Candidate Q&A No. 1: Professional experience

Neighborhood View, with input from local organizations, sent questions to the three candidates hoping to succeed Jason Lewis as Malden’s state senator in the Fifth Middlesex district. Before the Sept. 1 election, we will publish each candidate’s answers, one question at a time, presented in rotating order by last name. Biographies submitted by the candidates and links to all of the answers appear at the bottom of each article.

Question: How do your past or current professional experiences qualify you to serve the 5th Middlesex in the Massachusetts Senate?

Kate Lipper-Garabedian

As a former teacher, education attorney, and the mom of two school-aged boys in the Melrose Public Schools, I bring a unique perspective to government. Investing in public education and supporting students and educators isn’t theoretical to me — I’ve taught in the classroom and advocated for students as an attorney, and my sons learn in our public schools every day. My life journey has taken me from teaching underserved students in an Atlanta classroom to Harvard Law School, the Melrose City Council, and, for the past six years, the Massachusetts House of Representatives. This experience has prepared me to pick up the mantle from Senator Jason Lewis and, from day one, provide principled, informed, and committed representation for our communities.

We are at a defining moment in our nation’s history, one that demands bold, effective leadership in a state that serves as a beacon of hope for a fractured nation. I come to this moment as someone who believes passionately in the mandate of government to make life better for individuals and families, someone who listens carefully and works hard for her constituents, and someone whose professional experience in all three branches of government and in state and local elected office ensures that she will get things done for the 5^th Middlesex District. I will stand firm in upholding the basic pillars of our democracy and protecting reproductive freedom, our immigrant neighbors, our LGBTQ+ community, and healthcare access. I will champion laws and investments that address our affordability challenges, support our schools and protect our kids, honor our veterans and older adults, and maintain our climate resiliency and environmental stewardship efforts.

Carey McDonald

I’m running because our communities need leaders who understand the urgency of the challenges we face, and have the courage to take on the problems on Beacon Hill holding us back. As a three-term Malden City Councillor At Large and a nonprofit executive, I have a track record of getting things done. 

As a City Councillor, I’ve worked hard to deliver on my campaign promises. I’ve built strong relationships with my colleagues, even those who I disagree with, to find common ground where possible, and stick to my values even for the tough votes. I’ve successfully sponsored creation of the Malden Community Electricity program, which has saved residents millions of dollars on their utility bills by using more clean energy. As City Council Finance chair, I know we need more urgency from Beacon Hill to fund our local schools and public services. I’ll be a tireless advocate to get our communities the resources we need. 

I have extensive professional experience with large-scale system management and change. My day job is as Executive Vice President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, a national progressive faith-based organization. I oversee an organization of 240 staff, and a $50 million operating budget. I previously worked for the state legislature and the Department of Education in Ohio where I grew up, and specialized in school funding issues. 

This question asked about professional qualifications, but personal experience matters, too. I care about affordability and equity because I grew up in a multi-racial family that moved around and didn’t have much money. I started out working minimum wage jobs, and used a first-time homebuyer program. The pathways that helped my family get to the middle class are disappearing for our kids, and we have to make sure those opportunities are there for the next generation.

Ryan O’Malley

As a City Councillor in Malden, I have helped moved Malden forward in the areas of climate action (eg Shade Tree Inventory, Stormwater Management, Climate Action Plan, multi-model transit improvements, Malden River Greenway), affordability (eg Electrical Aggregation/Community Electricity), and government accountability (eg lead pipe removal, transparency through compliance with Open Meeting and Public Records Laws). I also helped elect a progressive majority of the Malden City Council and have previously endorsed and helped elect all of my opponents.

More importantly, I was a Park Ranger in the Middlesex Fells and Breakheart Reservations, and served as an ex-officio Trustee of the Malden Public Library where I helped uncover violations of State law and mismanagement. Whether it is our parks, schools, libraries, or public finances, I am committed to being a dedicated steward of the public good. I am also a non-profit executive at Malden Arts where I have served with inspirational board members who have transformed Malden’s creative art ecosystem through public art and placemaking.

Professionally, I am an attorney working to bring high quality affordable housing to communities across the nation. This experience provides a solid foundation to bring transformative change to Beacon Hill.

Biographies submitted by the candidates

Kate Lipper-Garabedian

Kate Lipper-Garabedian serves as State Representative for the 32nd Middlesex District and chairs the House Committee on Ethics. Since her election in 2020, she has led on legislation including nursing home and assisted living reforms, tax relief for renters, campaign funds for childcare expenses, and technology and data privacy protections and has been a vocal advocate for increased early education and childcare funding and universal K-12 school meals. A former seventh-grade public school teacher and education attorney, Kate served as Chief Legal Counsel to the Massachusetts Secretary of Education after graduating from Harvard Law School and clerking on the First Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals. In a legislature of 200 Representatives and Senators, she is one of only 11 members who are mothers raising children at the same time they serve. Kate has secured more than $5.25 million in earmarks for her District in the last two fiscal years alone. Kate lives in Melrose and is the proud mother of two school-aged boys.

Campaign website: Kate Lipper-Garabedian for State Senate

Carey McDonald

As a working parent, a nonprofit executive, and a three-term Malden city councillor at large, I understand our challenges and I’m committed to getting things done. I bring my professional experience as an executive of a national nonprofit in budgeting, management, policy, and governance, strategic planning, crisis response and legal issues. I have a BA in Economics from Pomona College, and a MS in Organizational (Nonprofit) Leadership from Wheelock College. 

My spouse Sarah and I moved to Malden to raise our kids, and are proud parents of two Malden Public Schools students. I first ran for office in 2021 because I wanted to invest in building a better future for them.  I’ve been very proud to make progress on funding our library and schools, advancing climate action and environmental justice, lowering utility bills, investing in basic infrastructure like removing lead pipes and paving roads, making our sidewalks safer, and advancing racial equity and language access. 

I’ve worked hard to build relationships across our community and beyond. These relationships are the foundation of my campaign, because they are the people I am fighting for. I’m very proud to be endorsed by unions representing teachers, firefighters, human services workers and grocery store employees, environmental and progressive groups like Clean Water Action, Mystic Valley Progressives and the Working Families Party, and Malden Mayor Gary Christenson.

In our spare time (!) our family likes to travel and go camping. We enjoy music, concerts and dance parties together. During the winter, I volunteer with the Malden Warming Center.

My family traces its roots back to the founding of communities on the North Shore, including Malden and Winchester. My commitment is to work across the 5th Middlesex District to create communities where everyone can thrive.

Campaign website: Carey McDonald for State Senate

Ryan O’Malley

Ryan is the product of Malden Public Schools (K-12). He is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and Boston College Law School. He is a former Park Ranger in the Middlesex Fells and Breakheart Reservation. He currently works as an affordable housing attorney. He likes trees.

Campaign website: Ryan O’Malley for State Senate

Learn how to take part in the election

The Malden City Clerk’s office provides 2026 Election Information about polling places, how to vote, early voting and more.

Watch the Malden candidate forums

• Malden Safe Streets forum, July 20, 2026
• Malden Candidate Forum Tech and AI Presented by Reconnect Malden & Schools Beyond Screens, July 22, 2026
• Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition Forum, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026
• Online Candidate Forum hosted by Chinese Culture Connection, Aug. 19, via Zoom

Maldonians ask, candidates answer

1. Professional experience
2. Transportation equity, submitted by Malden Safe Streets
3. AI in schools, submitted by Reconnect Malden
4. Housing costs, submitted by a new community group, via Malden Safe Streets
5. Structural budget issues for cities and towns
6. Economic development
7. Climate resilience action and advocacy
8. Auditing the Legislature
9. Closing statement