Council Candidates Struggle to Find Constituents, Differences

With Mayor Francis H. Duehay '55 and Shiela T. Russell set to depart from City Council this fall, the two soon-to-be vacant spots are making for much competition within the Cambridge community.

Though twenty-four candidates have signed up to seek the council's nine spots, they are having trouble differentiating themselves in a year with few divisive issues.

"There is definitely a larger field of candidates than you normally get," said long-time council observer Robert Winters, who is running for a council seat. "There are a few people who are not particularly credible, and there are people who may draw [no more than] a few hundred votes."

Candidates are campaigning by trying to set themselves apart from the pack.

Current City Councillors Henrietta T. Davis and Kathleen Born both said the most important issues in the election will likely be affordable housing, good schools and traffic control.

"I'm defining myself as someone who has three terms of experience," Born said. I am also someone who has raised four children in Cambridge. "I'm trying to run a platform of experience and professionalism. I have a solid record in each of those areas."

Davis said that in an election with so many candidates, having a personal slant can be difficult.

"In this kind of an election, its hard to stand out with 27 candidates," Davis said. "I'm not a flashy candidate. I look at these things as complex and taking a lot of work. My theme is let's keep Cambridge a great place to live. We are under siege from these different forces."

Still, incumbent candidates are careful to not become overconfident.

"I never take anything for granted," City Councillor Michael A. Sullivan said earlier this summer. "Election Day is 365 days a year for me. There are a number of people who can challenge for a spot. Anyone who works at it has a legitimate chance."

He added that education will be his key issue.

According to Winters, demographic shifts could also influence the election's outcome, since the end of rent control has changed the profile of the typical Cambridge voter.

"The city has a better education level and a higher income. [And] you have to appeal to the person who was born and raised in Cambridge," Winters said. "People don't have a sense of what their political base is."

Two candidates, at least, appear to be targeting non-traditional voters: MIT senior Erik Snowberg, who wants the support of student voters, and Cantabrigian James Braude.

"People feel that they have very little ability to affect the outcomes," said Braude, explaining the decline in voter participation. To draw in voters, Braude is advocating an office of constituent services.

Perhaps the way to win is to offer voter-friendly services, according to Winters.

"The Cambridge City Council doesn't vote on the death penalty, and their opinions on abortion are of little consequence," he said. "Who people will choose comes down to smaller items that make the city tick."