Former City Councilor and physician Greg Schwartz has announced a run for the Middlesex 12th District House seat held by retiring State Rep. Ruth Balser, who announced last month that she would not run for reelection.
“I am excited for the opportunity to serve the voters of Newton and Brookline as State Representative, in a role that allows me to bring the perspective and experience of a practicing physician and former city councilor to policy making,” Schwartz said in announcing his candidacy in a statement Monday morning.
Dr. Schwartz served on Newton’s City Council from 2011 to 2019. He served as chair of the Land Use Committee and promoted open space preservation, public health initiatives and clean energy policy.
Schwartz has been a physician in Massachusetts for 25 years and also has a law degree. And he’s running with a slogan of “Put a Doctor in the House.”
“If elected, I would be the only medical doctor in the Massachusetts state legislature,” he said. “Many people do not realize how much of an impact our legislature has on the healthcare system. Every day I see the limitations of our system: people waiting in the ER for hours before being seen; waiting weeks to see a specialist; putting off care due to being uninsured or underinsured.”
Schwartz cited Steward Health Care’s current financial implosion as an example.
“The Legislature can and should address the current problem and prevent it from occurring in the future,” Schwartz said. “I am eager to put my experience to work to improve the health and well-being of the residents of Newton and Brookline, and indeed all our residents across Massachusetts. Health care is an essential service that everyone should be able to access.”
Schwartz will face current Newton City Councilor Bill Humphrey in the Democratic primary for the Middlesex 12th District in September before the general election begins. So far, no Republicans have announced a run for the seat.