Fig City News spoke with the three candidates running to succeed retiring State Representative Ruth Balser, to learn about their conversations with voters as they canvassed the 12th Middlesex district before the September 3 Primary election. Did talking with several thousand potential constituents change their perspective about what they would bring to the State House?
Rick Lipof, now in his twenty-third year as a Newton City Councilor, has canvassed all of the 12th Middlesex District, and is going back to talk to voters who were not home on his first pass. He views canvassing as an opportunity to educate people about the relationship between local and state office.
Housing has been the major topic of discussion at the doors. “There are ways to expand local housing through state funding,” he says. When people have objected to the MBTA Communities Act requirement to zone for more housing, Mr. Lipof explains the consequences of non-compliance. “Opinions can be changed and more doors opened,” he said. He believes that working through the state, he will be able to bring more money for Newton housing, allowing people to move out of their homes, but remain in the city.
The high price of land in Newton drives up the cost of construction, thereby precluding construction of 100% affordable housing, he noted. “First and foremost we are looking for the middle ground and make changes to zoning trying to move the needle forward. If it were easy, the state wouldn’t have mandated the MBTA Communities Act,” he said.
People also talk to him about education and the Newton Teachers Association strike. “People are still hungover from that strike,” he reported. He has repeatedly stated his determination to bring more education dollars to Newton to strengthen programs and offer more services to more students.
Working to combat antisemitism – which has increased in the aftermath of the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel – has been a centerpiece of his campaign. The son of a rabbi, Mr. Lipof is particularly sensitive to the concerns of Newton and Brookline’s Jewish community. He feels that state-mandated programs dealing with genocide and the Holocaust should educate teachers as well as students. Backlash responses are an ongoing issue for Mr. Lipof, who also responded to attacks on the Asian community because of the Covid pandemic.
Mr. Lipof reported that transportation was on the minds of many voters. He gives high marks to MBTA General Manager Philip Eng, who he believes is working effectively to improve service delivery. At the same time, Mr. Lipof acknowledges that real improvement will require much more money to repair a long-neglected system, and he is prepared to work with State House colleagues to make more resources available for public transportation.
Many voters emphasized climate concerns, linking them to housing and transportation. Mr. Lipof shares their viewpoint and promises to support legislation that will yield more climate-focused resources.
Asked if canvassing had changed his perspective about his role as a legislator, Mr. Lipof said that looking at local issues and representing them at the state level has been his view of the job. “I’m excited and energized to take those issues to the State House,” he said.
