The Last Time Around

When Cambridge voters went to the polls two years ago for a municipal election it was for what Councilor Alfred E. Velluci called "a hot election." The liberals, backed by the Cambridge Civic Association, were calling for the firing of the city manager and police chief.

In response to the threat the conservatives formed an Independent slate, presenting a fairly unified front and encouraging voters to tick off their candidates down the line.

When the dust cleared, the tactic seemed to have worked: a heavy turnout of 26,000 voters produced a 5-man Independent majority and also came within 88 votes of scuttling liberal councilor Francis H. Duehay.

Voters split their ticket, however, when they voted for the school committee, electing a solid liberal majority and endorsing the performance of Alflorance Cheatham, the newly appointed superintendent of schools.

But the Independent solidarity of the council proved illusory as two conservatives, Walter J. Sullivan and Leanord J. Russell, agreed to side with the liberals on the issue of a new city manager in exchange for their election as mayor and vice-mayor.