City Councilor Rick Lipof kicked off his campaign for the 12th District House seat at a familiar Democratic party venue: the home of City Councilor Vicki Danberg. About sixty people attended the official launch of his campaign to succeed Rep. Ruth Balser, who is retiring at the end of this year. Mr. Lipof is one of three Newton Democrats and one Brookline Republican running for the seat.
Attendees included his mother, Rabbi Emily Lipof, his sister former City Councilor Cheryl Lipof Lappin, City Councilors David Kalis, Josh Krintzman, Andrea Kelley, and Martha Bixby, and former Council President Susan Albright.
Councilor Danberg led the speakers program, saying that as former chair of the Land Use Committee, Mr. Lipof brought developers and neighbors together. “Rick knows how to get things done,” she said, adding that he is a “master at working with people.” Echoing her comments about Mr. Lipof’s collaborative abilities, Councilor Josh Krintzman noted that both the large Riverside and Northland projects had been negotiated during Mr. Lipof’s Land Use stewardship. Councilor Andrea Kelley, the current Land Use chair, said she had learned so much from his leadership. His wife, Jan Lipof, told the audience, “I see how much community means to him …. he wants to make a difference.”
Mr. Lipof said he is running because strong leadership matters, and just as Rep. Balser and Rep. Khan brought their work experience in mental health to the Legislature, he will bring his more than thirty years working in real estate, and twenty-two years on the City Council. He emphasized his ability to “get to yes.”
Among his priorities, Mr. Lipof noted affordable housing, improved public transportation, an education system that meets every child’s needs, more environmental protections, and health care. He cited Steward Health Care as an example of a crisis in need of a solution. Mr. Lipof underscored his concern about the rise in antisemitism and his commitment to combating it and other expressions of hate.
