Word: mccann
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Levin H. Campbell, a Republican just finishing his first term as a state representative from Cambridge, is trying to unseat a veteran state senator, Francis X. McCann, in the Second Middlesex District, which includes the University and much of Cambridge. Campbell's over-all voting record, even allowing for straight party-line divisions, is not especially distinguished. He helped kill an extension of unemployment benefits and a needed revision of the state income and property taxes, and unsuccessfully opposed bills to raise the minimum salaries of public-school teachers and to create a consumers' council for investigating unethical business practices...
...might seem, therefore, that there is little to choose from between the candidates; but an examination of two more issues suggests otherwise. On the question of abolishing capital punishment, Campbell voted for abolition, while McCann strongly opposed it. The abolition bill, which was ultimately defeated by 16 votes in the House, reserved the death penalty for prisoners who kill guards or police officers while trying to escape. And the reservation was made by McCann. As he explained in a campaign debate he proposed this "ridiculous amendment" because "if you can't get what you want [in a bill], you louse...
Capital punishment, however, is not the main issue in the election. The issue that will win or lose the race for McCann-and it is the most revealing point of comparison between the candidates-is the Memorial Drive underpasses. In 1962, McCann sponsored the bill that directed the Metropolitan District Commission to build three underpasses or overpasses. During the last session of the legislature, Campbell joined Representatives Mary B. Newman (R-Cambridge) and William P. Homans, Jr. (D-Cambridge) in sponsoring three bills to delay construction until someone studied Cambridge's total traffic requirements. And although none of the three...
...McCann sponsored the act that directed the Metropolitan District Commission to build the underpasses. Campbell has promised to introduce a bill to repeal the legislation if he is elected...
With irony that was appreciated by many in the crowd, McCann said, "I wish--I sincerely wish--I could stand here and take credit for the underpasses." But he could not, he added, because a professor had suggested building over-passes...