Editor’s Note: This post is part of Village14’s ongoing series allowing 1 column from each candidate for Congress in the 4th District. – Bryan

In the immediate aftermath of Donald Trump’s election in 2016, like so many others, I had this nagging feeling that there was more that I could be doing to fight for our values and to fight back against the hatred and divisiveness that Trump unleashed. That meant different things for different people, but for me, it meant running for office in Newton.

As a mom to two young kids –– Madeleine, who’s now 9, and Jack, who just turned 6 –– I wake up every day with deep concern about the world we’re leaving for all of our kids. I wonder what the world will look like when they grow up: whether we’ll have finally taken action to secure a healthy planet for them to live on; whether we’ll have finally tackled the scourge of gun violence that tears apart American communities every single day; whether we’ll have built a country that finally lives up to its ideals and affords opportunity to all, regardless of your zip code, race, or socioeconomic status.

I believe that we have a collective responsibility to leave a better world for the next generation, and that we’ve been abdicating that responsibility for far too long. That’s why I first ran for office. Today, that same passion and motivation are stronger than ever. So when Congressman Kennedy decided to leave this seat, I asked myself again: is there more that I could be doing to fight for our communities and our kids?

Since the pandemic broke out earlier in the year, it’s been a nonstop catastrophe that’s laid bare our country’s deep racial and economic inequities. But more than anything, I think the United States’ response to Covid-19 has exposed the shortcomings and shortsightedness of the leadership we’ve had in Washington. And now our country is paying a terrible price because of that failure of leadership.

This is the time to realign our priorities, to start focusing on what’s in the long-term best interest of our country, and to build a system that supports, rather than penalizes, working families. Out of 435 members of the House of Representatives, only 25 are moms of school-aged children. That’s a perspective that’s sorely needed. In a moment when child care providers are on the brink of collapse, the climate emergency intensifies every day, and working families are getting crushed by this pandemic, we need to elect new and different types of leaders who understand the everyday fears and challenges that families across the country are facing. If we had more moms of young kids in Congress, I have no doubt that we could change the conversation in Washington completely. That’s why I got into this race.

Now, I’ve talked a lot about my perspective as a mom in this race, because that’s the passion and sense of urgency that fuels me. But my perspective is also informed by a strong interdisciplinary background and a variety of educational and career experiences. I graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Economics, and then first came to the Boston area to pursue my JD and MBA degrees at Harvard. As an Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County, I had a front row seat to what happens when people and whole communities are left behind, and it’s precisely because of the work I did as an ADA that I understand the importance of criminal justice reform.

As a Newton City Councilor, I’ve seen how government can still be a force for good in people’s lives, working to improve school building facilities for our kids and our educators; standing as an unwavering advocate for our affordable housing initiatives; and proudly supporting our local efforts to combat the climate emergency. After a single term in office, I was tapped to Chair the Finance Committee, a role in which I’ve steered the Council’s rigorous budget process and seen first-hand how the effects of mismanagement in Washington during the pandemic have directly hurt local government.

And as a result of that work, I’m especially proud to have the support of all three female state legislators representing Newton –– State Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem, State Representative Ruth Balser, and State Representative Kay Khan.

I have the vision, passion, and experience to go toe-to-toe with Republicans and powerful special interests who stand in the way of making any progress. I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves in Washington and fight for the future that my kids and all of our kids deserve.