Other candidates at the forefront of the raceduring the past week witnessed significantsupport.

Brighton resident Dan P. O'Brien decided tovote for Brett two months ago. "I thought he waspretty sensitive to urban issues and had a prettygood background," he said.

O'Brien said he decided against Rufo becauselaw enforcement is an important enough issue onwhich to base an entire campaign. "[Rufo] ran onthat," he said. "You gotta run on a little more."

Another voter based her decision on gender."I'd like a woman mayor for a change," said SylviaKatz, a Brighton resident who voted for Salerno."For the most part [women] do a better job." Katzsaid she had chosen Salerno for her "excellentrecord" and for her liberal ideas.

The race was closely watched at Harvard, withwhich at least three of the candidates areaffiliated. Brett received his masters of publicadministration degree from the Kennedy School ofGovernment in 1989.

Lydon, who has received considerable financialsupport from Cambridge residents, has a daughterin Dunster House. And Salerno has recently rousedsupport among undergraduates by creating a groupof supporters for her campaign.

This story was compiled with wiredispatches.

What the Winners Said Last Night

Thomas Menino:

[Voters] want to move Boston forward, not cling to the past, and above all, they've had enough talk, they want action.'

James Brett:

'Our agenda is a full one. We have to ensure public safety for all our citizens all the time.'

What the Losers Said

Robert Rufo:

'We must face our future together as one Boston.'

Rosaria Salerno:

'Politics as usual prevailed.'