Reeves openly criticized the CCA-affiliated members of the council for not backing CCA member Born throughout the entire process.

"The real story here is how could the CCA councilors not vote for their own candidate," Reeves says. "Why do five progressives have to have two conservatives for mayor and vice mayor?"

Braude deflects such criticism, saying he was committed to putting a new mayor in place, even if it meant crossing party lines.

"I was committed to not leaving City Hall until we had a mayor," Braude says. "There was clearly a mood that the time had come to make a choice. We had to show the public we could make a decision, instead of avoiding the issue."

Criticism also falls on Reeves for his refusal to vote for Born until it was too late.

If Reeves--who voted for Sullivan in the two January ballots--had voted for Born along with the other progressives during the first six weeks of voting, she would be Cambridge's mayor today.

Instead, two Independents--Galluccio and Vice Mayor Maher--now hold the top two posts on the council.