Word: abt
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...deal with any problem. An earlier test of the size of this group--the can-didacies backed in 1979 by a group of self-proclaimed moderates, the Concerned Cambridge Citizens--failed because the group was widely perceived as a front for local developers, a problem Wilkes and especially Abt do not seem to be encountering. And the final group supporting "moderation" are just those developers and landlords, who stand to make a great deal of money if condominium restrictions are relaxed even enough to allow tenants to buy their own units. A tenant's "right" to purchase his own home...
...today is obvious. Tomorrow's election will begin to show if it is going to happen; the momentum that seems to be developing, however, would indicate that only tremendously strong showing by David Sullivan and other tenant candidates like John St. George, coupled with poor performance by Wilkes and Abt would quash notions of a liberal shift to the center. If the 1981 campaign has proven anything. it is the fragility of the progressive consensus in Cambridge...
...than any in recent history. It included not only the four incumbents--David Sullivan, Francis H. Duehay '55, David Wylie, and Saundra Graham--but also three challengers given a chance of winning seats--Alice Wolf (who gained a record number of votes in her last school committee race), Wendy Abt (who ran a strong race for State Senate and enjoys high name recognition), and Mary Ellen Preusser (a former councilor...
Which leaves Wendy Abt, unquestionably the most controversial candidate in the race. Every political conversation includes some gossip about Abt; no analyst can figure out exactly how she'll fare. She was repudiated by city tenants at a late-summer convention setting up a possible split in city progressive ranks (see story page). And she has been embraced by many self-styled moderates, for what is perceived as a "flexible" stand on housing issues like rent control and condominium conversion. If Abt runs well, it may be due less to the support of traditional CCA voters than to the backing...
...Should she be elected, she will likely side with liberals on issues other than housing; Her campaign has been getting more attention than expected, and if she does not win she seems prepared to run strong enough to scare the CCA. Many of her votes will likely transfer to Abt, who is also seen as a moderate on housing issues; Independent candidates backed by the Cambridge Condominium Network may also pick up some of Wilkes' support...