Newton City Councilor Alison Leary To Run For State Rep

NEWTON, MA — Tis the season. Newton City Councilor Alison Leary announced she will run for state representative for the 10th Middlesex district seat in 2020. The seat is held by Rep. John Lawn of Watertown who has run unopposed for the past four election cycles. Lawn was first elected in 2011 during a special election after Peter Koutoujian resigned to take a position as interim Middlesex County Sheriff.

"I believe that I can be an effective voice on Beacon Hill and I am committed to being part of the solution to some very difficult problems," Leary wrote in an email to supporters.

The 10th Middlesex District consists of parts of Waltham, Watertown and Newton. The Newton portion is situated in Nonantum.

Leary would be the first Democratic challenger to Lawn since he was first elected. She said her priority is to tackle crises related to climate.

"The Commonwealth needs to do more to support local communities who have been leading the way," she said, pointing out that Newton, Watertown and Waltham all have put together climate action plans that set targets to become carbon neutral by mid-century. "But we need more support from the Commonwealth on transportation, building codes and carbon pricing to ensure success."

Leary, who opposes efforts to expand gas pipelines, said elected officials should hold utilities accountable for repairing leaky gas pipes. She plans to advocate and support policies that wean Massachusetts off fossil fuels altogether.

Other priorities: Improving public transportation, meeting the area's housing needs and transparency -including improving the state's public records law - on Beacon Hill.

Leary is the third Newton City Councilor this year to throw their hat into the ring for higher office. In November, City Councilor Becky Grossman declared she was running for the Fourth Congressional District, which includes parts of Bristol, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Worcester counties. Newton City Councilor-at-Large Jake Auchincloss followed right after that and announced he, too, would run for that seat.

Related:

• Newton's 10th Middlesex Portion Shrinks in Proposed Maps ... (2011)
• Newton's Grossman Declares Run For Kennedy House Seat (Sept.24)
• Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss Announces Run For Congress(October)

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).