Walsh Trial Will Affect Future Councils

There was one empty seat at the City Council meeting Monday night. Absent was the third-term councillor who once spoke for big business and developers' rights; silent was the leading voice of opposition to rent control.

Embarrassment to the city and the loss of one of few property-owners' advocates were the primary concerns for Cantabrigians in the six days after Councillor William H. Walsh's indictment on 59 counts of bank fraud and conspiracy.

But the indictment and yesterday's arrest of the influential official may mark more than the political demise of an Independent icon. Walsh, whether innocent or guilty, has tarnished the reputation of the Independent camp, a close-knit block on the council that presents itself as the standard-bearer of traditional conservative politics and values.

Though Walsh legally retains his seat on the council, observers say that he is effectively no longer a city official.

The Independents will try to distance themselves politically from Walsh, while the left-of-center Cambridge Civic Association (CCA) will try to use the incident to its political advantage, observers predict.

"The CCA would seize on anything to further their own interests. That's life and that's politics," said Al W. LaRosa, who served as a councillor Leonard J. Russell.

Glenn S. Koocher '71, the host of a local political talk show, predicted that the CCA will use the indictment to stigmatize the remaining Independent councillors, Sheila T. Russell and Walter J. Sullivan, who have publicly expressed loyalty to Walsh.

"There has never been a CCA councillor indicted and [the CCA] will try and make the most of this," Koocher said.

Sullivan and Russell refused to comment on the Walsh affair, saying only that it is "unfortunate."

Immediately after the indictment was issued, the CCA distanced itself and its five endorsed councillors from the incident. "The CCA has been opposing Bill Walsh and his style of politics for years," said CCA Executive Director David R. Leslie '69 last Thursday.

"What we want to make clear is how very far apart we are from Councillor Walsh," he added, saying the CCA-backed politicians can "stand tall and untarred."

Even some of the groups which comprised the bedrock of Walsh's constituency have backed away from the embattled councillor, trying to avoid the cloud of corruption hanging over their advocate.

"Councillor Walsh has been the most vocal anti-rent control councillor for several years and for that we are grateful," said Denise A. Jillson, co-chair of the Small Property Owners' Association.

However, Jillson added that the group has avoided aligning itself too closely with Walsh because "we knew there was an investigation going on and we did not want to go down with him."

But both Independent and CCA supporters say that Walsh, and the two-year probe into his financial dealings, have already brought down at least one city official. That casualty is former City Clerk Joseph P. Connarton, who was an investor in a Walsh condominium project.

"[When] the city clerk gets involved to that extent [in Walsh's dealings], it raises serious questions about impartiality toward that city councillor," Duehay said. "[That employee] may inadvertently be over influenced by that councillor."

Last spring, the city council voted in a special meeting not to renew Connarton's contract with the city.

While Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves '72 said at the time that the primary reason for the clerk's dismissal was to improve the efficiency of the office, Duehay said that Connarton's private dealings with Walsh were considered. "Connarton made a mistake by investing with one city councillor," he said.

And Independent supporters say the CCA will use the Walsh scandal as an excuse to purge City Hall of Independent sympathizers. They allege that CCA councillors are likely to portray the Connarton dismissal as part of a move to clean up City Hall.

"At the time, [firing Connarton because of conflict of interests] didn't play a role, but now they'll turn it around to their political advantage," said Independent James J. McSweeney, who ran for council in last year's election.

Though Duehay would not comment on whether Connarton's dismissal was part of an anti-corruption campaign, he did say that Connarton's financial ties to Walsh were "a factor" in the final vote.

But observers say that no matter how the CCA acts in the wake of Walsh's arrest, the Independents will have to create a new image for themselves. The group, which has been the minority on the council since 1989, is often perceived as the epitome of old boy, back-door politics.

"Billy's political career is through," Koocher said. "Bill Walsh was part of a new age of issue-oriented articulation in council. But there will be a revised new age now."

The new Independents include Jane F. Sullivan, a close friend of Walsh, LaRosa and McSweeney, all seasoned political players. McSweeney and LaRosa say they had planned to run in the next election even before Walsh's indictment, but that now it won't be Independent politics-as-usual.

"The new Independent will be a person to come in, run for office and stay there for a short period of time," said McSweeney, who believes being a councillor is not a "lifetime job." "It will be a person who will not utilize their position to get ahead or increase their business."

However, both political camps admit the final impact of Walsh's case won't be clear until he is tried.