City Council Candidate Hopes to Blend Liberalism, Conservatism

Jonathan Spampinato, the first new candidate to file papers in this year's city council race, take pride in the fact that he is not a traditional local activist.

Instead, the 27-years-old analyst with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue said he is working to build alliances between unlikely partners and move beyond the traditional definitions of liberal and conservative.

At his first fundraiser, held last week at the home of long-time Cambridge political activists Arthur and Geneva Malenfant, members of such divergent groups as the Cambridge Civic Association and the Alliance for Change mingled with leaders of the Republican City Committee and the Massachusetts Long Cabin Club, an organization representing gay Republicans.

"I'm hoping that we can continue this and expand this [coalition]," Spampinato said at the event.

Sporting a yellow bow tie, Spampinato shook his guests' hands and frequently spoke of the need to increase economic development within Cambridge, focusing particularly on expanding retail opportunities.

"I want to roll my sleeves up and get the city council paying attention to local issues," he said. "By and large, the majority of Cambridge voters see things the same way."

Spampinato said members of the current city council are out of touch with their constituents, focusing on issues tangential to municipal management.

"We've got a city council talking about sister cities," he said. "The people don't want to [hear] about peace commissions anymore."

Spampinato, who is openly gay, said his sexual preference will not be a defining characteristic in the race.

"I'm not running on that in the sense that I don't think I deserve any votes solely on that issue," he said.

And the candidate said, regardless of his sexual orientation, he is receiving support from one of the city's conservative Christian organizations.

"I've already had discussions with members of the Cambridge Christian Coalition who are supporting my campaign," he said. "Even the far right of our party has been fine."

At the fundraising event, which drew nearly 100 people, Lieutenant Gov. A. Paul Cellucci and State Sen. Brian Less (R-East Longmeadow), the Republican leader, lavished praise on Spampinato as a loyal republican and a hard worker.

"I don't think people look at parties as much anymore--they look at results," Lees said. "We're always looking for good people to run for public office--he's a guy who's always willing to help."

Spampinato said he raised "a couple thousand dollars" at the event, which helped him to increase his name recognition.

"There were definitely people in Cambridgeport who I hadn't met earlier who were very supportive," he said. "I was glad they actually came out to the kickoff and contributed to my campaign."

The candidate said he also discussed possible endorsements from various civic groups represented at the event. "I will be discussing it further with them," he said.

Mark P. Goshko '85, president of the Massachusetts Log Cabin Club, said his group has already informally endorsed Spampinato's candidacy and that a formal announcement should follow.

"We haven't formally done that, but I'm sure we will," he said. "I think Jon is going to be an attractive candidate to many people you wouldn't expect to gravitate toward a Republican."

Goshko, who called Spampinato "one of our most active members," praised the candidate for his combination of fiscal conservatism and social responsibility.

And Alan Steinert Jr. '58, a board member of the Alliance for Change, said his group is currently actively courting several candidates for municipal races.

"We're interested in all good young people or good old people," Steinert said.

But Ed Feinman, a member of the Republican City Committee, said Spampinato may have difficulties because he is a newcomer.

"I think it's very difficult to win your first time out, as Cambridge history has shown," Feinman said.

And Spampinato acknowledged his needs to meet a great deal of voters in the next six months in order to succeed.

"I want to hit every door in Cambridgeport in the fall," he said. "Those are the people that are talking about a lot of the issues."