Politics & Government

Newton Alderman to Kick off State Rep. Campaign

Ward 3 Alderman-at-Large Greer Tan Swiston will start her campaign later this month with a six-mile run across Newton.

After , Ward 3 Alderman-at-Large Greer Tan Swiston has decided to put her name on the ballot for the 11th Middlesex seat. 

Swiston, a Republican, plans to kick off her campaign on March 31 with a six-mile run through Newton. Along the way, Swiston plans to stop and talk with constituents.

"I see Newton as a cornerstone for some key issues at the state level and we should be proactively engaged in the discussions involving those issues." Swiston says in her announcement. "Our voice needs to be heard and I am ready to take that voice for our community to the State House."

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State Rep. Kay Khan currently represents the 11th Middlesex District, which covers most of the north side of the city. Khan, a Democrat, has represented the district since 1995. 

In her announcement, Swiston says she believes it is difficult for local elected officials to have a real impact on larger, regional issues, such as the MBTA budget problem.

Find out what's happening in Newtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I feel that as a State Representative, I would have been able to participate in the conversation when the MBTA was still in their planning stages to address their budget problems. Instead, we are now in the position where we can only react to their proposals of cutting critical services in our city,” Swiston says in the press release.

During her March 31 run, Swiston plans to start in Auburndale and finish in Newton Corner.

Residents who would like to meet with Swiston during her kick off run on March 31 can find more information on Swiston's website

A full copy of the press release is below:

Newton Alderman Greer Tan Swiston became Newton’s only elected Republican in 2008. Local office is non-partisan. Will Newton continue to value her business sense, independent thinking and community service in a partisan race? This year will tell. Long time business woman and community volunteer, Swiston is announcing her run for the 11th Middlesex State Representative seat. She will kick off her campaign with a run through Newton, Ma. on Saturday, March 31, 9am-12noon. The roughly six mile run will include stops along the way to meet with residents and provide an opportunity to discuss the issues uppermost in their minds.

"I see Newton as a cornerstone for some key issues at the state level and we should be proactively engaged in the discussions involving those issues." Swiston says. "Our voice needs to be heard and I am ready to take that voice for our community to the State House."

Swiston cites a recent increase of issues that have been affecting Newton for which the local elected officials have little impact.

“I feel that as a State Representative, I would have been able to participate in the conversation when the MBTA was still in their planning stages to address their budget problems. Instead, we are now in the position where we can only react to their proposals of cutting critical services in our city,” Swiston notes.

Newton is uniquely situated at the intersection of I90 and I93 [sic] and hosts MBTA bus stops and train stations as well as commuter rail stations. Swiston feels Newton should be taking a more active role in the decisions about transportation in the state, but that is only one of the many issues that she has heard about as she has been meeting with Newton residents.

Swiston says that she intends to meet with as many people as she can, whether on their door step, over coffee or while running through the streets of Newton.

Residents who would like to meet with her during her kick off run on March 31st can get more information athttp://www.vote4greer.com.


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