On the subject of city-wide economicdevelopment, both Buonomo and Curtatone haveproposed convening a group of local political andbusiness leaders, along with urban planners, tocome up with a vision for the city's future.

"An economic development summit would providelong-term objectives," Buonomo says.

A Successor to Capuano

For all their ideas, none of the candidatesseem to stand out in the minds of some cityresidents.

Those following the election agree that thenumber of undecided voters at this point in thecontest is unusually high.

"It's still not clear who's going to win therace," Goldstein-Gelb says. "The candidates havetried to express their views, but people I'vetalked to know to differentiate between whatpeople say and what they'll actually do."

Voters looking for a way to distinguish thecandidates might focus on the credentials eachbrings to the race.

Curtatone, a lifelong Somerville resident andBoston College graduate, has served two terms asan at-large alderman and has sat on seven of thecity's committees.

In January, he became interim president of theboard of aldermen, a promotion many criticized himfor accepting because it might give him an unfairadvantage in the election.

He is the only candidate former MayorCapuano--who has yet to endorse anyone for his oldjob--has singled out as being unfit to lead thecity.

In the past, Curtatone has criticized Capuanofor letting cronyism dictate his appointments.

At the January candidate event, Curtatonesuggested he would restore integrity to theprocess of choosing city officials.

"I owe no one a job," Curtatone says.

If Curtatone has sought to establish himself asthe anti-Capuano choice, Buonomo has set himselfup as the former mayor's heir apparent.

The son of Italian immigrants, Buonomo and hisnine siblings grew up in Somerville publichousing. He attributes his understanding the valueof a dollar to his family's onetime dependence onwelfare.

Gay, too, is an immigrant, having been born inIreland. Her political background includes a bidfor Lieutenant Governor last year, which, thoughunsuccessful, made her name known in thecommunity. She has not held city office since astint on the school committee that ended in 1993.

Goldstein-Gelb says these three candidates arereasonably well-known among voters.

"Buonomo and Curtatone seem to have more of apresence, but Gay has more people making telephonecalls for her candidacy," Goldstein-Gelb says.

One city resident, Jason Flynn, who teaches atSt. Clement High School, offered a piece of adviceto all the candidates.

"I think they're going to have to stand ontheir own if they want to win," he says