"If you're going to be part of his leadership team, you're going to have to have the same agenda," says Thompson.

At a meeting of the Cambridge Democratic Committee before last month's election, Flaherty described himself as "more liberal and less forgiving than Keverian."

City officials say that Flaherty, who has faced only weak opposition since he won his first election in 1966, has been a strong and effective representative for Cambridge.

City Clerk Joseph E. Connarton says Flaherty was instrumental in finding state funds for Cambridge when the antitax measure Proposition 2 1/2 passed in 1980, threatening cities and towns with severe financial difficulties.

"Since that time, he has been a constant supporter of Cambridge," Connarton says.

But Flaherty also knows state government and doesn't go in for rhetoric, Thompson says.

"When you go in to talk to him, with a solution or a problem, you better have your material together because he knows one side of state government to the other," he says.

Flaherty is also extremely easy to get along with, Thompson and other colleagues in the House say. His working relationship with Weld--a fellow Cambridge resident--is expected to be good, they say.

Flood says the first year will see the two working closely together, as the new administration gets to know its way around the State House and tries to solve the fiscal crisis.

"Once things are back on track, you'll see a little more partisanship," says Flood.

Flaherty has also said that he has an effective rapport with his counterpart across the hall, Senate President William M. Bulger (D-Boston), who was reportedly on less than friendly terms with Keverian last year in the toughest days of the state's budget crisis.

Most say they are satisfied that Flaherty isn't the kind of leader to let personal matters interfere with the state's work.

And the increase of partisanship in the House doesn't have to stop the next speaker from getting the job done, says Rep. Robert A. Havern '72 (D-Arlington), who has known Flaherty for more than 20 years.

"Basically, votes always follow a message," Havern says. "And there's nobody who can send a message like Flaherty."