Newton City Councilor Alison Leary is making the case for change as she challenges longtime incumbent State Rep. John Lawn in the Democratic primary for the 10th Middlesex District seat representing parts of Newton, Watertown, and Waltham. In an early August interview, Leary argued that rising health care costs, a worsening housing shortage, and what she describes as a lack of transparency on Beacon Hill demand new leadership.
Leary, an at-large councilor for over a decade, said the three communities share more common concerns than differences. While Waltham and Watertown benefit from larger commercial tax bases than Newton, she said residents throughout the district are focused on many of the same issues: affordable housing, quality schools, transportation, health care costs, and the overall cost of living. She contrasted her approach with Lawn’s, saying she would maintain a more visible presence throughout the district.
Health care has emerged as a centerpiece of Leary’s campaign. A supporter of Medicare for All, she argues that Massachusetts can lead the way toward universal health care, citing studies that suggest billions of dollars could be saved through a more streamlined system. Leary points to escalating costs of health insurance as a growing threat to local budgets, noting that communities are being forced to divert money from schools and other priorities to cover rising premiums.
On housing, Leary says she advocates for more aggressive government action than Representative Lawn, and has thus earned the endorsement of Abundant Housing Massachusetts. She supports expanding by-right development, including of duplexes, arguing that communities must increase housing supply if they hope to reduce costs. While acknowledging concerns about changing neighborhood character, she said housing growth should be concentrated in village centers and transit corridors where residents have alternatives to driving.
Leary also advocates increased investment in public transportation, better bus service, and continued modernization of MBTA infrastructure. She discussed the need for expanded bus service for the two-plus year period the Newtonville commuter rail station will be closed. She said that before COVID, five different buses went downtown from Newton, and now there is just one. She said, “They call this the Better Bus project. I mean, come on! We’re going to have to rely on buses while that work gets done.” She continued, “I think obviously, we need to invest in the MBTA, and I think (MBTA General Manager) Phil Eng is doing a great job. But remember, it’s literally decades and decades of disinvestment, of not paying attention.”
Leary expressed support for pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly street designs and said options for safer transportation are essential as communities grow.
Her sharpest criticism was reserved for the State Legislature itself. Leary accused Beacon Hill leadership of operating through a highly centralized, top-down structure that limits transparency and discourages dissent. She criticized recent legislative responses to calls for greater transparency, and she has questioned the system of committee stipends and leadership benefits. Lawn, who chairs the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, was a frequent point of comparison throughout the interview. Leary argued that contested elections are healthy for government and said challengers help hold incumbents accountable.
A longtime environmental advocate, Leary cited her role in Newton’s ban on single-use plastic bags as one of her accomplishments. She said her campaign is rooted in a belief that government should do more to address affordability, expand housing opportunities, and make health care accessible to all residents. As voters prepare to choose between an incumbent and a challenger, Leary said she believes that voters’ frustration with the status quo will translate into support for change.
Leary repeated regrets for her characterizations of Nonantum in a debate with Rep. Lawn saying, “Obviously, I misspoke. I was getting frustrated…. It was totally wrong that I should paint anyone with a broad brush. And being an elected official, you deal with people with very different viewpoints, and you have to learn how to deal with them… And I was dismissive, and that was wrong. So, I apologize for that, and they were right to be angry about it… But I think we’ve all said the wrong thing sometimes.”
In-person voting for the primary election takes place Tuesday, September 1; mail-in voting is underway. See the Fig City News Voters’ Guide.