Voters Elect Reeves, Civic Association Candidates

An unofficial count of "number one" votes cast in Tuesday's election suggests that four progressives endorsed by the Cambridge Civic Association (CCA) and liberal Mayor Kenneth E. Reeves '72 will retain control of the Cambridge City Council.

Despite disappointing voter turnout in traditional CCA strongholds, yesterday's preliminary count shows that Reeves and CCA-endorsed candidates received about half of the 19,150 votes cast, an increase of two percent over the 1993 election.

"I'm gone from gloom and doom to pleasant surprise," said CCA President Geneva T. Malenfant.

Conservative James J. McSweeney Jr. is presently in ninth place with 1,243 votes, and a 42 vote lead over school committee member and CCA-endorsed candidate Henrietta A. Davis.

But since CCA supporters tend to vote for an entire slate of progressives, many feel the transfer of votes will catapult Davis into the seat held by retiring Councillor Jonathan S. Myers.

"I think the countouts will make Davis leapfrog over McSweeney," said former CCA President R. Philip Dowds.

Reeves, Councillor Francis H. Duehay '55 and Councillor Anthony D. Galluccio each are assured a seat on the council, as the candidates exceeded a "quota" of 1,884 votes.

Cambridge's proportional voting system takes votes from candidates who have exceeded the quota and transfers them to the next preferred candidate on the ballot.

Votes are also transferred from candidates whose low total of number one votes gives them no chance of election.

Reeves led all candidates with 2,261 number one votes. Duehay received 2,078 votes and Galluccio received 2,033.

All votes in excess of the 1,884-vote quota will be transferred.

Transfers from Reeves and Duehay will likely benefit other CCA-endorsed candidates, including Councillor Kathleen L. Born, who placed fifth with 1,716 votes, Councillor Katherine Triantafillou, who placed eighth with 1,389 votes and Davis.

John McGuire, a Reeves campaign volunteer, predicted that these transfers would not help McSweeney, because he "does not reflect the attitude of Reeves or Duehay by any measure."

Galluccio's transfer votes will probably help McSweeney and the incumbent conservative candidates, including Councillor Sheila T. Russell, Councillor Michael A. Sullivan and Councillor Timothy J. Toomey Jr.

Russell is in fourth place with 1,774 votes, Sullivan is in fifth place with 1,691 votes and Toomey is sixth with 1,607 votes.

"Out of the surpluses, Galluccio will feed McSweeney and Duehay will feed Davis," said former Cambridge Mayor Alice K. Wolf. "I don't see McSweeney picking up much from Reeves."

The election was seen as a crucial one for the CCA, which observers say has historically gained much of its support from tenants in rent-controlled apartments.

Rent control was abolished by statewide referendum last November, and many felt the CCA's clout vanished with it.

"The progressive vote turned out to be a strong one and it was predicted that it would not be," Duehay said. "We were worried about losing the ninth seat, but it looks like we will not. We did stronger than we expected."

Dowels said that the CCA has increased its support among longtime residents and attracted younger voters who recently have moved to the city.

"The traditional families which used to support [conservatives] and locally born candidates are leaving," Dowds said. "The mix of folks taking their place is, by education and background and values, slowly but surely turning toward CCA types."

Conservative Jonathan D. Spampinato, who is in 12th place with 461 votes, said the conservative Alliance for Change was unable to induce supporters to vote its entire slate.

"The CCA is doing well again because their voters voted the entire slate," he said. "Alliance voters did not."

Among Harvard students, Duehay was the runaway winner with 28 number one votes, in two precincts. Reeves, his next closest competitor, received 12 number one votes.

Fewer than 15 percent of Harvard undergraduates took to the polls, in turnout which was "a record low," according to Election Commissioner Wayne A. "Rusty" Drugan.

The official results will not be announced until Saturday evening. The new city councilors will take office the first week in January and then will choose one councillor to serve as mayor for the next two years

John McGuire, a Reeves campaign volunteer, predicted that these transfers would not help McSweeney, because he "does not reflect the attitude of Reeves or Duehay by any measure."

Galluccio's transfer votes will probably help McSweeney and the incumbent conservative candidates, including Councillor Sheila T. Russell, Councillor Michael A. Sullivan and Councillor Timothy J. Toomey Jr.

Russell is in fourth place with 1,774 votes, Sullivan is in fifth place with 1,691 votes and Toomey is sixth with 1,607 votes.

"Out of the surpluses, Galluccio will feed McSweeney and Duehay will feed Davis," said former Cambridge Mayor Alice K. Wolf. "I don't see McSweeney picking up much from Reeves."

The election was seen as a crucial one for the CCA, which observers say has historically gained much of its support from tenants in rent-controlled apartments.

Rent control was abolished by statewide referendum last November, and many felt the CCA's clout vanished with it.

"The progressive vote turned out to be a strong one and it was predicted that it would not be," Duehay said. "We were worried about losing the ninth seat, but it looks like we will not. We did stronger than we expected."

Dowels said that the CCA has increased its support among longtime residents and attracted younger voters who recently have moved to the city.

"The traditional families which used to support [conservatives] and locally born candidates are leaving," Dowds said. "The mix of folks taking their place is, by education and background and values, slowly but surely turning toward CCA types."

Conservative Jonathan D. Spampinato, who is in 12th place with 461 votes, said the conservative Alliance for Change was unable to induce supporters to vote its entire slate.

"The CCA is doing well again because their voters voted the entire slate," he said. "Alliance voters did not."

Among Harvard students, Duehay was the runaway winner with 28 number one votes, in two precincts. Reeves, his next closest competitor, received 12 number one votes.

Fewer than 15 percent of Harvard undergraduates took to the polls, in turnout which was "a record low," according to Election Commissioner Wayne A. "Rusty" Drugan.

The official results will not be announced until Saturday evening. The new city councilors will take office the first week in January and then will choose one councillor to serve as mayor for the next two years