"The process needs to be open to some sort of public scrutiny," Triantafillou said. "This way, it's an ugly contest of personalities."

Will There Be Changes?

Reeves has been one of the most vocal advocates for a change in the way the mayor of Cambridge is elected.

"With the treachery and dishonesty in this last mayoral election, it would make sense for the people of Cambridge to elect their own mayor either in the Worcester way or to directly elect the mayor and do away with the city manager altogether," Reeves says.

In the city of Worcester councillors who want to serve as mayor designate as much on the ballot, and the councillor who receives the most votes becomes mayor.

Duehay does not advocate a new electoral system at the moment but says he would not oppose a review of the system.

"All governance procedures deserve periodically to be reviewed, especially when there is acrimony among city council members," Duehay says.

David L.K. Trumbull, chair of the Cambridge Republican City Committee, says the conflict surrounding the recent election stems from the city's use of the title "mayor," even though the city has what he describes as a "weak mayor" system.

"A lot of all of the interest about the election of the mayor and the bad feeling that got generated in this last [election]...has its origin in the use of the term 'mayor' for an office that isn't really a mayor's," Trumbull says, referring to the Cambridge mayor's limited power.

"I would be all for abolishing the title of 'mayor,'" Trumbull says.

But most councillors and local political analysts do not expect changes anytime soon in the way Cambridge elects its mayor or in the role the mayor plays in city government.

"I do think that people are better represented through the city council/city management form," Duehay says. "Decisions are shared in Cambridge; political power is shared."

"The discussion has come up largely in the form of public commentary, and as introduced by Triantafillou," Winters says. "You have to put the proposal for a change in that context."

"I think a managed city is the right way to go," Winters says.

Sullivan says he does not expect a change in the mayoral election system anytime soon.