STATE REP. CANDIDATE RETURNS FROM ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Chris Pinto
June 25, 2010
(508) 981-6511
WORCESTER -- The Worcester political scene has a new face, and he is the only Republican candidate running for the State Representative for the 13th Worcester District, the seat that currently held by Robert Spellane. Lieutenant Colonel Paul J. Franco just came off active duty this week as a US Army Reservist, and folks around here will finally be able to place a face with a name.
Franco, 52, has been working as a Soldiers’ Counsel at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, for the past year as a mobilized US Army Reservist. His duties were to represent those soldiers injured during the war to ensure they receive the appropriate amount of compensation before being medically retired or separated. Franco’s efforts were so successful that over 70-percent of the soldiers he represented received an increase in their benefits or managed to be retained in the Army.
On June 14th, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Northern Regional Medical Commander, Major General Carla Hawley-Bowland, for his “unwavering professionalism, commitment.” Additionally, the award recognized that “his dedication greatly contributed to the overall mission accomplishment of the organization’s success” and his “performance was in keeping with the highest traditions of military service, reflecting great credit upon him, the United States Army Medical Command, the Army Medical Department and the United States of Army.”
Besides being an officer in the US Army Reserve since 1980, Franco has lived in Worcester for 22 years where he has practiced personal injury law within the city. He has worked as a trial lawyer with the Law Offices of Joseph J. Cariglia, 188 Lincoln Street, for the past 10 years and he will be resuming his position there on June 28th. Franco has also been active within the community serving on the West Tatnuck Elementary Parents’ Advisory Council, Christ the King Church Parish Council, and as Director of Tee-ball and AA Boys Baseball Leagues for 2008-2009 with the Jesse Burkett Little League. He has also coached and served on the Board of Directors for the St. Peter’s Church basketball league and he has coached youth soccer in Worcester since 1994.
Franco has been married to Mary Ann Franco for nearly 27 years and they have six children, ranging in ages from eight to 25. All of his children are or have attended the Worcester Public Schools, with his three daughters all obtaining bachelor’s degrees from University of Massachusetts Amherst. Franco plans to use his leadership and experience in his military and civilian law practice to help the Commonwealth make the tough decisions necessary to stimulate the economy, create jobs and improve the quality of life for his constituents in the west side of Worcester and in the Town of Paxton.
