Candidate’s Baby Gives Birth to Controversy

Jane Swift, a candidate for lieutenant governor, gave birth to her first child Friday in what has pushed the issues of family and work to the fore in ways that rankle career women.

Swift didn’t leave the campaign trail until two days before giving birth to 7-pound, 6-ounce Elizabeth Ruth Hunt. Swift is expected to be in the hospital at least through the weekend, and may return to campaigning before the Nov. 3 election.

Her pregnancy was never a big issue in a race tied more to the top of the paired ticket, GOP governor’s candidate Paul Celluci. Still, the idea of Swift changing diapers in the Capitol didn’t sit well with some conservatives.

“You can have a career and children, but normally you cannot have them both at the same time without a trade-off. One or the other will suffer,” said Evelyn Reilly, executive director of the Christian Coalition of Massachusetts. “Children are only small for a few years, and there’s plenty of time for a career when the children are older.”

Springfield talk-show host Dan Yorke, who has supported Republican candidates, called Swift “selfish” for pursuing office while being pregnant.

Swift and her husband let Cellucci know they planned to continue trying for a baby when she signed on as his running mate in April. Soon afterward, she discovered she was pregnant, making her the first mom-to-be to run for statewide office in Massachusetts and one of the few anywhere.

Her Democratic opponent, Sen. Warren Tolman, who has three children of his own, has not made it an issue. Nor has Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate.

During the campaign, some people grilled her about plans for breast-feeding and day care. But she said her pregnancy was used more often as an icebreaker.

“If you’re going to play this game, particularly in Massachusetts, you better get a thick skin,” she had said. “Luckily, I’ve been growing mine thicker every day.”

Swift has said the question of whether women can combine work and family has long been settled.

For Swift and her husband, Charles Hunt, the challenge could be even be greater than for other working women, though. Her main home in North Adams is three hours away from the Statehouse. The former state senator has in the past had an apartment in Boston.

Campaign spokeswoman Shawn Feddeman said Swift will spend the two months following the election at home, but there are no announced plans on baby care if she should start work in January.

Suleyken Walker, executive director of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, said it is not fair that the parental spotlight focuses more on women.

“Don’t men have babies?” she said. “There are plenty of ways of accommodating a workplace to a nursing mother.”