Blackstone selectman announces bid for re-election
BLACKSTONE — Incumbent Blackstone Selectman Robert J. Dubois Wednesday formally announced his candidacy for re-election in the April 1 town election.
Dubois says he is running for another term because of several pending issues in town, including a new 10year extension of a paymentin-lieu-of-taxes agreement with the new owners of the power plant on Elm Street; continued negotiations with Soldier On to build a housing cooperative for homeless veterans on Elm Street; and at least two still-to-be negotiated host community agreements with marijuana businesses proposed by DDM Sales, Inc. and Gurpreet Kalra, owner of Family Grocer.
Dubois says he is also concerned about remodeling and construction issues relative to the schools, Senior Center and Municipal Center.
“We have dealt with reduced local and school aid from the state for several years, which has had a impact on property taxes,” he said. “We have to find avenues for revenue in this town so experience matters.”
Dubois has served in town government for 30 years, 14 times as chairman of the selectmen. During his tenure as selectman he helped bring the American National Power (ANP) plant to Blackstone. He also spearheaded many of the town’s water and sewer projects, and was involved in the 1995 process of closing and capping the landfill at no cost to the taxpayers saving $2 million.
He also was involved with construction of several town wells, and led the effort to purchase land on Federal Street for construction of the Hartnett Middle School. Dubois also supported the appropriation of ANP funds for 50 percent of the construction of the new library. Prior to that, the town demolished the former Blackstone High School.
In addition to serving as selectmen, Dubois was a member of the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Capital Outlay Committee., Worcester Selectmen's Association, Massachusetts Housing Opportunity Partnership, Worcester County Advisory Board, Massachusetts Central Planning Commission, Massachusetts Transportation Advisory Group, and Worcester County Sheriffs Association. He was also a past president of the Friends of the Council on Aging and is a former chairman of the Democratic Town Committee.
Dubois is the current treasurer and past president of the Millerville Mens Club, and a member of the Blackstone Lions Club, Cercle Laurier, Le Club Par X , Elks Club 850 and FOP Lodge 28.
He is a graduate of Blackstone Millville Regional High School (Class of 1971), and earned his associate’s degree in business from Quinsigamond Community College, and his bachelor of arts in business management from Bryant University.
He is married to the former Patricia Maxwell, and is the son of the late Julien and Florida (Landreville) Dubois. He is retired from the Worcester County House of Corrections, and owns BP tax service. Dubois, a lifelong town resident, also drives for the seniors in the town of Bellingham.
Dubois lost a close race in 2002 for state representative by two votes in a primary election out of close to 8,000 total votes. He also lost by 503 votes in 2012 to incumbent Kevin Kuros, by a vote of 10,475 to 9,972.