A lifelong South Coast resident, Joe Pires has watched an evolution from when he grew up to today. 

Born in New Bedford and raised by a single mother who purchased a house in Dartmouth, Pires said he watched his mother and family members work and obtain their goals; it was the “American Dream.”

“That has gone away to a certain extent,” Pires said.

A Rochester resident, Pires said all he can see is “people struggling or having some type of challenge” financially, like young adults unable to afford rent or homes and seniors living paycheck to paycheck.

Pires is running as Republican candidate for 10th Bristol district state representative, a seat held since 1992 by Rep. Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett). He will face Robert McConnell in the Republican primary Tuesday, Sept. 3. The 10th Bristol district includes Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, Fairhaven and parts of New Bedford and Acushnet. 

“My decision to run is to help make better decisions, vote on issues that affect the South Coast and really advocate for the people who live throughout the South Coast,” he said.

Pires is a part-owner of Pioneer Basement and Grate Products. He is also a member of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee.

For the various issues that have come up in the school system, Pires said his approach was listening to the people he represents and following through.

“I consider myself, and I think many would also consider myself, a fighter and someone who stands up for other people,” he said. 

One of those issues that has come up in the Old Rochester school district was discussion regarding certain books deemed by some to be inappropriate for kids.

In that case, Pires said he “was always one looking for some way that we could figure this out and compromise.”

“How can we come up with the best solution, no matter what the topic is, so that we can all live and go to school and work and raise our families and still feel respected, feel as though we're getting our needs met,” he said.

Another recent extended school committee deliberation concerned a proposal to take on debt for facility renovations, which Pires voted against.

“My constituents are the people who voted for me, and it's just like anything, running a business,” Pires said. “You really want to be able to justify any type of expenditure, especially when we're talking millions and millions of dollars.”

As a candidate for 10th Bristol representative, Pires said he would fight to get money back to the South Coast through grants, programs and other support. 

“I will be one to listen and really give people the time to present what their needs are and work with them and be a voice on Beacon Hill and really draw our attention to our needs here,” he said.