Congressional Candidate Elizabeth Childs Visits Seekonk

The Seekonk Republicans were recently paid a visit by Congressional candidate Elizabeth Childs, who is vying for Barney Frank’s vacated seat representing Massachusetts’s 4th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Childs is originally from Ohio, but has lived in Brookline for more than 20 years and has experience as a physician. She served as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health from 2003, served on the National Advisory Mental Health Council from 2006 and was appointed to the state’s Board of Early Education and Care in 2010. Childs has also served on her local school committee since 2009.

“I know what it takes to make programs work for people,” she said.

Childs said she decided to run for Congress last summer and decided to get involved in politics while working as a physician when she realized she could not address the problems she saw without becoming politically active.

“I love serving my community," she said. "That’s what this is all about."

Childs focused on three key issues during her Seekonk appearance: federal debt, reducing the regulations on small businesses, and fixing education.

Childs said the key to closing the debt gap is tax reform, particularly in closing loopholes, as well as reforming Medicare and social security.

“You can’t be a compassionate nation if you’re not a fiscally responsible nation,” Childs said.

Childs also said that Representative Barney Frank had been “lying” to the district when he claimed that the debt gap could be closed by cutting funding to the military and defense.

Childs said that much of the problem in the education system does not come from issues with teachers, but with their union’s bureaucracy. She also stated that it is important for local schools to maintain control versus federal mandates.

“I can’t think of any other place in the world where a little girl from a small farming community can run for Congress. It’s all due to education,” Childs said.

Childs also spoke about the need for Democrats and Republicans to work together rather than focus on their differences.

“I really object to Elizabeth Warren’s divisive rhetoric,” she said.

Childs will likely be facing Sean Bielat in a Republican primary with the Democratic nominee for the seat being Herb Robison.