Representative Howitt Receives Committee Appointments

Named to consumer protection, transportation and toursim committees.

State Representative Steven S. Howitt (Seekonk-R) has received his committee assignments for the 2013-2014 Legislative Session.  Howitt, who also represents two precincts in Norton as part of the 4th Bristol District, was reappointed by House Minority Leader Bradley J. Jones to the following committees: Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure (ranking member) “It shall be the duty of the committee on to consider all matters concerning consumer credit, consumer protection, the issuance of licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages, the registration of various trades or professions, and such other matters as may be referred.” Joint Committee on Transportation (RANKING MEMBER) “It shall be the duty of the committee…

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Howitt Looks to the Future of 4th Bristol District

Norton's sewer connection, Seekonk's roads the focus.

With State Representatives Steven Howitt re-elected last Tuesday, he plans to get back in the saddle to advocate for his district. “The next day you sort of catch your breath,” Howitt said, adding that he’s gotten a lot of positive responses to his re-election. The Seekonk resident attributed his success to his many volunteers, particularly his wife Pam, for helping with his campaign. Howitt received about 63 percent of the votes. In Seekonk, he beat out opponent A. Keith Carreiro 4459 to Keith Carreiro 2491. In Norton, Howitt had 2,226 votes to Carreiro’s 1,366.  In Swansea, Howitt obtained 1,334 votes to Carreiro’s 1,615. Finally in Rehoboth, Howitt garnered 3,929 while Carreiro received 2,025. Howitt represents the 4th Bristol district…

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Howitt Re-Elected as 4th Bristol District State Rep.

Norton and Seekonk vote with district.

Incumbent Steven Howitt will remain the 4th Bristol District State Representative for another two years according to unofficial election results. In Norton, Howitt had 2,226 votes to Carreiro’s 1,366. Seekonk chose Howitt with 4,459 votes against 2,491. “I am humbled and honored to receive the most important endorsement of this election from the voters of the 4th Bristol District on Election Day,” Howitt said. “I look forward to continuing my service to the people of Norton, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Swansea. I thank the voters for their support and continued confidence in me. I also wish to thank all of my volunteers as they have worked tirelessly on our behalf. My appreciation and thanks go to our dedicated political director, Peter …

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State Rep. Candidate Accused of Plagiarism

A. Keith Carreiro says portions of answers to questions he submitted to a newspaper were not his own words, but they "accurately reflect my positions."

The state Republican party is calling out Democratic state House candidate A. Keith Carreiro for using other people's words to create portions of his answers to a questionnaire from The Herald News, a newspaper in Fall River. Carreiro, who is running for the seat representing the 4th Bristol District (which includes Norton) against Republican incumbent Steven Howitt, admitted that he used passages written by a consultant in some of his answers and in another case used material that came from either the state Democratic party or "a union" that he said was supposed to be used by candidates in publications. State Republican party spokesman Tim Buckley called Carreiro's actions "plagiarism." Carreiro's campaign manager, Andrew McLeod, said the…

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PATCH ELECTION

State Rep. Candidates Debate Medical Marijuana, Per Diem Payments

A. Keith Carreiro and Steven Howitt participate in debate sponsored by Norton Community Television.

Thursday night in Norton, 4th Bristol district State Representative candidate A. Keith Carreiro and incumbent Steven Howitt laid out their plans for the upcoming legislative session in a debate. Taking place in the Norton Cable TV studio, debate questions covered issues from what it means to be a State Representative to the medical use of marijuana. Town Moderator Bill Gouveia mediated the debate. Here is where they stand on each issue: What does it mean to be a State Representative? Carreiro said that he would use his networking and communication skills to get the job done and set up a satellite office in the district so he could meet with residents and discuss their concerns. He said he would spend 25 percent of his time in this office…

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Two Debates Scheduled for State Rep. Candidates

Republican incumbent Steven Howitt and Democratic challenger A. Keith Carreiro will face off this Thursday and next Monday.

Democratic State House of Representatives hopeful A. Keith Carreiro was unable to get Republican incumbent Steven Howitt to accept a challenge for seven debates, but the two have agreed to spar on stage two times before Election Day. The Carreiro campaign issued a press release early Monday morning announcing debates will take place Thursday in Norton and next Monday in Fall River for the two candidates running for the seat of the 4th Bristol District, which includes Norton. The Howitt campaign confirmed the information was accurate. The debate on Thursday is sponsored by Norton Community Television and will be moderated by Town Moderator Bill Gouveia in the studio. It will begin at 7 p.m. The debate will not be televised live, but will be…

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Keith Carreiro Meet and Greet to be Held at Dawg House

Will be available to chat 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Campaigns Debate Doing Debates

State Rep. Steven Howitt will debate Democratic challenger A. Keith Carreiro if a third party is willing to organize the session.

A. Keith Carreiro, the Swansea Democrat trying to unseat Republican State Rep. Steven Howitt, is working to organize seven debates between the two candidates. But the Howitt campaign is not interested in doing even one debate, unless the event is organized by an independent, non-partisan entity.  Carreiro and Howitt are running for the state House seat representing the 4th Bristol District, which includes Seekonk, Rehoboth, Precincts 1 and 2 in Norton and Precincts 4 and 5 in Swansea. "Our plan is to await a debate proposal sponsored and organized by a non-partisan civic group or media outlet," wrote Howitt campaign manager Peter Hoogerzeil in an email to Patch. "We did not ask the Carreiro campaign to do this work on our behalf. We look …

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Candidate Debate Not Yet Accepted by Rep. Howitt

Democratic challenger A. Keith Carreiro wants to face Republican incumbent Steven Howitt in seven debates.

If the campaign for the state House of Representatives' 4th Bristol District, which includes Norton, ran the way Democratic challenger A. Keith Carreiro wanted, he and Republican incumbent Steven Howitt would face each other in seven debates. It is not clear if Howitt shares this vision. Carreiro challenged Howitt to a series of seven debates "invoking the spirit of" Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, according to a press release issued by the Swansea resident's campaign. "I want to have an open dialogue with the voters and between the candidates," said Carreiro, according to the release. "Democracy needs dialogue and both of us owe it to the voters and our system of government to talk more about the issues facing us." The Howitt …

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Carreiro Formally Challenges Howitt to Debates

Sends Howitt letter calling for seven debates.

Keith Carreiro, candidate for State Representative for the fourth Bristol District, formally challenged incumbent Steven Howitt to a series of seven debates, invoking the spirit of the Abraham Lincoln-Stephen Douglas debates in a letter sent to Howitt’s campaign. In the letter, Carreiro offered his suggestion for seven subjects that may be discussed: the economy and jobs, housing and foreclosures, education, infrastructure and roads, the environment, government services and possible legislation and the cost and quality of health care. Carreiro does say that he is open to other suggested topics by Howitt. Carreiro said in his official campaign announcement in July, "I want to have an open dialogue with the voters and between the candidates…

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