But Koocher says Reeves doesn’t have much to worry about.

“Yes, there is a dwindling number of minority votes in the city,” Koocher says. “But still Reeves has a solid base of people.”

Michael A. Sullivan

Michael A. Sullivan comes from the legendary local Sullivan family, which Koocher describes as the “Kennedys of Cambridge.”

He is known for his work on constituent services, and leads the council in the number of “maintenance orders.”

“The Sullivans have defined constituent services in Cambridge politics,” Koocher says.

Sullivan outlines schools, affordable housing and “quality-of-life issues” as the key issues facing Cambridge over the next term, and particularly points to housing for senior citizens as being problematic.

“We have to make sure we’re giving seniors a variety of options,” Sullivan says—including affordable assisted living and nursing homes.

Timothy J. Toomey Jr.

Councillor and State Rep. Timothy J. Toomey Jr. is a fixture in Cambridge politics—he’s also from an old political family, and is currently seeking his seventh term on the council.

Toomey says he is not overwhelmed by his dual duties at the State House and City Hall.

“I’m proud to say I’ve never missed a regularly scheduled meeting of the Cambridge City Council in all my years,” Toomey says. “Clearly some weeks are more hectic than others. So far I’ve been able to maintain my sanity.”

He is best known for constituent services, and is one of the most frequent sponsors of council death resolutions, congratulations and event announcements.

While many credit him with making sure that affordable housing was created in East Cambridge—his constituent base—Toomey demurs.

“I’d have to give a lot of credit to the East Cambridge community,” Toomey says.

—To revisit The Crimson’s series of profiles on the challengers, go to www.thecrimson.com.

—Imtiyaz H. Delawala contributed to the reporting of this story.

—Staff writer Lauren R. Dorgan can be reached at dorgan@fas.harvard.edu.