Election 2018: Hugo Challenges Clark For MA's 5th District

An Arlington native and lifelong Massachusetts resident is looking to unseat five-year congresswoman Katherine Clark. John Hugo, a Woburn Republican who bills himself as a "working class candidate," says his grassroots campaign has come across many constituents who believe Clark is out of touch.

"The residents of the 5th Congressional District need a Congressman or woman that will represent the needs of the District and will uphold the Constitution," Hugo's campaign website states. "Clark has failed miserably in this regard."

Clark has represented the 5th Congressional District since getting the nod in a special election in 2013. Her district includes Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Framingham, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Natick, Sherborn, Stoneham, Sudbury, Wayland, Waltham, Watertown, Weston, Winchester and Woburn.

During her time in Congress, Clark has helped pass legislation designed to address the opioid crisis, expand educational access, strengthen health care programs for women and improve the quality of child care and early learning programs. She is also a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

She gained national attention in 2016 when she helped stage a sit-in on the House floor following the Pulse Nightclub shooting and called on Republicans to vote on gun safety measures.

In an email, Clark told Patch the most important issue facing the district is families' economic security.

"Throughout my career, I have worked to ensure that Massachusetts families have a fair shot at success," she wrote. "This includes access to a great public education, creation of good jobs, expansion of affordable, high quality child care and paid leave, ensuring equal pay for equal work, fighting Republican efforts to repeal health care coverage, and protecting Social Security and Medicare."

On his campaign website, Hugo outlines his 10-point platform, which includes supporting judges that will uphold the Second Amendment, providing medical intervention instead of incarceration for drug abusers, giving veterans preference in government jobs and limiting the scope of federal surveillance.

But his biggest focus: the national debt.

"I advocate a balanced budget amendment," Hugo told Patch in an email. "Twenty-one trillion is madness. So much could be accomplished with [the] billions we spend on the interest and managing the debt." He added that it is unfair to place the burden of debt on the next generation.

Above all, Hugo says it's time for a change, declaring, "We have to reform the way we do business in Washington."

Click here for Katherine Clark's candidate profile.

Click here for John Hugo's candidate profile.

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