MEET
ALISON
A lifelong Newton resident dedicated to environmental leadership and community service
Personal
Background
My name is Alison Leary and I am running for State Representative in the 10th Middlesex District serving neighborhoods in Waltham, Newton and Watertown. I am one of 5 children, the daughter of a Marine Corp Lt. Colonel and an immigrant mom. I am currently serving as the Ward 1 City Councilor-at-Large in my hometown of Newton, Massachusetts. First elected in November 2013, I first ran for office on environmental because I was very worried about climate change and I had young children and I worried for their future.
Over the years I built a strong record which has resulted in Newton being a leader in environmental sustainability driven by effective local policies and strong community partnerships.
As a candidate for State Representative, I still care deeply about our environment and the existential threat of climate change which is upon us. But over the years I have grown into other important issues including the housing crisis, the cost of healthcare and the cost of other basic needs that are becoming out of reach for too many people. I don't see the State Legislature doing enough to address the dramatic cost of living nor are they listening to the voters. There is a reason there are nine questions on the ballot in November.
Prior to getting elected to the Newton City Council, I served on the Board of the Newton League of Women Voters and as the chair of the environmental committee. I served on the LWVN Board and as vice president of the Newton Conservators (Newton's Land Bank organization founded in 1961) and as an active member of Green Newton. I also served two years on the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Sierra Club.
In my professional life, I have worked as a program manager for community-based programs that support integrated living for families experiencing homelessness and with adults with mental health and cognitive impairments. I also enjoyed working as an environmental educator with Mass Audubon and as the Associate Director and lobbyist for the Community Preservation Coalition, a project of the Trust for Public Land. In this role, I worked with communities and elected officials to adopt the Community Preservation Act (CPA) as a tool to preserve open space, protect and preserve historic resources, and build and preserve affordable housing.
Please read on to see where I stand on the important issues most of us deeply care about. This includes the cost of housing and healthcare and the lack of transparency and accountability at the State House.
Warm regards,
Alison
Public Service
A proven track record of leadership on the Newton City Council
City Council Leadership
Alison is a five-term Councilor-at-Large from Ward 1, first elected in 2013. She is currently the vice chair of the Land Use Committee and serves on the Public Facilities Committee.
Village Center Zoning Reform
As a key member of Newton's Zoning & Planning Committee, Alison has been a driving force behind the Village Center Overlay District, a once-in-70-years zoning overhaul that allows more housing near transit and helps Newton meet its MBTA Communities Act obligations.
Climate-Ready Infrastructure
As chair of Newton’s Public Facilities Committee, Alison led the adoption of an electrification ordinance that prohibits fossil fuel hookups in nearly all new buildings and major renovations. She also pushed for a more robust stormwater ordinance and nature-based solutions to help Newton handle heavier rain events and reduce runoff into the Charles River.
Single-Use Plastics Reduction
Building on the plastic bag ban, Alison has supported Newton's Sustainable Packaging & Plastics Reduction Ordinance and its 2023 expansion to phase out foam takeout containers, black plastic, and most single-use water bottles, moving the city toward a zero-waste future.
Housing & Homelessness Advocate
Off the council floor, Alison worked as a program manager for a nonprofit that provides shelter and permanent housing for extremely low-income families and individuals experiencing homelessness, giving her a front-line perspective on housing policy and social services.