FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
March 17, 2004

Contact: Doug Bush 617-308-7906

Greer Tan Swiston to announce her candidacy for State Representative
Sunday, March 28th, 6 PM at 414 Waltham Street, West Newton

Greer Tan Swiston, long-time resident of Newton, is stepping forward to serve her community. She sees the need for fiscal responsibility, administrative accountability and new vision on Beacon Hill and is ready to be part of the solution. On Sunday March 28th at 6 PM, Swiston will announce her candidacy to represent Newton's 11th, Middlesex district at 414 Waltham Street, West Newton. Swiston seeks to replace incumbent Kay Khan.

"Our neighbors need to send a new, more effective representative to Beacon Hill," Swiston said. "What we have now in the Legislature is not working. The Massachusetts House of Representatives was once one of the world's great deliberative bodies. Decades of one party rule has resulted in a one sided legislature. The time for reform is now."

Swiston points to Scott Brown's recent Mar 2nd victory in neighboring districts, as proof that the momentum is on the side of the reformers. "Rep. Khan's friends did everything they could to rig this Senate election against Scott Brown. Yet, despite the attempts at insider game playing, they did not get their man into office and the people did! I feel confident that Newton will do the same."

Swiston is the second of three daughters. Her parents chose to raise their children in Massachusetts because of the reputation of the public education system and the proximity to some of the top Universities in the country. It was because of education that Swiston first demonstrated her experience with being fiscally responsible. Her parents struggled to pay the tuition, room and board for two daughters simultaneously attending one of the nation's most expensive colleges. However, it was never a question of whether they could attend. If they were admitted, then the family would figure out a way to pay the bill. In return, Swiston and her older sister helped pay the College tuition bill of their youngest sister, juggling student loan payments and living expenses at the same time. It was a part of their "Thank you" to their parents.

Greer Tan Swiston graduated from MIT trained as a software engineer. She has worked in the High Tech industry in places like NASA's Jet Propulsion Labs in Pasadena, CA, dot com start-ups along the 128 circle as well as corporations like Fidelity Investments and Merrill Lynch in downtown Boston and Cambridge. In her 15+ years in the computer industry, she rose steadily through the ranks as a respected technologist and moved into senior management with experience in project and budget management.

"Greer is a 'community builder,'" says Eileen Sandberg, a neighbor and hostess of the March 28th event. "I'm a lifelong Democrat, and in many ways I probably represent the type of voter who will appreciate what Greer can bring to Newton's representation. She is able to motivate people, build consensus and work toward the goals of the entire community. She is a person of great integrity."

Swiston has also had a history of stepping up to the plate whenever there was a need.
When West Newton was missing a Daisy Scout leader, Swiston found a co-leader, got trained and formed a troop. When MIT needed someone to lead its Chinese Alumni, a chairperson for alumni weekend, and a president for the class of '87, Swiston took on those responsibilities. She was key in building CAMIT into a National alumni club and helped make the Class of 87's 10th & 15th reunions among the highest attended reunions at MIT. Swiston served as President of the Boston Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers in the early 90s.
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Whether it is visiting and speaking at High Schools, coaching soccer or t-ball, organizing a charity event to make food for shelters or providing professional guidance to women on AFDC, Swiston has always been ready to contribute where she could and where she is needed. She is needed in the State House.

"We all work hard to solve the problems facing our families, our jobs and our community activities," Swiston said. "I've talked with so many Newton neighbors and we wonder just whose interests they are serving up on Beacon Hill, because it certainly doesn't feel like ours. It is time for a common sense citizen approach and a fresh start."