Rodrigues, Protentis vie for 1st Bristol and Plymouth state Senate seat

Jeffrey Wagner Correspondent 

Published Oct. 21, 2022 

WESTPORT — A longtime state official will face a challenge from a Lakeville resident in the Nov. 8 General Election.

Democratic State Sen. Michael Rodrigues, of Westport, will face a challenge from Republican Russell Protentis. Rodrigues has held the seat, representing the seven-community 1st Bristol and Plymouth District, since 2010. Rodrigues was elected as a state representative in 1996 before his tenure in the senate. 

Protentis also ran for a state representative seat in 2010, but lost to Christopher Markey in a three-person race. 

On his campaign website, Protentis’ claims he is a retired federal agent who worked under six United States presidencies. (Since he did not respond to requests for an interview, this claim could not be verified.) 

Attempts to reach Protentis were unsuccessful. According to the Standard-Times, Protentis is facing some legal trouble after allegedly exposing himself at a YMCA in Hanson. 

The Standard-Times reported that, according to the Hanson Police report, a complaint last summer was made by a 52-year-old woman who had been swimming in the pool. 

The woman said when she was done swimming she went toward the ladder and a man, later identified as Protentis, was looking at her while standing in the pool. She said she immediately noticed that the man had pulled his penis out of the top of his bathing suit and was "blatantly exposing his penis to her and anyone else who might be in the area,” according to the police report.

Protentis was confronted by staff and gave false names, according to the police report. 

Protentis due in court before Election Day

Protentis is due to appear in court a few days before the election. 

According to his web page, Protentis will work to bring jobs to the state and protect school children as young as Grade 3 from being taught about gender transition. His campaign site says Protentis will work against "illegals obtaining driver's licenses," reduce government spending while also “properly funding police.” Voters will in fact have their own chance to be heard on the issue of drivers licenses for undocumented residents on the ballot on Election Day. Approval of Question 4 would "allow Massachusetts residents who cannot provide proof of lawful presence in the United States to obtain a standard driver’s license or learner’s permit if they meet all the other qualifications for a standard license or learner’s permit...."

His web page also states that he will work “to protect our children and women against the insanity of men competing in women’s athletics.”

Rodrigues: working to meet needs of a diverse district

Rodrigues, meanwhile, praised the diversity of his district. He said each community has its own needs. 

“I love my district but what I like the most is the diversity of my district. .. Because I represent seven communities that are so diverse, the needs are just as diverse.”

Rodrigues said  in Fall River, his focus is on public safety, affordable housing and seniors. 

In Fall River alone, around $10 million in public safety improvements have been made during his tenure, Rodrigues said.

In Westport, he is focused on agricultural and environmental issues. 

In Swansea, redevelopment of the Swansea Mall is a focal point while redevelopment of Brayton Point in Somerset is a priority there. 

In Freetown, Rodrigues is focused on community projects, as well as improving the infrastructure. 

Much the same is true for Rodrigues’ focus in Lakeville. 

Rodrigues said many of his waterfront communities have experienced improved boating ramps over the years.

Rodrigues said he is proud to chair the senate Committee on Ways and Means.

“My fingerprint is on every piece of legislature because ways and means is responsible for final fiscal impact on the commonwealth”  he said.

Rodrigues calls  his “accessibility” his best quality.

“I think everyone pretty much  has my cell phone (number).. When they call, I answer it,” he said.

State Senate candidate from Lakeville charged with open and gross lewdness

Frank Mulligan Standard-TimesPublished Oct. 14, 2022 

HINGHAM — A candidate for the 1st Bristol and Plymouth District Senate seat has been charged with open and gross lewdness and annoying a person of the opposite sex stemming from an incident at the South Shore Emilson YMCA pool in Hanson on July 15.

Russell T. Protentis, 67, who is running against Democratic incumbent Michael J. Rodrigues, is alleged to have exposed himself at the Hanson YMCA during an evening swim. He has denied the charges to police. The Lakeville resident is not a member of that YMCA but is a member of the Old Colony YMCA in Taunton.

According to the Hanson Police report, the complaint was made by a 52-year-old woman who had been swimming in the pool. She noticed an elderly white man, 60 to 70 years old, partially bald with grey hair on the sides, wearing a red bathing suit, she said.

The woman said when she was done swimming she went toward the ladder and the man was looking at her while standing in the pool. She said she immediately noticed that the man had pulled his penis out of the top of his bathing suit and was "blatantly exposing his penis to her and anyone else who might be in the area," according to the police report.

The woman said she was shocked and "that it clearly appeared as if the male party was doing this intentionally so that she and anyone else nearby would see," according to the police report.

The woman was with her 27-year-old daughter, but the man was facing away from the daughter and she didn't see what was going on, according to the report. She told police that she saw the look on her mother's face when she was standing in front of the man in the pool and knew something was wrong.

The 52-year-old woman told YMCA employees what had happened, and staff questioned the man.

He didn't admit to exposing himself, but said "this could ruin my career," and indicated he was running for political office, according to the police report.

They asked his name and he initially said he was Thomas Peterson and was a member of the Middleborough YMCA, and was a public official. 

When staff couldn't find a record of that name, the man said his name was Jack Price and was a member of the Quincy YMCA, but staff couldn't find that name either.

He was then asked to leave, which he did without incident, according to the police report.

YMCA employees contacted police 

YMCA employees were able to provide police with video of the man and his car in the parking lot. He arrived at 7:41 p.m. and left just prior to 9 p.m. They were unable to provide video of the pool area due to issues with the camera system, according to the police report.

Police reached out to area departments with the man's photo, and posted it to social media - including the Hanson Police Facebook page, and relayed it to news outlets.

Five days after the incident, a man identifying himself as Protentis called Hanson Police Chief Timothy Kane. The man said he had seen the photos on the news.

He said the photos were of him, but that there must be a misunderstanding, according to the police report.

According to the chief, Protentis said he had been at the Hanson YMCA on July 15 but that he wasn't sure what the woman at the YMCA was talking about. "He said that as he was exiting the pool on the ladder, his bathing suit began to slip down and he pulled at the drawstrings to prevent it from slipping further," according to the police report.

Protentis gave false names at YMCA 

Though Protentis has no record, police said the actions alleged were serious and concerning and they issued a warrant, charging him. According to the police report, Protentis didn't pass by the desk and show his credentials when he entered, but walked around the check-in desk and avoided having to deal with a staff member.

He also gave the two false names to staff members when approached. According to the police report, "The fact that Protentis provided false information when confronted by the YMCA staff appears as though he was trying to leave the facility without being positively identified."

Protentis has been arraigned on the charges and is due back in Hingham District Court on Nov. 1 for discovery, compliance and jury election.

Protentis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.