McNamara Elected Mayor With Some CCA Support

Thomas M. McNamara, florist and long-time councilor, was elected mayor of Cambridge yesterday, with the support of some of the C.C.A.-endorsed members of the City Council. Al Vellucci was chosen vice-mayor, and John J. Curry '19 re-appointed city manager.

The new mayor made the grade on the first ballot after C.C.A.-endorsed Joseph A. DeGuglielmo '29 made a speech changing from abstention to a vote for McNamara. At this point, there were four abstentions, two votes for McNamara, two vote for ex-Mayor Edward J. Sullivan, and one vote for Councilor Charles A. Watson.

DeGuglielmo stated that a deadlock had arisen and that the C.C.A. had not been able to come up with a strong contender. "I do not want to keep the citizens of Cambridge in a dither by being party to any such deadlock," he said. He added that Cambridge had been ridiculed for its lengthy mayorality elections.

After DeGuglielmo, C.C.A. members Edward M. Crane '38 and freshman councilor Mrs. Cornelia K. Wheeler also changed their votes, giving McNamara, a 20-year veteran on the Council, the required five-vote margin.

Has Voted Against Sullivan

McNamara has a record of voting against former Mayor Sullivan on questions such as the controversial School Committee appointments. During the recent wage negotiations with city employees, labor representatives repeatedly expressed their "confidence in Tom McNamara."

Vellucci was swept into the office of vice-mayor by an 8-1 vote, as Crane, DeGuglielmo, Sullivan, and Mrs. Wheeler changed their votes from abstention.

On the vote for city manager, Sullivan first abstained before changing his vote and making the choice of Curry unanimous. Two years ago, Councilor John D. Lynch, a Sullivan supporter, predicted that "one of his (Sullivan's) boys" would replace Curry as manager.

After being sworn in, Curry asked the Council for its cooperation during his two-year term. He said that "operation on many fronts simultaneously" would henceforth be necessary, particularly for an effective Urban Renewal program.