Jonathan Spampinato, the first new candidate to file papers in this year's city council race, take pride in the fact that he is not a traditional local activist.

Instead, the 27-years-old analyst with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue said he is working to build alliances between unlikely partners and move beyond the traditional definitions of liberal and conservative.

At his first fundraiser, held last week at the home of long-time Cambridge political activists Arthur and Geneva Malenfant, members of such divergent groups as the Cambridge Civic Association and the Alliance for Change mingled with leaders of the Republican City Committee and the Massachusetts Long Cabin Club, an organization representing gay Republicans.

"I'm hoping that we can continue this and expand this [coalition]," Spampinato said at the event.

Sporting a yellow bow tie, Spampinato shook his guests' hands and frequently spoke of the need to increase economic development within Cambridge, focusing particularly on expanding retail opportunities.

"I want to roll my sleeves up and get the city council paying attention to local issues," he said. "By and large, the majority of Cambridge voters see things the same way."

Spampinato said members of the current city council are out of touch with their constituents, focusing on issues tangential to municipal management.

"We've got a city council talking about sister cities," he said. "The people don't want to [hear] about peace commissions anymore."

Spampinato, who is openly gay, said his sexual preference will not be a defining characteristic in the race.

"I'm not running on that in the sense that I don't think I deserve any votes solely on that issue," he said.

And the candidate said, regardless of his sexual orientation, he is receiving support from one of the city's conservative Christian organizations.

"I've already had discussions with members of the Cambridge Christian Coalition who are supporting my campaign," he said. "Even the far right of our party has been fine."

At the fundraising event, which drew nearly 100 people, Lieutenant Gov. A. Paul Cellucci and State Sen. Brian Less (R-East Longmeadow), the Republican leader, lavished praise on Spampinato as a loyal republican and a hard worker.

"I don't think people look at parties as much anymore--they look at results," Lees said. "We're always looking for good people to run for public office--he's a guy who's always willing to help."

Spampinato said he raised "a couple thousand dollars" at the event, which helped him to increase his name recognition.