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Steven Leibowitz
Steven Leibowitz (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives to represent the 1st Barnstable District. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Leibowitz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 1st Barnstable District
Incumbent Timothy Whelan defeated Steven Leibowitz in the general election for Massachusetts House of Representatives 1st Barnstable District on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Timothy Whelan (R) | 58.5 | 13,558 |
 | Steven Leibowitz (D)  | 41.5 | 9,610 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 8 | ||
| Total votes: 23,176 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 1st Barnstable District
Steven Leibowitz defeated Josh Mason in the Democratic primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 1st Barnstable District on September 4, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steven Leibowitz | 55.9 | 2,517 |
 | Josh Mason | 44.1 | 1,983 | |
| Total votes: 4,500 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 1st Barnstable District
Incumbent Timothy Whelan advanced from the Republican primary for Massachusetts House of Representatives 1st Barnstable District on September 4, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Timothy Whelan | 100.0 | 3,740 |
| Total votes: 3,740 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Steven Leibowitz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Leibowitz's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Stronger Environment action Better Funding for Education Better Coordination of Treatment Service and Options for Addiction
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
On Cape Cod, the environment is an issue that cuts across party lines. Everyone is aware how dependent we are on a clean, safe environment. For example, every town that has voted to take a position on toxic herbicide spraying along utility rights of way has said, we want you to use alternative methods. Eversource will not listen, so I think a strong effort legislatively can address this. A recent study estimated that in about 25 years, over $4 billion in residential property on the coasts in Massachusetts are at risk. I campaign on the idea that we can no longer take baby steps and hope it is enough, because clearly it is not.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
My political hero was Robert Kennedy. His ability to transcend personal anguish to understand the hurt and pain of poverty, hunger and injustice are what I aspire to.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
There was a documentary done about a year ago by Anthony Bourdain called Wasted, about food waste in our country. The topic itself is really important, from addressing hunger and sustainability. but also remembering we don't have Bourdain's voice out there now, that life can be so fleeting.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Openness Engagement with voters Making sure you don't become part of the inside bubble and lose sight of what really matters to people
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I am passionate about what I want to do. When I talk about issues, at that moment, whatever the issue becomes the most important thing I can think of. I know what it is like to have to scrape to get ahead, from my own upbringing, and even as an adult, I have met numerous challenges.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To use government to reflect the best instincts of people to make lives better. It should reflect the best of us.
What legacy would you like to leave?
That my daughters feels like the work I do was meant to make the world a better place.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
I vaguely recall my mother watching tv at the JFK assassination, asking her why she was crying and her saying, he was a great man. I was 6.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
It was a summer city of Boston job doing maintenance in Boston parks.
What happened on your most awkward date?
My date propositioned me and I was so shy, I declined.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Probably July 4th because we have some great parades, lots of people and fun, and it means a summer bbq
What is your favorite book? Why?
Bruce Springsteen's autobiography, Born to Run. His music has been so important to me for the past 40 years. I could write a long essay just on that.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
President Jed Bartlett of West Wing
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
The stove. I like cooking!
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Ian Hunter - Cleveland Rocks
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
I lost my dad to gun violence when I was a teen, which lead to a huge slide in my life. Mostly through will, friends and my brothers, I got through that, but really it took a long time.
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
Right now the MA Senate is more progressive than the House
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
Not necessarily. If we get to a point where someone interested in serving must come from a cookie cutter background, we have failed.
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Climate change and global warming.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
Ideally, all branches should work with open communications and free discussion of ideas. Anyone should be able to propose legislation, have it heard and voted on.
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Of course. Coalition building and finding common ground is essential to pass good legislation for all.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
I think it should be an independent commission, outside of the legislature.
If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
Joint Committee on Education House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
I would like to ascent within my committee work, before thinking of anything higher.
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
I am both friend and fan of current State Senator Jamie Eldridge
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
Not likely, I'm focused only on this race.
Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
Sure, I was in a forum on opioid addiction and there were family members who are trying to help other family members. One mother was talking about how difficult it is to find out what resources there are, to get help. She said other families would have the same challenges and end up forming their own ad hoc groups, trying to share what they know and have learned. We have to do better than that for people.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
- State legislative elections, 2018
- Massachusetts House of Representatives elections, 2018
- Massachusetts House of Representatives
External links
Footnotes
