Capuano Wins Seat In 8th

BOSTON--Michael E. Capuano (D), the mayor of Somerville, was decisively elected to represent the 8th Congressional District in Congress last night, promising to use his mandate for pragmatic and effective government in Washington.

Capuano replaces Joseph P. Kennedy II (D), who has served since 1987.

With 82 percent of precincts reporting, Capuano had a commanding lead, with 81 percent of the vote. His nearest challenger, Republican J. Phillip Hyde, had 12 percent. Two other candidates, Andrea Morell of the Socialist Workers Party, and Anthony Schinella, an independent, split the remaining 7 percent.

"Well, it might not have been as suspenseful as a month and a half ago," Capuano said at his victory rally in Charlestown last night. "But the results are better."

Hyde phoned Capuano just after 8:30 p.m. and conceded.

Just after 9:15 p.m., Capuano strode to the podium to the strains of "Taking Care of Business," his wife and two sons in tow.

"I've asked people across this district and I'm going to ask you, my closest friends. Never let me forget who I am," he said.

Capuano said he will fight for the elderly and, referring to his two sons, Michael, 17, and Joseph, 14, standing just

behind him, he said education would be his top priority.

He then ruminated on the history of his seat.

"The thought of sitting in the same seat as Joe Kennedy, Tip O'Neill, JFK, and James Michael Curley...," he said, his voice trailing.

"Bring on Newt!" shouted a supporter.

Capuano rejoined, "He's ice cream."

While many of his primary challengers promoted broad spending plans and radical change to government programs in the face of Republican governance, Capuano said he tried to strike a balance between political necessity and pragmatism.

His first focus when he arrives on Capitol Hill: "I'm going to learn how to work within the house establishment," he told The Crimson in an interview. "I wasn't elected to destroy the establishment. I'd like to try and change it."

Although he calls himself a progressive Democrat, many of his positions are centrist.

He believes, for instance, in preserving current levels of defense spending.

On education, the issue many 8th District voters said is most important to them, Capuano said he does not support radical education reform, preferring to take the time to study how the government can be effective in education policies.

And he says he's even willing to debate the legitimacy of federal government intrusion into education itself.

"That's the biggest part of the rock," he says. "To convince other Congressmen that it should be a federal issue."

Election Day

As voters trickled to the polls on the coldest day of the year yesterday, challenger Hyde reflected on the campaign.

Although he was considered a far long-shot, Hyde said he began the campaign by recognizing the votes he could acquire.

"Seventy-seven percent of the Democrats didn't vote for Mike [in the primary.] And a lot of them were pretty disappointed...In 1996, I lost [the Republican primary] by 8,000 more votes than he won by."

Hyde, who makes his living as a consultant on corporate efficiency, said he entered the campaign fully expecting to do well.

"I won't concede until the race is over," he said yesterday.

Hyde said he expected strong support from the district's black residents and has spent the better part of the week campaigning in Dorchester and Roxbury.

Capuano spent the morning on the stump, visiting every ward in the district.

After a quick lunch with his wife, he campaigned some more.

He did not, his advisors said, take his assured victory for granted.

Capuano faced his toughest challenge of the season in the Democratic primary Sept. 15.

He won by a seven-point margin, with more than 50 percent of his native Somerville turning out in his favor.

The representative-elect is a graduate of Dartmouth College. He received a law degree from Boston College Law School.

The mayor of Somerville for more than nine years, before that, Capuano served the city as an alderman.

Schinella is a free-lance writer who champions his more than 15 years of local political activism. Hyde and he remained in close contact throughout the campaign.

Morell, a railroad worker and union organizer, ran as a socialist, hoping to capitalize on Cambridge's alleged political radicalism.

Such diversity works for the 8th. The district is one of the state's most diverse. Its fabric includes poorer sections of Boston and Cantabrigian mansions. Capuano's primary win reflects his success in transforming his city into a haven for young professionals.

There was at least one sign last night that Capuano's pledge to always tell the whole truth may cause him trouble in Washington.

After exhorting supporters to "whack me on the back of the head" if "I forget who I am," a man in the crowd exhorted Capuano's wife, Barbara, to do so.

"She whacks me a little lower," Capuano said, as nervous laughter rippled through the crowd.CrimsonMelissa K. CrockerA GOOD BET: Somerville Mayor Michael E. Capuano was heavily favored to beat Repblican challenger J. Phillip Hyde III.

behind him, he said education would be his top priority.

He then ruminated on the history of his seat.

"The thought of sitting in the same seat as Joe Kennedy, Tip O'Neill, JFK, and James Michael Curley...," he said, his voice trailing.

"Bring on Newt!" shouted a supporter.

Capuano rejoined, "He's ice cream."

While many of his primary challengers promoted broad spending plans and radical change to government programs in the face of Republican governance, Capuano said he tried to strike a balance between political necessity and pragmatism.

His first focus when he arrives on Capitol Hill: "I'm going to learn how to work within the house establishment," he told The Crimson in an interview. "I wasn't elected to destroy the establishment. I'd like to try and change it."

Although he calls himself a progressive Democrat, many of his positions are centrist.

He believes, for instance, in preserving current levels of defense spending.

On education, the issue many 8th District voters said is most important to them, Capuano said he does not support radical education reform, preferring to take the time to study how the government can be effective in education policies.

And he says he's even willing to debate the legitimacy of federal government intrusion into education itself.

"That's the biggest part of the rock," he says. "To convince other Congressmen that it should be a federal issue."

Election Day

As voters trickled to the polls on the coldest day of the year yesterday, challenger Hyde reflected on the campaign.

Although he was considered a far long-shot, Hyde said he began the campaign by recognizing the votes he could acquire.

"Seventy-seven percent of the Democrats didn't vote for Mike [in the primary.] And a lot of them were pretty disappointed...In 1996, I lost [the Republican primary] by 8,000 more votes than he won by."

Hyde, who makes his living as a consultant on corporate efficiency, said he entered the campaign fully expecting to do well.

"I won't concede until the race is over," he said yesterday.

Hyde said he expected strong support from the district's black residents and has spent the better part of the week campaigning in Dorchester and Roxbury.

Capuano spent the morning on the stump, visiting every ward in the district.

After a quick lunch with his wife, he campaigned some more.

He did not, his advisors said, take his assured victory for granted.

Capuano faced his toughest challenge of the season in the Democratic primary Sept. 15.

He won by a seven-point margin, with more than 50 percent of his native Somerville turning out in his favor.

The representative-elect is a graduate of Dartmouth College. He received a law degree from Boston College Law School.

The mayor of Somerville for more than nine years, before that, Capuano served the city as an alderman.

Schinella is a free-lance writer who champions his more than 15 years of local political activism. Hyde and he remained in close contact throughout the campaign.

Morell, a railroad worker and union organizer, ran as a socialist, hoping to capitalize on Cambridge's alleged political radicalism.

Such diversity works for the 8th. The district is one of the state's most diverse. Its fabric includes poorer sections of Boston and Cantabrigian mansions. Capuano's primary win reflects his success in transforming his city into a haven for young professionals.

There was at least one sign last night that Capuano's pledge to always tell the whole truth may cause him trouble in Washington.

After exhorting supporters to "whack me on the back of the head" if "I forget who I am," a man in the crowd exhorted Capuano's wife, Barbara, to do so.

"She whacks me a little lower," Capuano said, as nervous laughter rippled through the crowd.CrimsonMelissa K. CrockerA GOOD BET: Somerville Mayor Michael E. Capuano was heavily favored to beat Repblican challenger J. Phillip Hyde III.