Carlos HenriquezCarlos Henriquez, the former Fifth Suffolk district state representative expelled from the House two years ago, told the Reporter on Tuesday he will decide in the next week whether to run for his old seat.

“The truth is that at the top of my priority list are the needs of the community, because that’s what the position is about,” the Dorchester politician said. “Always has been.”

Inspired by family, friends, supporters, and even strangers who come up to him asking him to run again, Henriquez said he decided to start seriously talking about another run for representative in the fall.

But to be frank, “I’ve been considering it since the day I was unconstitutionally expelled from the House,” Henriquez said.

Henriquez, then a sophomore representative, was convicted of two misdemeanor counts for assault and battery in 2014. He maintains his innocence, though a jury found him guilty of holding down a female companion and punching her in the chest when she refused to have sex with him.

The House ousted Henriquez in a 146-5 vote while he was serving six months in prison. He considers the rule by which he was ousted to be illegitimate. Rep. Evandro Carvalho, of Dorchester, won a special election after Henriquez was removed, and has been re-elected since.

Henriquez focused on his personal wellbeing following his release, and later returned to community work. He references involvement with the Youth Voice Project — teaching youths about grassroots community organizing — and organizing a “greet the students day” at the Boston Public Schools — where local men of color welcomed students on their first day of the school year.

A community organizing role may ultimately be the best position for him, Henriquez said, depending on the possibilities for advancement within the House and the effectiveness of his on-the-ground politicking.

His decision will come soon, Henriquez said. District candidate nomination papers are available Feb. 16 and May 31 is the filing deadline to be on the November 2016 ballot.

“There are still conversations I’ve wanted to have with people who are very close to me that I just haven’t been able to meet with yet,” Henriquez said.