Newton — From her small, fourth-floor State House office, Ruth Balser was getting ready for another debate.
But unlike last year, when the Newton Democrat engaged in nearly three dozen debates in her unsuccessful bid to become the city’s first female mayor, this time she is taking on the Speaker of the House, Robert DeLeo. DeLeo is backing legalizing slot machines in Massachusetts — a move he believes will add permanent jobs.
Balser, a clinical psychologist, opposes the idea. The devices are designed to addict users, she said, and there are studies available that show the affects of gambling addiction on a human brain are similar to the impact of becoming addicted to cocaine.
“Slot machines are particularly toxic,” said Balser, who criticizes some of the games used by the state Lottery for similar reasons. “They’re called the ‘crack cocaine of gambling,’ and that’s not just hyperbole.”
But her renewed opposition, she noted, comes from her first lost race of her political career.
“Of course, my joke to the pro-gambling people here was help me become mayor of Newton and you’ll lose an anti-casino vote,” Balser said, sitting down for in her first in-depth interview since the election.
“But instead, I’m back and they’re not happy.”
Balser, 60, devoted more than a year to her race for the city’s executive office. For much of that time, she was considered the front-runner, even finishing first in a five-way runoff. She lost by fewer than 500 votes to Setti Warren, the former John Kerry aide who was virtually unknown when she had tossed her hat into the ring.
“At the end of the day, the city got to know me and Setti Warren, and I think they like both of us a lot. That’s how I view it,” she said.
After that campaign, she said she had time to reflect, while taking advantage of a legislative recess to spend time with family and friends, plus get caught up on films she missed while on the campaign trail, she said.
She was disappointed by the results, but was grateful for the support, she said.
“When you tried to say, ‘Was I more than disappointed?’ No,” said Balser, responding to a reporter’s question.
“I mean, the voters have a funny way of making their own decisions, and I love that, and I respect it. ... for everyone’s complaining and cynicism, we are very blessed [to have] this system and I never forget it.”
The Queens, N.Y., native has spent her adult life in Newton, working as a registered psychologist who served as an alderman from 1988 to 1996. She is now in her sixth term representing the 12th Middlesex District, a district includes a little less than half of Newton.
On the day Balser met with the TAB, she was planning on attending a Democratic caucus to review the upcoming legislative session, joining colleagues with the House’s Ways and Means Committee to review Gov. Deval Patrick’s fiscal 2011 state budget, and planned on casting a “yes” vote on a bill that would eliminate junk food from public schools.
(The junk food measure passed the House last week.)
Her fellow legislator, state Rep. Kay Khan, said Balser has already switched back to her role in the House.
“I’m full of confidence that she’ll just pick up where she left off and continue to work hard for the city,” said Khan.
Balser has already been traveling around the state as she does her work as a legislator, particularly on issues related to gambling.
“Obviously the campaign was very intense, there was a tremendous amount of work and commitment. Now there’s more time to actually focus on legislative priorities and get more deeply involved,” said Khan.
Balser said she learned a lot about the city she helps represent on Beacon Hill, noting she’d “been focused on state issues, and I needed to do my homework on the municipal issues.”
While campaigning for mayor during an economic recession, she heard from a lot of residents who wanted to be proud of their hometown.
“It’s an interesting phenomenon. It’s one of the things I used to say on the campaign trail: ‘Where on the planet is life as good as it is in Newton, Massachusetts?’” said Balser. “It’s something important not to forget. We’re so fortunate in so many ways. And yet people are angry.”
She thinks that some of that same voter anger hurt her last November, just as it did against Attorney General Martha Coakley last month in her loss to state Sen. Scott Brown for U.S. Sentate and in then-Sen. Hillary Clinton’s loss to then-Sen. Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic primary.
In addition to a backlash against candidates seen as being insiders, the results reflect the challenges for women candidates, even those with well-established records, to break into higher office, she said.
“People who supported me valued my experience, thought I’d make a great rep, and a great mayor ... on the other hand, there are people who think that having a record of achievement translates to you being an insider. That’s the way things are right now. I think Martha Coakley ran into that,” said Balser.
Of her race with Warren, who hadn’t held high elective office until becoming mayor, Balser said, “certainly, the perception was there were two strong candidates ... at the end of the day, (there was) that very slight difference that had something new to the scene.”
She said she and Warren would often talk about family during the campaign — they shared the stage at 34 community forums during the race, so there was time to talk — and often relied on fellow mayoral candidate and former Alderman Ken Parker to keep count of the public assemblies they attended. (Parker later endorsed Balser in the race.)
“We sort of schmoozed. It always very friendly,” said Balser.
Since the race, she’s refocused on her legislative priorities, noting she plans to seek re-election this fall. Aside from her opposition to slots, she’s moving ahead on work to protect open space in the state, a piece of environmental legislation she’s worked on in one form or another since taking office as state representative.
Last year, she got nine bills passed through the House, so she’s hopeful for this session. She said she grew from the experience — even some of those who voted against her for mayor wanted to keep her working for the city.
“In a funny way, it was affirmative,” said Balser of her election loss. “I heard from a lot of people who didn’t vote for me that [they] wanted me to stay in the Legislature.”
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