Harvard Senior Off and Running For School Board

While Larry DiCara '71 tries to earn a spot on the Boston City Council this fall, across the river in Cambridge his classmate Glenn Koocher will be running for a seat on the Cambridge School Board.

Koocher's 22 years in Cambridge have not been devoted to politics, but he has paid close attention to Cambridge school issues and claims to be at least as qualified for the Committee as most of those now on it.

In late July, when campaign papers must be filed, Koocher and two friends will start ringing doorbells, particularly in East Cambridge where he says he is strongest. Buttons and bumper stickers are already in circulation, and he plans to buy 50 half-minute ads on WCAS Radio.

Koocher's big issue in a six-point platform is increased drug and sex education in the schools. He is especially concerned that students aren't receiving enough information about venereal disease.

Obstacle Course

Koocher acknowledges that victory will not be easy, even if he earns the $2500 he needs for a sound campaign. Besides being young, Koocher is Jewish and a Harvard student, and Jewish Harvard graduates have never had things easy in Cambridge politics. Koocher expects 16 opponents for the six seats and labeled four of them as strong incumbents.

Yet he will not solicit contributions; he will earn all the money himself. "If that sounds like a crack at DiCara, it's a crack at DiCara," Koocher said.