Democrats Prepare For State Party Convention

Tomorrow's Democratic state convention is hardly expected to raise as many eyebrows as its Republican counterpart last month, but some candidates for the six state offices may offer a few surprises on this day at the races.

The top of the ticket, securely held by incumbent Governor Michael S. Dukakis, is already determined. But because Dukakis may seek higher office, the Lieutenant Governor's race is of special interest this year.

Evelyn Murphy, a former State Secretary of Economic affairs, and State Sen. Gerard D'Amico (D-Worcester) are the two major contenders for this nomination. They both apparently have sufficient support to gain at least the 15 percent of delegates' votes that will put their names on the September 16 primary ticket.

Their partisans will be prominent in the 1 p.m. "gold rush" today, when campaign workers are allowed to race each other to the best locations for posters in Springfield's Civic Center. D'Amico is reportedly spending $17,000 on the convention. Murphy, whose campaign is better financed, will probably spend more to woo delegates.

D'Amico's campaign literature portrays him as a rumpled, no-nonsense liberal opposing a "yuppie" candidate with overly close ties to business interests.

Murphy, who is splitting the liberals and feminists with her opponent, boasts a list of donors from the Dukakis camp and the politically moderate business sector, including Joan T. Bok '51, the president of Harvard's Board of Overseers. Bok is also the chairman of New England Electric Systems.

The two Democrats oppose a Republican long-shot candidate, Nicholas Nikitas.

The remaining four state offices are all currently held by Democrats. A large exodus of officials from public life this year has left the offices of Attorney General and State Auditor without incumbent candidates.

The field for Auditor includes several Democratic hopefuls and one of the best-known Republican candidates.

State Rep. A. Joseph DeNucci (D-Newton), the favored candidate for the post, joined the past week's rush to declare candidacy before the convention. David Williams, his press secretary, said that most voters "don't know a hell of a lot" about the $60,000-a-year office. "There hasn't been a real race for Auditor in 46 years," he said. The successor to departing Auditor, John Finnegan, will serve as a "watchdog" over government programs' budgets.

Boston City Councilors Charles Yancey and Maura Hennigan, as well as State Rep. Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge), will challenge DeNucci tomorrow. Yancey, the only Black candidate to seek either state party's nomination, is a former director of the state Communities and Development office.

Former Senatorial candiate James Shannon is the leader in the race to succeed Attorney General Francis X. Bellotti, who surprised many this spring when he said he would not seek reelection.

Following the withdrawal from the race by Middlesex Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, Shannon's only Democratic opponent is former Assistant Attorney General for Environmental Affairs Jo Ann Shotwell, who is considered by many to be a longshot.

Strong Republican challenges also confront incumbent State Treasurer Robert Crane, who will serve as convention chairman, and Secretary of State Michael J. Connolly. Their opponents are Republicans Joyce Hampers and Deborah Cochran respectively.