Jay Livingstone announces run for state House seat being vacated by Marty Walz
Beacon Hill resident Jay Livingstone is running to fill the legislative seat being vacated by state Representative Martha “Marty” Walz.
Livingstone, an employment discrimination and criminal defense attorney and adjunct professor at Northeastern Law School, announced Wednesday he will enter the Democratic primary for the 8th Suffolk District.
The district encompasses Back Bay, parts of Beacon Hill, West End, and portions of Cambridge.
“For years, I’ve had the opportunity to engage with residents of each of this district’s neighborhoods and worked side-by-side with some of the most committed community leaders in the area,” Livingstone said in a statement. “I’m excited to take this step to provide the independent progressive leadership the residents of this district deserve.”
Fellow Beacon Hill resident Nils Tracy has also announced his plans to run as a Democrat for the seat.
Livingstone has led voter outreach and organizing efforts for the campaigns of US Senator Elizabeth Warren; Governor Deval Patrick; Mac D’Alessandro, who ran against US Representative Stephen Lynch in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts’ 9th Congressional seat; and Suzanne Lee, who ran for Boston City Council in 2011.
He is also a leadership member of Boston’s Ward 5 Democratic Committee, a board member of the Beacon Hill Civic Association, and is clerk of its Zoning and Licensing Committee.
“Jay Livingstone will run a responsive, independent-minded, people-focused campaign,” Frances Burke, Livingstone’s campaign chair, said in a statement. “He is highlighting inclusiveness, sensible economic policy with accountability, and gender equity. It is an honor for me to chair Jay Livingstone’s campaign to be our next State Representative.”
Since opening a campaign account Wednesday morning, Livingstone has deposited over $10,000 in contributions, according to a statement announcing his campaign.
Livingstone was raised in North Attleborough and graduated from the University of Connecticut and George Washington University Law School.
He has previously served as an assistant attorney general in the US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and as an assistant district attorney for the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office.
Walz, who was elected in 2005, plans to resign her seat in mid-February to take a position as president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts.
E-mail Kaiser at Johanna.yourtown@gmail.com. For more news about your city, town, neighborhood, or campus, visit boston.com’s Your Town homepage.
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