Tom Shack Running For Congress In MA 4th District

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Tom Shack, a former state prosecutor and comptroller, has pulled nomination papers, indicating he will enter the race to be the next U.S. Rep. in the 4th Congressional District. The seat became open after Rep. Joe Kennedy, D, announced his run against Sen. Edward Markey for U.S. Senate.

Shack, a Democrat from Brookline, said he is running to help mend a divided nation, defend the constitution and rule of a law and return accountability, transparency and trust to the leadership.

"Despite having served communities throughout Massachusetts for many years, those that know me best know that I have never aspired to run for public office. However, as each day becomes even more turbulent than the last, I can no longer stand aside," he said. "We need leaders committed to protecting our freedoms, our constitution, and our rule of law through transparent and truly representative government for all."

Shack said he will advocate for core Democratic values in his platform. That platform included universal healthcare, pro-choice protections, transparency in government, advocationg for renewable energy and affordable access to higher education.

Shack's father served as an adviser to both John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. Shack himself worked for Sen. Tom Daschle, then returned to Massachusetts for law school, raised a family and became a community leader.

As the former Comptroller of Massachusetts, Shack led the development of the system that put all the Commonwealth's expenditures online in real time. He served as a senior prosecutor and as the chief operating and financial officer for a district attorney's office.

Shack received his J.D. from New England School of Law in Boston, worked for the New England Journal on Criminal and Civil Confinement. He also holds a degree in Political Science and an M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship and Management from The American University in Washington, D.C.

Shack is one of eight Democratic candidates vying for Kennedy's seat. The other candidates are Jake Auchincloss and Becky Walker Grossman, both of Newton and David Cavell, Alan Khazei, Ihssane Leckey, Jesse Mermell and Ben Sigel, all from Brookline. So far, no Republicans have entered the race.

The 4th District spans from Brookline to Fall River and also includes Foxborough, Attleboro, North Attleboro, Rehoboth, Mansfield, Seekonk, Norton, Plainville and Wrentham. The primary election is Sept. 1.