since 2017 involved bunk beds . The Standard Times.
  51. Web site: Linton . David . January 30, 2023 . Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux leads lawmakers on jail tour, offers two options on closure . The Sun Chronicle.
  52. Web site: Silvia . Michael . April 7, 2023 . Bristol County Sheriff extends training academy with priority on de-escalation, duty to intervene . NewBedfordGuide.com.
  53. Web site: Turley . Elizabeth . June 30, 2023 . Bristol County sheriff: Commissary products will cost inmates 12% less . wpri.com.
  54. Web site: Rhodes . George W. . November 11, 2020 . Popular Plainville pharmacy closes after decades of service . The Sun Chronicle.
  55. Web site: Rhodes . George W. . July 1, 2021 . County Square Pharmacy in Attleboro sold . The Sun Chronicle.
  56. Web site: Hand . Jim . January 5, 2017 . Heroux will visit Palestinian territory on West Bank . The Sun Chronicle.

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