Tom Shack Announces Candidacy For Congress In MA 4th District

BROOKLINE, MA — A former state comptroller and prosecutor is the latest to throw his hat into the ring and pull nomination papers to run to be the next United States Representative from the 4th Congressional District. It's a seat that Joe Kennedy leaves as he challenges Sen. Ed Markey for senator.

Tom Shack of Brookline said he is running to defend the constitution and rule of law; return accountability, transparency, power, and trust in their leaders — despite no prior desire to run for office.

“Despite having served communities throughout Massachusetts for many years, those that know me best know that I have never aspired to run for public office. However, as each day becomes even more turbulent than the last, I can no longer stand aside," he said. "We need leaders committed to protecting our freedoms, our constitution, and our rule of law through transparent and truly representative government for ALL.”

Shack said his campaign platform is based on the core Democratic values of which he has advocated, including universal health care, pro-choice protections, transparency in government, renewable energy and affordable access to higher education.

Shack's father served as an adviser to both John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. Shack himself worked for Sen. Tom Daschle, then returned to Massachusetts for law school, raised a family and became a community leader.

As the former Comptroller of Massachusetts, Shack led the development of the system that put all the Commonwealth’s expenditures online in real time. He served as a senior prosecutor and as the chief operating and financial officer for a district attorney’s office.

Shack received his J.D. from New England School of Law in Boston, worked for the New England Journal on Criminal and Civil Confinement. He also holds a degree in Political Science and an M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship and Management from The American University in Washington, D.C.

Shack joins a crowded field of candidates.

Democratic Socialist Ihssane Leckey of Brookline declared she was running last May, expecting to challenge Kennedy himself. Brookline resident Alan Khazei, who co-founded City Year announced his candidacy last September. In October former Brookline Selectwoman Jesse Mermell became the third Brookline resident to announce she was running, followed by Dave Cavell. In January, attorney Ben Sigel announced he, too, was running. Newton City Councilors Becky Walker Grossman and Jake Auchincloss are also running.

The Fourth Congressional District includes parts of Bristol, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Worcester counties. Before Kennedy was elected in 2012, Barney Frank held the seat from 1981 until Kennedy took over.

Read more:

• Joe Kennedy Announces Run For Senate
• Several Brookline Residents Eye Kennedy's Seat In Congress ...
• Newton's Grossman Declares Run For Kennedy House Seat (Sept.24)
• Leckey Of Brookline Runs For Congress
• Candidate For Congress Jesse Mermell: Civic Engagement Runs Deep (October)
• Dave Cavell, Another Brookline Resident Runs For Congress (Oct.19)
• Tom Shack Eyes Run For Kennedy's House Seat
• Khazei, Auchincloss Rake In Most Money For Congressional Race
• Brookline Attorney Ben Sigel To Run For Congress (Jan)

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).