Kurkjian is in favor of rent control, althoughshe favors modifying the restrictions onowner-occupied condominiums. Her other concernsinclude keeping dogs out of the water supply atFresh Pond and limiting the use of computers,which she says waste electricity.

Randolph L. Lowet, a veteran of the VietnamWar, wants to preserve quality of life inCambridge.

To this end, Lowet wants to keep the city's airand water clean and attract industries toCambridge which will not jeopardize the ecology ofthe city.

Lowet also wants to aggressively fight streetcrime through better policing and lighting andcombat hate crime through tough prosecutions andsentences.

In his campaign literature, the life-longCambridge calls rent control a "God send" whichprevents homelessness.

But Lowet says he will protect the interests ofhomeowners as well by revamping zoning laws "toinsure the sanctity of residential areas.

Jim McGrail, 27, says the city would be abetter place if more decisions were left to theaverage citizen.

"The best decisions aren't made in an office atcity hall," says McGrail, who is endorsed by theAlliance for Change.

For this reason, McGrail wants to cut the citycouncillors' salaries in half. "I really believethat the more money you make, the more out oftouch you become with the city of Cambridge," saysthe North Cambridge resident.

McGrail also says that people should be givenunlimited time to speak at city council meetingsand public hearings. "I think it's an outrage tolimit people's time," he says.

A life-long resident of the city, McGrailopposes rent control.

James McSweeney, the 12th finisher in the 1991council race, says he is an independent interestedin fiscal responsibility.

McSweeney, 29, believes that the council underthe Cambridge Civic Association majority has actedinefficiently in providing services to the city.

Rather than considering a proposition 2 1/2override or increasing taxes, he argues that thecity should use existing revenues better.

"Everyone thinks if you throw money at aproblem it will go away," says McSweeney, whosecampaign workers include several members of theHarvard Republican Club.