Mayors Endorse Dem. Slate

Four former Cambridge mayors yesterday joined Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves '72 in endorsing Gov. Bill Clinton and Sen. Al Gore '69 in their race for president.

Also endorsing the Democratic ticket was City Councillor Sheila Russell, wife of the late Mayor Lenny Russell.

Mayors from two opposing political groups--the Independents and the Cambridge Civic Association (CCA)--all aligned themselves with the Clinton campaign.

Kenneth A. Bamberger '90, who is Clinton's Cambridge campaign director, said that yesterday's assembly of mayors--Barbara Ackermann, Francis H. Duehay '55, Walter J. Sullivan and Alice K. Wolf--showed Clinton's strength in Cambridge.

"We have an organization in every ward and in every neighborhood...to make sure everyone comes to vote on November 3," Bamberger said.

Bamberger said that yesterday's congregation was a reflection of the primary strategy of the Clinton campaign: to garner widespread support.

"Each of the mayors comes from a certain neighborhood and is tied in to people who live there," he said.

Ackermann, who was endorsed by the CCA, said yesterday's gathering was indicative of community spirit.

"I think that it's typical of Cambridge to get together on important things," she said. "We are all aware of how people are suffering."

Former Mayor Duehay said that the primary purpose of yesterday's gathering was to "influence voter turnout in favor of Clinton-Gore."

Both he and Sullivan, an independent, said this year's campaign was reaching more conservative politicians than previous Democratic tickets.

Ackermann predicted high voter turnout for Tuesday's election. "Cambridge is very politically aware," she said. "People [here] are not neutral."