Second Time Around

As the successor to the late mayor, Duehay became Cambridge's 15th mayor since the city adopted a Plan E form of government in 1942. The former Harvard and Tufts administrator first served as mayor in 1980.

"This is really Lenny's term," Duchay told his fellow councilors Tuesday night. "I pledge to uphold the dignity and the spirit with which he presided over this city."

While Cambridge operates under a "Weak mayor" system, the position pays $10,000 extra for chairing the school committee and $1000 for attending various social events on behalf of the city.

A mayor also runs his highly visible officer with a small staff and a budget in excess of $240,000--making it a desirable position, especially in an election year.

Although Duchay's name has been mentioned as a possible contender for the district's coveted Congressional seat, the new mayor said he was "nowhere near making a decision" about seeking the office currently held bay House Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, Jr (D-Mass)

Gauging Reaction

To the surprise of many long-time observers--including several Independent city councilors--the winning tally came on the very first ballot on the first night of voting. In 1948, city councilors spent four months and over 1200 ballots before reaching a consensus.

Sheila T. Russell, wife of the late mayor and a recently announced candidate for city council, said this week that she was pleased Duchay won.

After the mayoral election Tuesday night. Duechay chaired the first meeting of the Cambridge School Committee since Russell's death in June, sin a politically charged dispute over the acting mayor's authority, the seven-member board had refused to meet until a new mayor had been selected.

"I'm particularly pleased that there's no question as to the legitimacy of the school committee chair," said School Committee Member Glenn S. Koocher '71, adding that LaRosa bore "a naive courage" as a first terms politician