Silber Eyes Candidacy; Draws Mixed Response

State legislators yesterday expressed mixed reactions to increasing indications that Boston University President John R. Silber will run for governor next fall, but several said the controversial figure would be sure to stir up the campaign.

Silber created a campaign committee Tuesday which will permit him to start raising money for a prospective run for the state's highest office. If he decides to run, Silber will probably seek the Democratic nomination for governor, according to several state legislators.

"He has been somewhat of a dictator at BU," said State Sen. Salvatore R. Albano (D-Somerville). "His ultra-right wing, shape-up-or-ship-out philosophy may be one that he came up with after much thought, but it doesn't work in a political arena where there has to be more give and take."

But other legislators said a Silber governorship would provide an infusion of energy into a political arena long dominated by liberal Democrats.

State Rep. Robert A. Antonioni (D-Leominster) said Silber would "shake things up a bit" and "encourage some healthy debate" in Massachusetts.

"He'd be taken seriously because of his demonstrated interest in the state at large," said State Rep. Robert A. Antonioni (D-Leominster), who said that Silber would run a "tough" campaign.

During his 18-year tenure at BU, Silber and his outspoken conservative views have constantly drawn controversy, both on campus and around the nation.

Last March, Silber proposed a plan for BU to run the beleaguered Chelsea school system. The plan, which represents the first time that a private educational institution has governed a public school system, has drawn criticism from teachers and Chelsea residents.

Silber became involved in another controversy two years ago when he proposed a plan to restrict overnight guests in BU dormitories.

BU officials yesterday refused to comment on Silber's potential candidacy for governor.