Presenting the City Council Candidates for 1985

When the city's roughly 40,000 registered voters head to the polls Tuesday, they will be faced with 22 City Council candidates (listed below in alphabetical order).

Under Cambridge's city manager form of government, nine members are elected to the council and receive a salary of $18,129 per year. The council is responsible for setting policy direction, hiring the city's chief executive officer and overseeing an annual budget in the neighborhood of $170 million. Though a largely ceremonial position, Cambridge's mayor is selected from among the nine councilors and controls his own budget of more than $245,000.

Lewis Armistead, Jr.--34, attorney, former chair of Cambridge Democratic City Committee, former assistant district attorney for Suffolk County, former aide to Speaker of the House Thomas P.O'Neill Jr.

Armistead, an Independent challenger propose a comprehensive study and redefinition of the city's housing policies; supports changes in rent control to protect low-income and elderly tenants; wants to develop greater cooperation between the police department and every neighborhood.

Francis Budryk--43, liquor store owner, president of the Cambridge Street Business Team Association, former president of the East Cambridge Planning Team, chairman for Cambridge's 350th birthday parade, board member, Cambridge Economic Opportunity Commission.

The East Cambridge resident who is an Independent says he's in favor decontrolling the city's housing stock, restoring property rights to homeowners, condominium conversion, and making local universities pay a $500 head tax for non-resident students.

Elio Centrella--40, hairstylist, active in boy scouts and little league baseball; member of the Italian Heritage Committee. Centrella, an Independent, did not respond to Crimson inquiries.(?)

Daniel J. Clinton--47, lifelong Cambridge resident, assistant superintendent of buildings for Middlesex County; 12 years as an Independent on city council, one school committee term.

Clinton says his most important accomplishment is chairmanship of city council's cable television committee; he also wants a sensible zoning pattern for the city to make it livable; and will work toward resolving traffic problems as well as reform the city's current rent control laws.

Thomas W. Danehy--56, pharmacist, served nine terms on city council, Independent mayor in 1978-79, chairman of Ward 11 Democratic Committee.

A lifelong native of North Cambridge, Danehy says he discovered that the Arthur D. Little research firm was testing nerve gas agents in his neighborhood; he wants to reform rent control laws to permit owners to occupy their units; and will encourage economic development through, the creation of more blue collar jobs.

Vincent Lawrence Dixon--33, free lance journalist, taught at home by parents, the only Republican running.

Dixon emphasizes "Common Sense for a Change" and a practical moderate agenda; also a municipal environmental health policy, more efficient transit service; cites "the need for a partnership for jobs and economic development between business, higher education, government, and neighborhoods."

Francis H. Duehay '55--52, public official, current mayor endorsed by the Cambridge Civic Association (CCA) who has served seven terms on the city council and four terms on the school committee; former administrator, Harard Graduate School of Education.

Duehay supports the establishment of a comprehensive plan for private and public partnerships to create new housing, education, and employment opportunities for Cambridge residents; also proposes an accelerated capital improvements program to deal with the city's aging streets, sewage, water treatment and solid waste systems.

Saundra K. Graham--44, in the General Assembly, Graham is a state representative, chair of the Committee on Federal Financial Assistance, seven term city councilor endorsed by the CCA.

A resident of Riverside, Graham helped establish a civilian police review board, city affirmative action office, rehabilitation of Cambridge Housing Authority apartments; if reelected, she says she would like to improve the status of women and ensure economic justice for them; and to soften the impact of federal budget cuts on grants to cities.

Alfred W. LaRosa--42, researcher for the state legislature; became a city councilor to fill the unexpired term of the late Leonard J. Russell in July.

LaRosa, an East Cambridge resident and Independent, emphasizes neighborhood stability, restoration of voters' faith in government, and making "people's lives a little less confusing when dealing with city hall."

Geneva Malenfant--47, not employed; endorsed by the Coalition '85; former vice president of Riverside-Cambridgeport Community Corporation; Democratic City Committee; Planning Board member; Cambridge Historical Commission; former CCA vice president.

Malenfant says she wants to reform the city's housing policy to protect homeowners' rights; she advocates an "end to the polarization that exists on the city council;" and hopes to provide solutions to perennnial traffic and parking problems.

Kenneth E. Reeves '72--36, attorney for United Auto Workers (UAW); founding member of Cambridge Rent Control Coalition; former president of Black Harvard Alumni; board member, Philips Brooks House.

A resident of the Agassiz neighborhood, Reeves says he advocates strong enforcement of the city's rent control and anti-condominium conversion laws; committed to stabilizing

Hugh Adams Russell '64--42, architect and gay activist; City Democratic Committee; 10-year member Board of Zoning Appeals; Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District working committee.

Endorsed by the Coalition '85, Russell wants to improve the training of city employees; resolve the hybrid condominium problem by encouraging home ownership; introduce computer systems to all municipal agencies; and increase awareness of the AIDS problem.

Sheila T. Russell--50, not employed, lifelong resident of Cambridge, Independent and City Democratic Committee.

Wife of the late mayor, Russell says she advocates a need-based test for rent control tenants and favors a modified form of inclusionary zoning. The first-time candidate wants to stop chemical dumping and nerve gas testing in Cambridge.

Renae Scott--34, administrator for a non-profit, foundation; chair, Graham and Parks School steering committee; board member, Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House.

A resident of Cambridgeport endorsed by the CCA, Scott says this election will decide whether developers or citizens control city government; supports existing rent control laws; opposes university expansion into neighborhoods.

George W. Spartichino--lawyer and former state representative who lives in East Cambridge.

David E. Sullivan--33, lawyer, legal counsel to Massachusetts Secretary of State; three term city councilor backed by the CCA; coorganizer of Alliance of Cambridge Tenants.

Sullivan is the author of the ordinance halting condominium conversion of rent-controlled apartments; a proponent of inclusionary zoning which would link new real estate development to low income housing; strong tenant protections; sponsored 1981 institutional expansion ordinance.

Walter J. Sullivan--62, assistant clerk of Middlesex County courts; served 13 continuous terms on city council, two-time mayor, former state representative 1951-52.

The lifelong Cambridge resident who is an Independent said his goal is "to assure the efficient as well as economic delivery of services to all city residents; was instrumental in drafting five year contract for city manager; says he wants to promote development of the where appropriate.

B. Karen K. Swaim--42, owner of Porter Square frame shop for 13 years; president of North Cambridge Business Association; founder, Friends of Massachusetts Ave.; steering committee of Cambridge Condominium Network.

Swaim, who is one of three Coalition '85 candidates, says she would like the city to adopt "a carefully designed, strictly controlled growth plan" and resolve the hybrid condominium problem;

Michael H. Turk--37, teacher/writer, rent control activist, spokesman for the Harvard Tenants Union and the Cambridge Rent Control Coalition.

A Mid-Cambridge tenant, Turk says there is an overemphasis upon commercial development and a lack of interest in building new affordable housing in the city; he wants to strengthen rent control.

William J. Walsh--40, attorney, Independent challenger, former president of Young Cambridge Democrats, City Democratic Committee, director of WCEA radio station.

Walsh says his first act as a city councilor would be to let anyone who lives in their own home the right to own their residence; says that rent control costs the city at least $1 million each year to implement and between $5-10 million in lost taxes.

Alice K. Wolf--51, first-term CCA city councilor, four term member of school committee, Democratic state committee member.

The West Cambridge resident sponsored the city's first human rights ordinance; spearheaded the effort to make Cambridge a sanctuary for refugees; supports downzoning and workable linkage proposals; wants to expand city revenue sources without raising property taxes.

Alfred E. Vellucci--70, politician, lifelong Cambridge resident; 15-term Independent incumbent; served two terms on school committee; three times mayor; former employee of state tax department; active in the Dante Aligheri Society.

The East Cambridge native says more housing needs to be created in the city before developers purchase all the available land; wants the city to address the housing shortage by raising construction money through bond sales; favors inclusionary zoning.