Word: council
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Cambridge voters have reversed the usual outcome of the City's elections, and given candidates endorsed by the Cambridge Civic Association a majority on both the City Council and the School Committee...
When the Election Commission finished counting council ballots late Saturday night, the following candidates had won election: Walter J. Sullivan (Ind.), Alfred E. Vellucci (Ind.), Thomas W, Danehy (Ind.), Edward A. Crane '35 (CCA), Barbara Ackermann (CCA), Daniel J. Clinton (Ind.), Robert Moncreiff (CCA), Thomas H. D. Mahoney (CCA), and Thomas Coates...
...goes, for hours which soon stretch into days. As the count grinds along, some candidates begin to complain: "What's the matter with the Election Commission? Don't they understand this system?" Council candidate Daniel J. Clinton inquires of Eddie Martin a man of no small local importance who (a)-writes the City stories for the Cambridge-Somerville edition of the Boston Record-American; (b) -serves on the Cambridge Housing Authority; and (c) -is a good friend of Councillor Al Vellucci...
...complaint that PR doesn't really help minority groups seems to be not quite true. Under PR. Cambridge's blacks, for example, have gained seats on the council and school committee which they probably would not have gained under any other electoral system, save a ward system gerrymandered in their favor. At the same time, other minorities such as Jews and even Yankees have gained seats though it would be difficult to say if they would have got more or less under another system...
...counterpart of minority representation is, however, often a Cambridge City Council which cannot muster a cohesive majority. Though PR candidates run at-large, the system places a premium on "number ones." To get them, candidates most often appeal to a small group. Once on the council, they are often more interested in divvying up the current pie of City services among their voters than in planning much expansion of said services...