8th District Candidates Square Off

Appearing together for the first time, 11 candidates for the Congressional seat of retiring Speaker of the House of Representatives Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill yesterday faced off in a forum on social and economic policy.

Although the debate provided an occasion for verbal sparring among frontrunners, the candidates found much common ground. Each stressed the importance of lowering the $150 billion trade deficit and making American industry more competitive in world markets.

Many condemned protectionist measures, although State Sen. George Bachrach (D-Watertown) urged that the government require guarantees from third-world nations to buy American goods in return for economic favor.

Nine Democratic hopefuls participated, including acknowledged frontrunner Joseph P. Kennedy II, and, in the order they spoke, State Representatives William Galvin (D-Brighton), Thomas Vallely (D-Back Bay) and Thomas Gallagher (D-Allston); Bachrach; James Roosevelt; James Spiegel; Carla Johnston; and former Boston mayoral candidate Melvin H. King. The Republicans taking part were Clark Abt and Mildred Fay Jefferson, a new entrant in the race.

The discussion, sponsored by Suffolk University's Management School, required each candidate to read a three-minute prepared statement, thenfield a question from a fellow candidate in atwo-minute response.

Moderator Arlene M. Stamm, a vice president ofthe League of Women Voters, governed the debate,in front of about 200 people. The forum was laterbroadcast to the public.

Jefferson, a physician, summarized herconservative stand by saying, "An enlightenedcapitalism is the only hope of the downtrodden,the disposessed, the disadvantaged, and the leftout."

Cambridge activist Johnston demonstrated her"Stretch-A-Buck" campaign theme with a rubberdollar bill. She said the Gramm-Rudman law'srequired budget cuts could be made in "the fat,not the flesh" of the government's spendingprograms.

Kennedy, who has been criticized by othercandidates for his failure to clarify hispositions on several key issues, drew laughsduring the questioning period when Vallely askedhim whether he believed a tax increase wasnecessary to balance the budget. At the end of histwo-minute reply period, the candidate ruefullyadmitted, "Oh gee, I guess I didn't get a chanceto answer the question.