David LeBoeuf and Paul Fullen, state rep candidates in 17th Worcester District, are a study in contrasts

Oct. 31--WORCESTER -- The contest for state representative in the 17th Worcester District pits a liberal Democratic operative who has worked for former Senate President Harriette Chandler and City Manager Michael O'Brien against a conservative Republican firefighter who is campaigning as a political outsider.

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Both candidates are making their first bid for elective office. The district consists of Leicester, Worcester's Ward 7, and Worcester's Ward 8, Precincts 2, 3 and 4.

The Democrat, David LeBoeuf, 29, of 17 Fairfield St., Worcester, a 2013 Harvard graduate, has managed campaigns for state Rep. Jim O'Day, D-Worcester, and state Sen. Chandler, D-Worcester, and was an assistant on Mr. O'Brien's staff in City Hall.

The Republican, Paul Fullen, 47, of 263 Heard St., Worcester, is a Worcester Fire Department lieutenant and Navy veteran who is the father of seven children and describes himself as "not a political insider."

Both are graduates of South High Community School, but otherwise they offer sharp contrasts.

Lt. Fullen and his wife, Crystal, who are Catholic and attend Our Lady of the Angels Church, have led prayer vigils outside the Planned Parenthood clinic in Worcester as part of the 40 Days for Life campaign to end abortion. Meanwhile, the abortion rights group NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts dispatched volunteers for a "Day of Action" for "pro-choice champion" Mr. LeBoeuf in Worcester on Oct. 20.

Mr. LeBoeuf lists "health care that works for seniors and their families" among his top campaign issues. "No one should have to choose between economic security and living in a community they love," he said. "Our seniors and families are being crippled by health care expenses."

Lt. Fullen, commenting at a Unity Radio candidates' forum in August, called for "reining in the abuse" of the state health care system, MassHealth. "I see people go into CVS and they say they can't pay their co-pay because they're on MassHealth and they want it waived, at the same time they're driving an Escalade and talking on their cellphone," he said.

Lt. Fullen said at the August forum that in his travels around the world with the Navy he saw people living in destitution on the streets, with no shelter or clothing. This country has programs that provide the needy with welfare, food stamps and affordable housing, he said. "Our poor people are among the richest poor people in the world," he said. After Mr. LeBoeuf said he was offended by this characterization, Lt. Fullen said: "David is easily offended."

The campaign has remained contentious since.

Lt. Fullen has said he stands by a campaign mailing sent out on his behalf that carried an apparent endorsement from the principal of South High Community School, which the principal disavows. He and Jeffrey Creamer, now principal of South High, were in the same 1989 class at the high school, and Mr. Creamer's brother is married to Lt. Fullen's sister.

A Fullen campaign mailing carried a photo of the two classmates shaking hands in front of South High, accompanied by a quote attributed to Mr. Creamer singing Lt. Fuller's praises. But the South High principal disavowed any endorsement.

Worcester's superintendent of schools, Maureen Binienda, asserted Mr. Creamer did not make the comment attributed to him in the flier. "He didn't say it," she said. But Lt. Fullen provided a screenshot of a text exchange from September that appeared to show Mr. Creamer responding favorably to his old classmate's request for a supportive statement on his candidacy.

The Massachusetts Democratic Party filed a complaint with the state Ethics Commission, alleging Lt. Fullen violated state law by wearing Fire Department-issued gear and posing in front of a city fire engine in photos used in his campaign literature. The local firefighters union, Worcester Fire Fighters Local 1009, defended Lt. Fullen, saying he personally bought the gear he wore in the photo used in his flier, and that the picture was taken when he was off duty and participating in a charity stair climb to raise money to fight multiple sclerosis.

Lt. Fullen says his top three campaign issues are addressing the opioid crisis, helping working families, and supporting public safety. It is unclear if he would continue working for the Fire Department if elected to the Legislature. "I would love to continue my service as a firefighter but we'll have to see how something like that might work if and when I am fortunate enough to be elected," he said in an email.

Mr. LeBoeuf said he has taken a leave of absence from his job as an associate at Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, a nonprofit research and advisory organization that promotes private-sector investment to boost business and jobs in the inner city. The organization's chief executive officer is former Massachusetts state treasurer Steve Grossman, on whose 2014 gubernatorial campaign Mr. LeBoeuf worked.

Mr. LeBoeuf said his top campaign issues are supporting small business, backing reform in the funding of education and local aid, and promoting affordable health care for seniors and families.

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