For Landry, No Hurdle Too Big In Race For State House

The hurdles back then were evenly spaced. Today, Anne Landry attempts to be 10 places at once, hoping to convince 40,000 residents she's worth their support.

Landry is running for office, unlike her years as a student at Old Rochester when running meant the 300 hurdles for the Bulldogs' outdoor track team and legendary coach Joao Rodrigues. In the late summer of 2018, running doesn't mean clearing eight hurdles on a track, it's all about the race to replace Jim Dwyer as State Representative in the 30th Middlesex District, which includes Woburn and Reading. Landry is one of four democratic candidates in the Sept. 4 primary, the only woman and the only Reading resident.

"I was on the track team," said Landry of her efforts to clear hurdles in high school. "I ran the 300 meter hurdles ... I was never particularly good but I enjoyed the personal challenge and the camaraderie. I tended to shine more in the classroom than on the athletic field it's fair to say. But I enjoyed it."

Landry was born in Providence. Her mother died of breast cancer when she was 4 and after her father remarried they moved to Mattapoisett, a town east of New Bedford on Buzzards Bay. In high school Landry ran outdoor track, but drama and academics took up most of her time. In her senior year she was president of the drama club and if you think that experience would help her deal with Beacon Hill politics no one would argue.

After graduating from high school in 2002 she earned a degree in political science and spanish from the University of Richmond. Landry then spent a year in Spain as a Fulbright Scholar before returning to earn her law degree from Emory. She's been a Reading Town meeting member and on the Finance Committee since 2014 and she has volunteered at Woburn's Justice For Our Neighbors immigration legal services clinic. These days she hops on the commuter rail and heads to the state house where she works as Chief Counsel to Senator Will Brownsberger.

But don't give all the credit for Landry's political rise to her resume. Save some for her New Balance shoes. It's again about running, or more accurately, walking. Landry has been walking around Reading and Woburn, knocking on doors and introducing herself. Through her phone she's counted steps, and a recent release about her Listening Tour included a reference to the 18,130 steps she took that day, a number that those who wear a Fitbit will be impressed by. She adds to her totals by running the occasional road race, not to mention chasing her active 2-year-old son Michael.

The steps she's taking to win the Sept. 4 primary may be impressive, but how about passing out your personal cell number to every resident of the two towns. Would you do that?

"I've had some people call but it's not overwhelming," said Landry. "I want to let people know that I'm available and accessible. I try to respond promptly to people and I don't think they expect that. I once got one call that was somewhat critical and I responded within minutes and the person was shocked that I had taken the time to respond and we ended up having a very nice conversation. I had the advantage of knowing my boss, Senator Brownsberger, had done this as well and he had a positive experience and feedback doing it."

Her number is 774-31 ... no, not even a grizzled journalist will put it in a story. But still, she says the roughly 10 calls a day she gets, with the expected increase on primary night, is worth it.

"It allows me to connect with people and be responsive in a way that I really seek to be as a state representative. That's the whole goal, to serve the community and help people navigate the system, which can seem so inaccessible and confusing. But with a decade of experience in public service and having worked in the state legislature both in policy and constituent services I have the skill set and the drive to help people navigate our bureaucracy and help them find answers and solutions to their problems. And part of it is taking phone calls from people and finding out what their concerns are and helping them to address them."

Election day is closing in and at this point Landry is focused on getting people out to vote. State primaries generally don't have a great turnout, throw in the day after Labor Day, so making sure supporters get to the voting booth has become priority No. 1.

But it's just another hurdle for Landry.

"It's certainly been challenging and hard, but it has been fun and it's been really rewarding getting to meet so many members of the community. I feel extremely connected to our community as a result of doing this. That in and of itself has been gratifying. I made so many new friends in this process."

Friends she hopes will help her celebrate crossing the finish line a winner on Sept. 4.

Photo by Emily H. Johnson