Leonard J. Clarke

A graduate of the Cambridge public schools and American International College in Springfield, Leonard J. Clarke, at age 22, is the youngest candidate in the race and expects his support to come from young voters and their parents. He ticked off a list of his major objectives if he is elected: a tax cut in 1976, retention of rent control, halting the expansion of Harvard and MIT, and reducing vandalism in Cambridge schools through the use of security guards to patrol the halls.

On other issues he is less specific. He said he supports "stabilization of neighborhoods," citing rent control and down-zoning as possible ways of accomplishing this. But in true political style, Clarke added he wants to encourage land development by industry, which he says would provide more jobs, suggesting that a cut in the property tax might provide adequate incentive to businesses. He also favors more "citizen participation" in city government through interest groups and neighborhood committees.

None of these proposals is very controversial, and Clarke is quite consciously keeping his campaign low key. "Cambridge is a funny community," he said. "You have to be careful not to offend certain groups."

Clarke, at age 22, is the youngest candidate in the race and expects his support to come from young voters and their parents.

David Clem*

The figures that show how student voter registration has jumped in Cambridge this year have come as a godsend to David Clem. An urban studies and planning major from MIT and youngest president of the Riverside-Cambridgeport Community Corporation (RCCC) Clem is clearly the youth candidate on the ticket. That doesn't necessarily mean he is inexperienced in Cambridge politics. Although he didn't grow up in Cambridge, Clem is already a fixture in Cambridgeport, where he hopes to cut into incumbent Daniel J. Clinton's home-turf margin. And Clem is not lacking in support from the Harvard Square area, having tickled the collective fancy of the ritzy Brattle St. mob.

He backs up his campaign motif of neighborhood protection with practical experience in rehabilitating homes in Cambridge and obtaining government subsidies for RCCC housing. He has fought for downzoning and at time clashed with Harvard's designs for Cambridge. Clem, because of his strong political base and relatively fresh face in a sea of tired ones, is an inside shot to pick up the fifth liberal seat on the council.

Daniel J. Clinton +

Daniel J. Clinton, a three-term Independent city councilor, is battling a dangerous trend this year: since his first successful bid for the council in 1969, his electoral position has dropped from fifth place to sixth in 1971 and, finally to eighth in 1973.

Clinton said he sees the $52,000 salary of City Manager James L. Sullivan as a major issue in the election, and that doesn't make his campaign any easier. According to Clinton, Sullivan "freezes out" anyone who does not give 100 per cent support. This has cost Clinton "so-called patronage" and key campaign supporters, who have been swayed away with job offers, he says.

Clinton's direct involvement in Cambridge politics dates back to the early sixties, and he won his first city post in 1967 with a successful bid for the School Committee. Now working as a laborer ("with my hands") with the Vappi Construction Company, he also worked for over a decade as a mail carrier in Cambridge.

Clinton is centering his campaign on several issues: 1) Sullivan's salary, which Clinton said he wants to cut to the $40,000 range, and the salaries and outside residences of Sullivan's assistants; 2) the lack of progress in developing Kendall Square; and 3) the high level of unemployment in the city.

While Clinton expects Harvard votes to go to the reformers, he believes the 18-year-old vote will really help him. One reason, he added, is his seven brothers and "couple of sisters," some of whom, he says, are stil 19 or 20.

Thomas Coates