City Councillor and former Mayor Alfred Vellucci, running on a pledge to end Harvard's tax-exempt status in Cambridge, fell short last Tuesday in his bid for a seat in the State Legislature.

Incumbent State Representatives Michael J. Lombardi and John J. Toomey were re-elected in the First Middlesex District's Democratic primary, despite the challenge from Vellucci and two liberal candidates. Michael J. Amato and Doreen Blanc. The two winners will face only token opposition in November.

Lombardi led the balloting, taking 2585 votes. Toomey ran 220 votes behind Lombardi, with Vellucci just missing the second spot by 274 votes.

Vellucci was beaten in his own backyard, Ward 2, by both Lombardi and Toomey, offsetting the Councillor's solid showing in Ward 1. Lombardi swept Ward 1 with 1448 votes, followed by Vellucci with 1109 and Toomey with 878.

Toomey retained his seat by piling up a 505-vote margin over Vellucci in Wards 2, 3, and 4.

Some observers had believed that Lombardi would be hurt by a gambling conviction last December, but instead the four-term representative topped the ticket. Commenting on the reasons for his victory. Lombardi said Friday: "I'm around all the time and I always answer my mail and telephone calls....we did a lot of work."