Six Cambridge Representatives Square Off

In incumbent-friendly Cambridge, personality may be the deciding factor in two state representative races devoid of contentious issues.

At the end of a debate last Wednesday, six Democratic candidates for state representative in Cambridge's 27th and 28th districts found they agreed on yet another issue: The November races for the Massachusetts State House will be far from a shoe-in for incumbents.

More than three months in advance of the September primary, the Democratic hopefuls vying for two coveted spots representing sections of Cambridge in the state legislature made preliminary arguments in support of their candidacies at the Wednesday debate held in the Cambridge Community Center.

But without divisive issues like rent control and the death penalty that have polarized Bay State voters in the recent past, the candidates struggled to define themselves from a policy standpoint.

They indicated, however, that in this contest of often-parallel political stances, experience and image will play an important role.

About 50 people packed into the center's meeting room to hear the first half of the debate, in which 28th district candidates Jarrett T. Barrios '90, Dennis Benzan, David A. Hoicka and incumbent Alvin E. Thompson shared their visions.

In their opening statements, the candidates emphasized their achievements and used the opportunity to highlight what many said was a sense that Thompson--a part-time Pforzheimer House security guard and part-time school truant officer--had not represented Cambridge to the best of his ability in his 10 years of service.

Barrios, a lawyer and first-time candidate, said the country's booming economy has had little positive effect on many of Cambridge's poorer residents and called for greater attention to schools, child care and affordable housing.

"I will bring active leadership and experience together," Barrios said.

Both Benzan and Hoicka decried the state of public health-care in Massachusetts.

Hoicka said it was "unconscionable" that the State would consider spending $50 million dollars for the construction of a new football stadium instead of improving the current system of health-care. He called for a system of "universal, affordable and comprehensive health-care" and the creation of a health-care bill of rights for state residents.

Thompson responded to criticism by citing accomplishments in his 10-year tenure at the State House. Through his "aggressive leadership," Thompson said he was proud to have helped win Cambridge the fourth-highest level of funding in the State.

"I could go on and on and on for what I have done for Cambridge," Thompson said. "The last two years have been good years for Cambridge...[and] I want to continue my job."

Although debate attendees asked the candidates about their positions on the death penalty and rent control, their questions failed to inspire much dissension.

All four candidates expressed opposition to the death penalty and said they would support legislated rent control.

But despite the general consensus on issues, each candidate said he had distinguished himself from the pack in some way and deserved to be elected.

"It's impossible to create any sort of social progress without active involvement by our government and our businesses," said Hoicka, for whom this election is a second attempt at unseating Thompson.

Benzan, who went to high school in Cambridge and recently graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C., said his "vision" of the community made him the strongest candidate on the party slate.

"I am the most viable Democrat candidate on the platform today," Benzan said.

Nevertheless, Thompson said his honesty and attention to economic development and education in state government should be remembered.

"I'm proud of my record," he said.

But in a final remark, obviously directed at Thompson, Barrios suggested that 10 years in office might be too long.

"Nobody is entitled to this seat--because you were from [Cambridge], because you are an incumbent, because you think it is your divine right," Barrios said.

While the number of similar candidates in the 28th makes the race hard to predict, the 27th district is significantly tighter.

One-term incumbent Representative Alice Wolf, with 20 years of participation in public politics, faced off against youthful Anthony Gallucio, the current vicemayor of Cambridge, in a debate that followed the first by 15 minutes.

Although the two candidates acknowledged their similar views on many political issues, they sparred over who could best represent Cambridge.

"I honestly feel I can supply better leadership for Beacon Hill," Gallucio said. "I don't think this has to be a contentious race."