City Councilor Rick Lipof announces his candidacy for 12th Middlesex House seat

For the last three weeks, At-Large Ward 8 City Councilor Rick Lipof has been campaigning for State Representative Ruth Balser’s 12 Middlesex District seat, and he formally announced his candidacy on Sunday, March 10. He joins Ward 5 Ward Councilor Bill Humphrey and former City Councilor Dr. Greg Schwartz in running for the Democratic nomination to succeed Rep. Balser, who will be vacating on December 31, after a quarter of a century of service. Now in his 23rd year on the City Council, Councilor Lipof said he is running “because I love to serve and represent people.” He was twice elected the Council’s Vice President and has been Chair of the Council’s Land Use, Public Safety and Transportation, and Real Property Re-Use Committees.

Councilor Lipof explained that when the seat opened up, “which it does so rarely,” he consulted legislative and city leaders and decided “it would be right for me, and I am more excited than ever about serving. …Public service is in my DNA.” Councilor Lipof’s father, Michael (Mike) Lipof, was a longtime member of the then Newton Board of Aldermen. Councilor Lipof’s sister, Cheryl Lipof Lappin, was also a member of the Lipof political dynasty on Newton’s City Council. Rick noted that Aldermanic politics was the topic of conversation at the Lipof dinner table when they were children. And, as a small child, he remembers stuffing envelopes for Mayor Ted Mann’s campaign.

“What I bring to the job is twenty-two years of community acumen,“ he said, adding “it takes time to hone those interpersonal skills to bring people together to ‘yes’.” He cites his longterm public service, which he believes has been essential in teaching him how to “make alliances and build bridges.” He believes “you can’t be in politics if you don’t love people and service.”

Councilor Lipof is adamant about the need to improve public transportation. He emphasized that “transportation is attached to everything: housing, climate, health, everything… A train that moves as slowly as we can jog is not the answer. You can’t get people out of their cars without [public] transportation,” in communities like Newton and Brookline (the 12th Middlesex district includes four Brookline precincts). At the same time, he acknowledges that there is not much a City Councilor can do about mass transit, as such issues are determined at the state level. Responding to a Fig City News question about the length of time it takes to achieve goals on Beacon Hill, he responded, “you can’t stop working on something even if it’s frustrating.”

Another of his State House goals is bringing more education money to Newton and Brookline schools through studies and grants. Noting that the City is building and renovating elementary schools, he expects there will be additional projects requiring funding. He is also deeply committed to retaining art and music programming, which he considers a vital component of education. And he is determined to work for programs that focus on students with special needs. From kindergarten through high school, Councilor Lipof attended Newton schools: Spaulding School, Meadowbrook Junior High School, and Newton South High School.

Among his growing concerns is the increase in antisemitism. He said, “The documented rise of anti-Semitic incidents in our country and abroad is incredibly disturbing to me and so many others. As a civil society we must stand united against all forms of hate, bigotry and injustice wherever they may exist. There clearly is a need for heightened  awareness, education and proactive measures to counter hatred and discrimination in all its forms.”

Rick Lipof is the principal of Lipof Real Estate Services, Inc, a regional appraisal company he founded in 1991 at age twenty-four. He says that his ability to “pivot” and adjust his business with shifts in market forces exemplifies his ability to work within changing needs and will serve him well on Beacon Hill. In addition, he notes that as a small, independent business owner, he understands the economic climate and the supports that sustain local businesses.

Councilor Lipof’s parents were both born and raised in Brookline. His mother, Rabbi Emily Lipof, served congregation Ohabei Shalom for many years. He and his wife Janice are the parents of two grown daughters.

To learn more about Rick Lipof and his campaign, go to his web site at: ricklipof.com