The legislature sets any reforms in these areas in motion, he says.

"It's important to recognize in Massachusetts how much power the state House [of Representatives] has," Barrios says.

Barrios boasts support from more organizations ranging from the Massachusetts branch of the National Organization of Women to the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters and lays claim to more endorsements than any other candidate, including the Massachusetts branch of the National Organization of Women and the Massachusetts League of Environmental Voters.

Cambridge City Council members Kathleen L. Born, Henrietta A. Davis and Katherine Triantafillou are also Barrios supporters.

Despite the many endorsements, Barrios, who is openly gay, has recently been the target of homophobia.

Barrios says, "It's been unfortunate that I've come across some voters who've indicated that they've been contacted" by some of the other campaigns about his sexuality, he says.

But Barrios says he does not want his sexuality to be an issue in the race.

His campaign has also been plagued by thefts of signs from supporters' yards and Barrios says he has contacted the police about the problem.

"While those tactics have been used in the campaign, we have chosen to focus on the positive issues that we want to leave the voters with," he says.

One of Barrios' main opponents is Benzan. The two candidates have held debates in Spanish and appear to be competing for votes from the same sectors.

Benzan, the son of immigrants from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, is Latino, but also considers himself black.

According to Benzan volunteer Nancy K. Kilburn, Benzan has supporters from all over Cambridge, but many come from black and Latino areas of the city.

Kilburn says Benzan has been working to fight voter apathy, and has already personally registered nearly 1,000 new voters.

Benzan's efforts extend into other areas as well.

"He's really part of a long line of community activists and civil rights activists," Kilburn says.