According to financial reports filed by the candidates last month. White has $506,000 in his campaign account--more than all his opponents combined. Though White's vaunted political machine has not yet rolled into action, his recent activities have reminded many observers of the beginnings of his 1979 mayoral campaign.

In well-publicized moves. White proposed a policy of increased police visibility, inaugurated commission to deal with the problem of the homeless, proclaimed the success of property revaluation and cable television installation, and introduced the "Boston Compact," a program to provide jobs for area high school students.

White's opponents are well aware of the formidable task they face come September. Flynn conceded that "the guy just has so much power. He controls the show," He adds. "Kevin White is always going to have as much money as he needs to try and buy the election."

Flynn emphasizes White's ability to use the media, specifically television advertising. "I was over at the Kennedy School two years ago and we had President Carter's and President Reagan's press secretaries at one of the forums and they agreed on practically nothing in terms of the issues. But one thing they agreed on was that the American public based their decision on who to vote for on what they had seen on paid political commercials between three and four weeks before the elections," says Flynn. "So if Kevin White does have all this money...I'm just not going to be able to compete. It aggravates me no end."

Kiley agrees that television is an important medium, but denies that White can win through a massive advertising campaign alone. "If Miller Lite doesn't taste good, the public may try it once, but they won't keep on buying it," says Kiley. "Americans aren't dumb and they aren't that fickle."

The Controversy

"King Kevin" is likely to be most hurt by well-publicized charges of widespread corruption in several city departments. U.S. attorney William F. Weld '66 is currently conducting an investigation which has uncovered evidence implicating officials in the White administration in several shady deals. Suspicions began with the collection of approximately $122,000 for a 1981 birthday party for White's wife. Kathryn. The Boston Globe reported in December that 64 political associates of White were involved in an alleged cash laundering scheme, funneling as much as $50,000 to the party fund through their bank accounts. All told, 401 people made contributions.

George Collatos, a city employee who played a major role in the fundraising, is now in jail on extortion charges and is one of four city officials convicted in the past year of either income tax evasion, bribery or extortion.

In addition, both the Globe and The New York Times have run stories about the mismanagement of federal home improvement grants, the purchase of a $250,000 town house by two top White assistants for $1 in 1981, the activities of a fundraising committee formed six months after the aborted birthday party, a $10,3000 payment by the mayor's campaign committee to renovate his Beacon Hill townhouse, and the cashing of retirement and disability pension checks mailed to at least 12 dead city employees.

White, in turn, has launched attacks on the Globe and the Times and may try to invalidate Weld's findings by showing that they were politically motivated. At a press conference last month, White said the Times's stories lead Bostonians to "mistrust their government."

The Stands

Each of the six challengers, then, has the dual task of convincing voters that White is incapable of running the city and showing that he is the right man to take over. Thus far, White has benefitted the most from a lack of clear policy alternatives presented by the other six candidates. Only DiCara has made definite proposals, in two major speeches in the last 12 months and a summary position paper. The five remaining candidates say they are currently preparing policy statements.

Says Kearney, "This election is a referendum on Kevin White, no matter what happens. But what's also important is the ability of one candidate to emerge--to articulate problems and offer solutions."

"You have to give them a sense that you're capable of doing the job," he adds. "This is a political world, and that includes the factor of elect ability."

Another important concern, says DiCara, is the ability to gain support from a wide range of people, not just voters from the candidate's own neighborhood or ethnic background. There are "people who live in certain sections of the city who don't know the rest of the city exists," he explains.