At the age of 28, (mostly) lifelong Newton resident Alex Jablon is a candidate for State Representative for the 11th Middlesex district, the seat currently held by Rep. Kay Kahn, who has announced she plans to retire at the end of this year. Currently, Jablon is an internal auditor at RTX Corporation (formerly known as Raytheon), where he has worked since graduating from Indiana University in 2018. Since last June, he has served on Newton’s Financial Audit Advisory Committee, appointed by then President of the City Council, Susan Albright.
When asked why his first run for political office is for State Representative, Jablon said he has long been interested in the Massachusetts state legislature, saying this political body is extremely important but often gets overlooked. He said that Massachusetts, despite great strengths, has issues to address, including in housing, education, transportation, and the climate. Jablon highlighted recent teacher strikes in the area as a sign that teachers are not paid sufficiently. He said Massachusetts is a great place to live but has many 21st-century problems that require 21st-century solutions.
Jablon grew up in Newton, attending Cabot Elementary School, Day Middle School, and Newton North High School, graduating in 2014. While running for the state legislature, Jablon is also working to complete an MBA at UNC Chapel Hill by the end of this year. Jablon is quite aware of his demanding 2024 schedule, balancing his run for the legislature with his job at RTX and MBA program. He feels that his recent education gives him added perspective.
When asked about his decision to seek public office, Jablon described his motivations. He said a class in ethics at Indiana University with former member of U.S. Congress Jill Long Thompson, a Democrat from Indiana, inspired his interest in public service. More recently, during the COVID period, he was surprised at the scope of poverty and hunger in Newton when he visited…