LAWRENCE (CBS) – Arson investigators are trying to figure out who set fire to a first-term Lawrence School Committee member’s car earlier in the week.

Firefighters found the 1999 Buick LeSabre belonging to James Blatchford, 25, on fire early Wednesday morning.

Investigators say the gas tank door had been opened and the fire appeared to have been intentionally set.

The car was parked outside Blatchford’s fiancee’s home on Foster Street at the time.

Blatchford says he has no idea why someone would target his car. He says if for some reason it happened to be politically motivated, that he’s open to having a civil discussion.

“It was intentional by someone, but I don’t know who,” Blatchford reportedly told the Eagle Tribune. “Whoever that person is, I wish they would have felt free to contact me and reach out to me – whether they don’t like something I said or a position I took – instead of resorting to violence.”

Blatchford also expressed concern over some people’s attitudes about the incident being a common occurrence in his city.

“This is something that shouldn’t be expected,” Blatchford reportedly said. “This is something that people should not say, ‘Oh, it happened in Lawrence.’ ”