Timothy J. Toomey, the only Independent challenger, has based his campaign on monetary concerns. He enjoys talking about a grant of computer equipment to Brookline's Montrose School from Spinnaker Software Corporation, a Cambridge-based company, as an example of how local universities and high-tech firms can help improve facilities in Cambridge schools.

Toomey, who does not feel he has a specific constituency, is likely to do well on the coattails of Alfred E. Vellucci, who is running for city council. Vellucci, a popular Independent from East Cambridge, may help Toomey, who is also from that neighborhood.

An advocate of the "average, middle-class," Alfred B. Fantini has been a moderate, bridging the conservative, neighborhood-oriented Independents and the more liberal CCA coalition. On parent evaluations of school staff, for example, the one issue that has most clearly separated the CCA and Independents, Fantini sees a great benefit in parental participation, particularly in the alternative programs. But he continues, "I think in some cases the evaluations have gotten out of hand."

David P. Kennedy is trying to make it to the school committee after three unsuccessful attempts in the past 10 years. For the first time this year, he is being endorsed by the CCA. The endorsement might be enough to put Kennedy in office since his views are more closely aligned with the CCA.

Kennedy is proud of the establishment of the Health and Environmental Task Force of the school committee, formed after more teachers called in sick because of poor air quality. Sullivan presented the motion for the task force to the school committee last year for political reasons, says Kennedy, after he had suggested the idea to the full committee.

Richard B. Griffin '51 and Frances H. Cooper are the other two CCA candidates trying to increase the CCA representation on the committee. Griffin, who is a gerontology consultant and was the Roman Catholic chaplain at Harvard from 1968 to 1975, sees the budget as a central issue. Cambridge's spending per student is one of the highest in the Commenwealth, and Griffin wants to find out why. Griffin has become more involved in the schools since his daughter entered first grade at the Agassiz school this year.

Cooper, though calling the Superintendent's job "above average", believes that Peterkin's "Key Results" plan must be more closely scrutinized. Peterkin offered his "Key Results" this summer as a guideline of long-range plans for the next three years. Cooper believes that budgetary and time limitations will force the committee to make decisions as to its priorities. She says that making long-range plans for the next 10 years is the committee's most important responsibility.

Joseph E. Maynard, who served on the school committee in the fifties with Sullivan's father, continues to avoid the press and simply states that he is running on his record. Maynard has held his seat since 1970 and served one term in the fifties and one term in sixties