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Massachusetts State Representative Ruth B. Balser, elected in 1998, currently representing the 12th Middlesex District of southern Newton and southern Brookline, announced on Friday that she will not be seeking re-election this fall. I received a great deal of encouragement over the past few days, and I wanted to let you know that I have decided to run in the September Democratic primary election to succeed her.
Why I’m Running
An open seat in the Legislature is always a wonderful opportunity to take stock and look at the progress we have made, and then to turn our eyes to the future to think about what we can do better to make Massachusetts a Commonwealth for everyone.
Serving my Ward 5 Newton constituents on the City Council over the past several years – and knocking on well over 10,000 doors in that span – has been the most rewarding time in my career so far. Yet at every turn, we find ourselves confronted with problems that require solutions beyond the level of local government. These include things like housing, healthcare, and the climate crisis, among many others.
I’ve learned a great deal about how to navigate a legislative body, what leadership and teamwork should look like, and how our government really interacts with residents in their everyday lives.
I have a vision for a brighter tomorrow for everyone in Massachusetts, and I’m excited to share that with Newton and Brookline voters in the 12th Middlesex District. More importantly, I can’t wait to hear you share with me your ideas, your hopes, and your struggles, as I go door-to-door between now and the September 3rd Democratic primary.
Who I Am
I am a third-term Newton City Councilor with a career of public service. I’m a millennial living in a multi-generation household, a fifth-generation Newton resident, and a public school graduate.
I come from a family with many generations of public service to the United States, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Middlesex County. My mother is a union nurse and my father is a retired public transit planner. As a young child, I grew up in a multi-generational household that also included my elderly great-aunt (and one grandmother living around the corner). This gave me an unusual firsthand perspective on aging in place issues and caregiver challenges that many people in my generation did not experience until much later in life.
Like my family, I believe passionately in the power of good government and public works to make society more socially just and equitable. Outside of the Council, I have also served as the Chair of Progressive Newton and am a board member of the Friends of Hemlock Gorge.
You can learn more about me on my website at the full bio page.
My key issues
I am launching my campaign with a comprehensive platform page on my website covering the following 14 major issue areas that are on the horizon for the Legislature and which I feel are very relevant to residents of our district:
Housing
Healthcare
Public Childcare and Education
Eldercare and Long-term Disability Care
Public Transit
Mental Health and Substance Use
Environmental Action
Reproductive Freedom
Labor and Economic Justice
Gun Control
Criminal Justice Reform
Human Rights, Inclusion, and Accessibility
Arts, Culture, and Historic Preservation
State-Municipal Relations
(I would welcome feedback as well on topics you think I left out or points I could expand upon more!)
The 12th Middlesex District
The 12th Middlesex Massachusetts House District consists of Ward 5, Ward 6, Ward 7 Precinct 1, and Ward 8 of the city of Newton and Precincts 5, 13A, 14, and 15 of the town of Brookline.
I know the Newton neighborhoods of this district very well and have already been a frequent presence on the doors. I have some familiarity with some of the Brookline areas, but I have also been reaching out to friends of friends in Brookline politics to make sure I get up to speed on the needs of those neighborhoods too. What neighborhood issues or concerns with the state do you think I should know about the district that I might not be aware of yet?
Thank you to Rep. Balser
Finally, I have to acknowledge the tremendous work of the person I am hoping to succeed. Thank you to State Representative Ruth Balser for your decades of service to the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Newton Board of Aldermen! You have been an invaluable voice on re-framing the public policy response to mental health struggles and you have been a reliable force in Massachusetts Democratic Party politics (and a tireless fundraiser beyond!).
I also learned from Rep. Balser, before I was even old enough to vote, the value in an elected official emailing back constituents whenever possible, no matter how small the issue (like fencing on Echo Bridge), and I have always tried to do that myself in office. I also try to prioritize constituent services work above all else, based on her example there as well.
Contributions welcomed
I am fortunate to be entering this campaign with a sizable warchest so I can get started right away, and my campaign team was ready to roll without any delay as my updated website will attest, but I will need to raise much more in the coming weeks and months to cover the costs of communicating with a larger district effectively. I would welcome any contributions you would be willing to make! You can donate online or send a check to the PO Box mentioned at the link.
If you are not able to donate, I completely understand, but I hope to earn your support however you can offer it!
That’s all for now from me (and if you’re reading this outside the district, I will probably not be emailing again for a while, but I wanted to give you the good news as I begin this next chapter of my political career) and I look forward to getting out on the doors before the end of February. I’d bet I can hit 10,000 this year again. What do you think?