Former City Councilor Greg Schwartz announces his candidacy for 12th Middlesex House seat

Leading with the slogan, “Let’s Put a Doctor in the House,” Dr. Greg Schwartz announced that he is running for the Democratic nomination to succeed Ruth Balser, the current representative for the 12th Middlesex District, who has announced that she plans to retire at the end of this year. Dr. Schwartz served as an at-large Newton City Councilor from 2011-2019, serving as chair of the Land Use Committee. Among the successful Council initiatives he supported are clean energy programs, preservation of Webster Woods, senior housing projects, and raising the age of tobacco sales to 19. A graduate of both Yale Medical School and Yale Law School, Dr. Schwartz has been in medical practice as a primary care physician at Mass General Brigham for nearly twenty-five years. 

Dr. Schwartz is running to influence healthcare policy, to have an impact on healthcare legislation. Pointing to the disintegration of the Steward Health Care System, Dr. Schwartz believes the State Legislature needs to give the state more authority to regulate for-profit healthcare organizations. Noting that both Brookline – the 12th Middlesex District includes four Brookline precincts – and Newton have many residents engaged in bio-technology and health care, he is interested in legislation that would expand state resources for these industries. As the only doctor in the House, he intends to use his experience to push for more state resources to reduce emergency room waiting times and support direct care for people with little or no insurance. 

At the same time, Dr. Schwartz is deeply concerned about the impact that fossil fuels are having on people’s lives and life-expectancy. He plans to work on state legislation for more money to promote energy efficiency and clean air. He is particularly interested in promoting wind and solar energy. Similarly, Dr. Schwartz puts a high priority on making public transportation – train and bus – a real option for people, as he sees it as the best way to limit automobile reliance. A regular Green Line rider, he attests to the MBTA’s unreliability.

Lawyers are trained to be good advocates, he says, and they understand the consequences of laws. Before embarking on his medical and legal education, Dr. Schwartz worked in policy-making jobs in the British Parliament and United States Congress in Washington. In his view, legislative success depends on developing coalitions, building a constituency, and being persistent. “Not listening to people who disagree with you is not conducive to democracy,” he says.

Dr. Schwartz welcomes the opportunity to build on and implement the MBTA Communities Law. The Governor has submitted a bond bill with more state dollars for publicly funded affordable housing “which is not really being built enough currently,” he says. 

In preparing to run for office, Dr. Schwartz is restructuring his practice. In describing his campaign plan, he says, “I’m excited to get to door-knocking, to get to talk to people about what interests them, and talk about what I’m interested in.” He wants constituents to know “I will be your state representative first and foremost, and my years of experience will enhance my legislative work.”

Dr. Schwartz and his wife live in Newton Highlands. They have two daughters, one a college freshman and the other a sophomore at Newton South High School. He says his family is excited about his campaign and eager to help. 

Ward 5 City Councilor Bill Humphrey is an announced candidate for the seat. City Councilor Rick Lipof has filed with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance and has indicated that he will also be a candidate.

To learn more about Greg Schwartz and his campaign, go to his web site at: gregschwartz.org