"Computerization allows us to keep track of interests and eventually skills [of members]," he says. "I'm a big e-mail and Internet enthusiast."

The Near Future

This summer, Malenfant and her new board must work to endorse a group of candidates for both Cambridge's city council and school committee.

Although he group endorsed a majority of the current representatives of both groups, signs point to a difficult election year for the CCA.

"Ken Reeves obviously feels that it's safe to run on his own merits, [and] so I don't know why [other city councillors] can't run on their own merits, seek out their own constituents and make a pitch on their positions and issues." one city official who spoke on condition of anonymity said in February.

Since the 1993 election, Reeves has frequently supported coucillors not affiliated with the CCA, and last week, CCA-endorsed incumbent Jonathan S. Myers announced he will not seek re-election.

"Having him not run means there's a seat to be filled," Duehay says. "I think that until we get full knowledge of the entire slate of the city council candidates, it's very hard to know how hard that makes it."

Malenfant says the most important part of the endorsement process is finding candidates who support a common platform.

The CCA platform will likely support school choice, parent participation in school issues and efforts to develop affordable housing within they city, Malenfant says.

"It's those kind of issues that we have historically stood for," she says.

A common platform is important because it outlines tangible goals for the city, Duehay says.

"The public will know that if they elect that group of people, they will work on the platform together," Duehay says. "If a group works toward those policies, they will have some change actually happening.'

At this point, it is unclear whether the CCA will endorse Reeves again, Malenfant says.

"Ken has to decide what he wants to do," she says. "We have to be fair."

Duehay says that although he speaks to Reeves regularly, he is unsure whether the mayor will seek a CCA endorsement.