A Different Kind of Cambridge Mayor

He is neither gone nor forgotten. Former Cambridge Mayor Alfred E. Vellucci plans to have a lot to say on the City Council floor these next two years, even if he won't be up in front holding the gavel.

Entering his 23rd year as a city councilor, having served the past four as mayor, Vellucci on Monday night tossed himself out of a chance to stay in the limelight by voting for Councilor Thomas W. Danehy, the council's most conservative member, for mayor. But as far as Vellucci is concerned, nothing much will change.

"Everything stays the same, as far as I see it. Four liberals, four independents and Alfred E. Vellucci," Vellucci says. He adds that he made no deals with anyone before he most unexpectedly cast that fifth crucial vote that gave Danehy his job.

Two years ago Vellucci was elected mayor by the council's liberals--who were assured by Vellucci that as mayor with the "swing vote," he would support them on a number of issues. Since Monday, many have been wondering whether or not he will now desert them.

Vellucci, however, will remain true to himself. He says he does not plan to change his support of the liberals' positions in favor of rent control and opposing condominium conversion and vacancy decontrol, a procedure that would allow landlords to raise rents when an apartment is vacated.

"I can do a hell of a lot as a councilor and I am very effective," Vellucci says confidently, exhibiting a little of the bravado that for a number of years has made him gold newspaper copy and a colorful mayor.

As Vellucci tells it, he fact that he is no longer mayor is largely the fault of the liberals who apparently failed to include him in their plans for selecting mayor.

"On January 1, without five members in their coalition, they should have been ready and astute enough to understand that there was a whole lot at stake," Vellucci says. "They blew it; they should have elected me on the first ballot," he adds.

The liberals instead ignored Vellucci, so he called Danehy on Monday, to ask if he still had four votes from the other Independents. "Danehy rushed out, made contact with everyone and when he called me back, I told him he could have mine as well," Vellucci says.

So, because Vellucci sticks to his word--as liberal Councilor Saundra Graham acknowledges--Vellucci did not change his vote even when the liberals swung to him, and thereby ensured Danehy's victory.

"I would never change my vote because in 1968 I received five votes, and before that gavel came down, Councilor Goldberg changed his vote and left me with four. My whole family was there and everything. I just felt like a big idiot," Vellucci recalls. To have changed his vote Monday would have done Danehy a bad turn, he insists.

As for the future, Vellucci says he will dedicate himself to public service. "No more jobs; I'm tired of working," Vellucci states emphatically. He has been working since he was eight years old, when he first began delivering newspapers for the Boston Post, and now he says he's looking forward to spending his time debating for the people.

Vellucci also sees a bright future for Danehy: "I think he'll be a good mayor. If he comes in and votes against rent control, as he's been doing for years, who cares--there will still be eight votes against him.