Dr. Natalia Linos: Candidate Profile 4th Congressional District

BROOKLINE, MA — Nearly a dozen candidates, including nine Democrats and two Republicans, are vying to represent the Massachusetts 4th Congressional District — which runs from Newton and parts of Brookline, Wellesley and Hopkinton and down to the South Coast — as Rep. Joe Kennedy leaves to challenge Sen. Ed Markey for his seat in the senate.

To get to know the candidates, Patch asked them to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Among those running in the Democratic Primary Sept. 1, is Dr. Natalia Linos, 38, of Brookline.

Linos grew up in Greece and moved to Massachusetts when she was 17. She lives in Brookline Village with her husband Paul and three children, Amalia, 7, and 3-year-old twins Leonidas and Alexandra. Her husband works for the U.S. federal government.

Linos got her A.B in anthropology from Harvard University in 2003, she then went on to
Harvard's School of Public Health to get her masters in social epidemiology in 2007, followed by her doctorate in the same field in 2012.

For the past 15 years, Linos has worked in policy making and public service roles. She's currently the executive director of the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University.

There, her work brings together scientists, advocates, and policy makers on the key issues of the day such as racial justice and health. During the Ebola outbreak she was the science adviser to the New York City Health Commissioner and led initiatives across government agencies. She's got experience working for both the U.N. and United Nations Development Program on climate change and health.

Here's what she had to say about running:

What politicians have inspired you and might you model your time in Congress after?

Elizabeth Warren. She’s brilliant at using data and facts to tell stories and help people understand why policy matters. She’s also been brave about leading with her values. She’s an inspiration.

How would you summarize your campaign in 3 words?
My campaign is about science, equity, and hope.

The single most pressing issue facing our district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
COVID-19. Coordinating a safe reopening and equitable recovery from COVID-19 is the most pressing issue facing our district. My 25 page plan focuses on how to (a) reopen safely by investing heavily in our schools and child care centers and giving people the financial resources to stay home when they are sick, (b) recover by extending unemployment and housing assistance, extending sick leave and family leave, and (c) rebuild in line with our values with means aligning our infrastructure investments with the Green New Deal and passing Medicare for All so that no family is put in this position again.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I’m running as an epidemiologist and mom appalled by President Trump’s disastrous pandemic response. There are only 14 scientists currently serving in Congress; I’m running to change that. I’m the only candidate in this race with the technical skills and global experience needed for this moment. For a decade I worked at the United Nations advising governments on how to overcome some of the biggest challenges - from tackling poverty and creating jobs, to climate change, and advancing gender equality - and also worked at the local level as Science Advisor to the NYC Health Commissioner, to address how structural racism was harming health. I’m ready to lead us through a COVID-19 recovery grounded in science and equity.

In what way has the current officeholder failed the district? What will you do better?
As a health expert, I understand that the current healthcare system has left far too many vulnerable Americans without proper care. I will fight for Medicare For All, something our current representative did not lead on as strongly as necessary. I will also be vocal and proactive on policies to address climate change and structural racism, rather than be reactive, bringing in a health narrative for why both are essential to our wellbeing. As a proponent of the Green New Deal, I will push for a carbon tax, offshore wind, and investments into public transportation projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

I support:
Green New Deal, Medicare for all, Healthcare for all, Eliminating the filibuster, The 1619 Project in schools, Transgender troops in the military

I do not support:

Repealing the Second Amendment.

What should Congress do to help the economy?
I think it’s really important for an epidemiologist like me to emphasize that our economic needs and our public health needs are not in opposition. They go hand in hand. In my COVID response plan, I emphasize that we need to give people the economic means to follow public health guidelines if we are to get out of this crisis. For example, I detail the need for Congress to provide immediate assistance to struggling households by setting a standard wage replacement rate across all states and guaranteeing unemployment benefits for up to 52 weeks. We should also consider the Sahm Plan, where the government would automatically send stimulus checks to American households in cases of large or sudden increases in unemployment. It is also important to support our small businesses by making sure they have access to applicable loans and grants, and our families by providing affordable childcare so they are able to resume working. I know this means a significant financial investment, but we are already experiencing the cost of inaction.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:
My campaign platform focuses on healthy communities, shared prosperity, and a healthy planet. I support Medicare for All, and as a social epidemiologist, I know that health is not just the absence of illness. So my healthy communities platform includes investments in schools, housing, and public transportation.

My commitment to shared prosperity emphasizes policies that directly tackle discrimination and racial justice in all our policies and systems. For example, I support reparations and defunding the police in order to invest more in other types of services for the most vulnerable.

We simply cannot continue to criminalize poverty, homelessness and mental illness.

My platform also emphasizes a healthy planet because we cannot forget about the existential climate crisis that we face as we think about COVID-19. My plan carefully integrates the Green New Deal into a Covid-19 plan because we cannot afford to wait to tackle climate change.

What accomplishments would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
My career has centered on public health, climate change, and racial justice and these are exactly the kind of challenges that this Congress will have to tackle. I have 15 years of experience working with and in governments in senior roles that require strong strategic and negotiation skills as well as technical expertise. I led the United Nations Development Programme’s global portfolio on climate change and health. During Ebola, I was a senior advisor to the New York City Health Commissioner and also had to work across many city agencies on critical issues like mental health, the opioid crisis, and access to primary health care. Now, as the Executive Director of a Harvard center for health and human rights, I bring together scientists, advocates, and policy makers to move the needle forward on racial justice and human rights.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...
It is never a “good time” to run for office, especially if you are a mom of young kids; but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.

My favorite aspect of this district is...

The multifaceted diversity of District 4 — linguistically, ethnically, religiously, and more — is part of why I love living here.

As a Greek-American and mom of three young children, I have found it so reassuring to be welcomed by so many, to share in their traditions and food. For example, while we are not Jewish, my twins, Leo and Alexandra are students at the Frances Jacobson Early Childhood Center at Temple Israel of Boston, where we celebrate the Jewish faith and have been so warmly welcomed by the community. Similarly, in my daughter Amalia’s classroom at Pierce Elementary School, over eleven different languages are spoken at home - what a wonderful gift for my daughter!

What else would you like voters to know about you and your positions?

I want voters to know that as a social epidemiologist, I will approach policies by looking at the data to understand who is helped and who is hurt in order to support policies that lead to greater equity. I also want voters to know that I'm not a scientist who has been in a lab for 15 years

I have a unique profile as someone with deep expertise in public health that I have applied working in and with governments at the United Nations, New York City Health Department, and now as the leader of the Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights

And, finally, I want to share with voters that I know what I am an expert in, but I also know what I am not an expert in. I will listen to constituents and look at the evidence to help me shape the best policies for the Fourth District.

nataliaforcongress.com Twitter: @DrNataliaLinosInstagram: @natalialinosFacebook: @nataliaforcongress

Read more:

Natalia Linos Brookline Mother, Doctor Is Running For Congress

Other candidate profiles for the 4th Congressional District:

• Jesse Mermell
• Chris Zannetos
• Ihssane Leckey

Are you running for office in Brookline? Contact Jenna Fisher at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Brookline Patch.