Brookline's Natalia Linos To Run For Congress

BROOKLINE, MA — Dr. Natalia Linos, an epidemiologist at Harvard University, on Friday became the 13th person to announce a bid for Congress in Massachusetts' 4th District.

With a week left before the deadline to submit nomination papers, Linos collected 1,200 signatures and mobilized some 50 volunteers, including front-line health workers and public health experts to make it happen, she said in a release.

The Brookline Village resident and mother of three declared her candidacy after watching the government’s response to the new coronavirus pandemic and feeling a need for more public health expertise in Congress.

"Science has been put on the sidelines and decisions are being taken without recognizing that we are only as strong as the least healthy, least safe, and least secure among us," Linos said in a statement. "Our health can’t wait any longer and ... people in District 4 want a voice for science in government. They want to ensure that decisions and measures taken protect the lives, livelihoods, and dignity of all Americans and set us on a new path towards shared prosperity that protects the health of people and the planet."

The social epidemiologist said she warned early on this health crisis would amplify the inequities in the country and that the effects of the pandemic on health, livelihoods and human rights could be felt for years.

She's running on a platform that includes building healthy communities, protecting the environment and "ensuring shared prosperity."

Linos is the executive Director of Harvard University’s FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, and mother of three young children. She lives in Brookline Village with her husband, Paul, 7-year-old Amalia, and 3-year-old twins, Leonidas and Alexandra. She has spent more than a decade in public service at the United Nations and New York’s City Health Department. She is a three-time Harvard University graduate with a bachelor's degree in anthropology, a master's degree in social epidemiology, and a doctorate in social epidemiology.

She joins a crowded field of candidates, including six others from Brookline.

Ihssane Leckey of Brookline was the first to declare she was running in May 2019, expecting to challenge Joseph Kennedy. Brookline resident Alan Khazei, who co-founded City Year, announced his candidacy that September. In October, former Brookline Selectwoman Jesse Mermell became the third Brookline resident to announce she was running, followed by Dave Cavell. Newton City Councilors Becky Walker Grossman and Jake Auchincloss also both jumped in the race.

The list of Democratic candidates includes:

• Jake Auchincloss, of Newton
• Dave Cavell, of Brookline
• Becky Grossman, of Newton
• Alan Khazei, of Brookline
• Ihssane Leckey, of Brookline
• Nick Matthew, of Somerville
• Jesse Mermell, of Brookline
• Herb Robinson, of Newton
• Tom Shack, of Brookline
• Ben Sigel, of Brookline
• Chris Zannetos, of Wellesley

The Republican candidate is Julie Hall, of Attleboro.

State Sen. Paul Feeney, of Foxborough, State Rep. Patricia Haddad of Somerset, and former state comptroller Tom Shack appeared to eye the seat, too.

The 4th Congressional District includes parts of Bristol, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Worcester counties. Before Kennedy was elected in 2012, Barney Frank held the seat since 1981.

Read more:

• Leckey Of Brookline Runs For Congress
• Candidate For Congress: Brookline's Alan Khazei
• Joe Kennedy Announces Run For Senate
• Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss Announces
• Newton's Grossman Declares Run For Kennedy House Seat (Sept.24)
• Candidate For Congress Jesse Mermell: Civic Engagement Runs Deep (October)
• Dave Cavell, Another Brookline Resident Runs For Congress (Oct.19)

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).