GOP vows fight for Khan's seat By Bernie Smith/ Staff Writer Wednesday, August 11, 2004

As the hype and hoopla of the Democratic National Convention begins to fade, some election races closer to home are beginning to pick up steam.

A Republican newcomer, Greer Tan Swiston, is challenging incumbent Democrat state Rep. Kay Khan, for the 11th Middlesex District, which is wholly contained within Newton.

And while Republicans traditionally fare poorly in the Garden City, some observers note that this fall election is a little different. That's because Swinston's presence on the ticket is part of a statewide effort by Gov. Mitt Romney and state Republicans to break the Democrats' supermajority on Beacon Hill

"We think Greer is a fantastic candidate," said Tim O'Brien, the executive director of the Massachusetts Republican Party. "We pick candidates that run the gamut. And she's a progressive Republican in a progressive district."

O'Brien says Swiston will even receive some financial help in from the GOP. "It's no secret that Newton is not the most Republican district in the state," O'Brien said. "But the party is actively raising money, and this will be a place where we'll look to spend some of those resources. We think she's a good candidate.

If lawn signs are any indication, Swiston already has some early support across the city. The candidate's signs began popping up late last month - a possible violation of city election rules which her campaign blames on overenthusiastic supporters.

And Swiston says she ready to work hard to unseat her incumbent challenger.

"I think it's been [a] very enjoyable [campaign] so far," Swiston said. "I'm the one who has the battle and has to take the battle to her. I want people to see they have a choice."

Swiston, the daughter of immigrants who spent the last decade and a half in the high-tech and information technology industries, said transportation concerns are one of the most important issues facing Newton residents this year.

"I've looked into it, and I found we have no representation on the transportation committee. In Newton's case, that's probably a pretty important one for us to be on," Swiston said, noting that with the Massachusetts Turnpike, Route 128, commuter rail line and the MBTA Green line all running through the city, Newton may be impacted by transportation decisions more than most districts.

But Khan said she doesn't understand the nature of the criticism. While she's not on the transportation committee, Khan said transportation issues have been a main focus in her work on Beacon Hill. She notes a couple of her recent achievements, including her work to clean up the Waban T station, and adding 23 more parking spaces to the facility.

"I've also been working very closely with [Congressman] Barney Frank and the MBTA to make handicap-accessible stations in Newton.," Khan said, noting that work has already begun at Auburndale station, and plans in the works for West Newton and Newtonville stations as well.

In addition, Khan notes she been instrumental in encouraging the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority to resurrect the sound-barrier program, placing sound-barriers along the highway in the Newton area, as well as installing traffic lights in Newton Corner and working closely with bicycle and pedestrian task forces.

Swiston has also attacked Khan more directly, claiming in a press release that Khan and a small group of other legislatures tried to bury the "safe havens" legislation, a law that establishes places where new parents can anonymously leave their seven-day-old or younger newborns without facing legal consequences.

"I am not sure what they were afraid of or what they were trying to hide," the release quotes Swiston as saying. "I'm just glad the legislators finally recognized the importance of the bill. I had little doubt that upon review it would be clear why we need this law."

"A lot of people weren't aware that we don't have [a safe havens law]," Swiston said. "We're not used to being last on these sort of things."

But Khan said Swiston is mischaracterizing her actions.

"I was not trying to thwart its passage, as I have been accused," Khan said. "I'm a pediatric nurse, but I believe there are valid arguments against [a safe havens law]."

Khan said there were already de facto safe havens at hospitals and adoption agencies for panicked mothers, but she said the new law may encourage abandonment.

"Massachusetts has been good at preventing abandonment. We should not turn our backs on the Department of Social Services," Khan said, noting that there could be some unforeseen consequences.

"Women who tend to drop their babies in strange places probably don't know about the safe havens law," Khan said. "Any money that would be used to advertise the new law would be taken away from the Department of Social Services," she said, noting that that money would be better spent on sex education in schools, programs which have been diminished in recent years.

With 12 weeks left before the election, both candidates say their campaigns are in full swing.

"I'm earmarking all the things I need to spend money on and trying to raise funds for that. I don't want to raise any more money than I'll need in this election," Swiston said, noting she expects the campaign to cost about $50,000.

"We've been able to keep up with the expenses that come with a campaign. We're still keeping things tight. I understand how to work frugally."

But will the GOP support be enough for Swiston to unseat a popular liberal in Newton?

Former state Sen. and BU journalism professor George Bachrach doesn't think so.

"Romney, in order to make a broader statement, has offered this long, but rather weak list of candidates," Bachrach said. "With someone like Kay Khan, whose done a wide range of things, has a fair amount of respect and support. It's going to be hard for Romney to field this slate of candidates and expect that just because he's backing it, to have any traction locally. My suspicious is he's going to get a rude awakening in the fall."

Khan said she expects her campaign to cost about $50,000 a well. In addition to one full-time staffer, she said she has about a dozen volunteers. Khan plans to hold a major fund-raiser on Sept. 20 in West Newton with Barney Frank to help kick off the final stretch of the campaign. Bernie Smith can be reached at besmith@cnc.com.