Phoenix endorsements

The Phoenix picks for Boston and Cambridge

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AT-LARGE

Frank Jones and Peggy Davis-Mullen

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In this year's municipal elections, one candidate stands above the rest. Frank Jones -- a man who combines passion with compassion, and creative new ideas with the perspective of many years on the front lines -- earns our most vigorous endorsement.

Jones has a long history of public service. He has been a teacher. He has held key positions at both the NAACP and the Legal Services Corporation, and served as chairman of President Carter's 1980 commission to investigate the Miami riots. In Boston, as head of the Boston Committee, he was lauded for his work with then-mayor Kevin White to defuse racial tensions. He has headed the city's Fair Housing Commission and served as the Commissioner of Real Property.

He is a man of stature with a deep commitment to progressive causes.

He is also intellectually adventurous. On schools, for example, he does not hew to the integration-at-any-cost line. He speaks eloquently for the need to focus the city's school debate on the quality of education. He has supported the Lyndon Pilot School, a promising experiment. He also understands that arts education should play a vital role in educating tomorrow's citizens.

As a proven champion of racial harmony, Jones could also do much to bring neighborhoods together. Indeed, better than anyone running for an at-large seat, Jones understands that the city council can transcend its narrow charter and serve as a bully pulpit to set a citywide agenda.

He would also be the first African-American in more than a decade to hold an at-large council seat.

Jones placed sixth in September's preliminary elections; he'll need to place at least fourth in the final to win. If you are looking for a reason to vote this year, Frank Jones should be it.

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The Phoenix hasn't always seen eye to eye with at-large incumbent Peggy Davis-Mullen. She is a conservative on a range of social issues, including abortion rights, though that has little effect on her council performance. She broke new ground by responsibly introducing a plan to restore neighborhood schools. But even though more than 80 percent of public school students are minorities, we think Davis-Mullen needs to be more wary of what could amount to resanctioning segregation. She's a maverick and has a tendency to fire off ideas before she has thought them through. The fireworks are often welcome, but more focus could yield greater illumination.

These issues aside, Peggy Davis-Mullen has exhibited a considerable capacity for growth. She has, for example, reached out to the gay and lesbian community, promising to establish herself as a strong voice on their behalf at City Hall. She has fought to devote more city and state resources to screenings for breast cancer. She led a public outcry for city government to alleviate the problems of South Boston's youth -- and joined with Dianne Wilkerson to bring mothers together from all the city's neighborhoods.

Davis-Mullen has been a fiercely independent voice on the council. She is not afraid to raise issues -- from the need for school-bus monitors to the importance of combating truancy -- that are not high on City Hall's agenda.

In large part because of her independence, Davis-Mullen faces a tough reelection battle. The mayor's political machine has made her life as difficult as possible.

A vote for Davis-Mullen is a vote against unchecked mayoral power -- and a vote of confidence for a woman who is reaching out to new constituents and new ideas.

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DISTRICT

Modica, Yancey, Hennigan, Saunders

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DISTRICT 1 (EAST BOSTON/ NORTH END/ CHARLESTOWN). This is a difficult district for constituent services. The proposed expansion of Logan Airport, the ever-present questions over how to proceed on the waterfront, and, perhaps most pressing, the disruption arising from the Big Dig all put this councilor at the mercy of larger forces. But incumbent Diane Modica, a hard worker with many years of government experience, knows how to fight for her district's interests. She also plays a valuable role on the council, daring to be an independent voice. A good incumbent should not be thrown out because she differs with the mayor. The Phoenix endorses Modica for another term.

DISTRICT 4 (DORCHESTER/ MATTAPAN). When so many in the council were quick to move on the city's hospital-merger plan, we were reminded of what Charles Yancey does best: asks the hard questions about difficult financial issues. With 14 years of service, he has the potential to join with Jones and Davis-Mullen to open a serious dialogue. Yancey often seems to be on cruise control and we'd like to see more from him, but his challenger, Bill Owens -- with many years of impressive public service behind him -- has not been able to articulate a clear or compelling reason to replace the incumbent. The Phoenix endorses Yancey.

DISTRICT 6 (JAMAICA PLAIN/WEST ROXBURY). Although we've sometimes disagreed with her, Maura Hennigan stood by students and parents who wanted the successful Lyndon Pilot School to be expanded, defying even the voter-rich West Roxbury neighborhood around it. On constituent services, her office is among the best. And her support for challenger Frank Jones underscores her desire to broaden the vision of the council. The Phoenix endorses Hennigan.

DISTRICT 7 (ROXBURY). Progressive Gareth Saunders is being challenged by Althea Garrison, a perennial candidate who is more fixated on her two-year term in the State Senate than on what she would do if she became a city councilor. The Phoenix endorses Saunders.

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CAMBRIDGE

Reeves, MacKinnon, Born, Duehay, Triantafillou

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For its number one vote, the Phoenix endorses incumbent Kenneth Reeves. Always a dedicated advocate for the city's African-Americans, gays and lesbians, and other minority groups, Reeves has consistently worked to broaden his base and establish himself as a strong councilor for all of Cambridge. Reeves has fought hard to build a consensus in important areas -- such as affordable housing, public safety, and education -- yet he is never afraid to speak his mind. That voice will be essential to the future of Reeves's Central Square neighborhood, which is wrestling with major, high-impact proposals for commercial and residential development.

In a race where most people predict no surprises, the Phoenix selects a surprising challenger for its number two Cambridge vote: Ian MacKinnon. This 34-year-old actor/street performer has focused a spunky campaign on the importance of art in civic life. MacKinnon, who has pledged to donate half of his council salary toward arts grants, wants Cambridge to reestablish itself as a home to musicians, dancers, painters, thespians, and creators of all types. MacKinnon is a political neophyte, but his offbeat, articulate perspective would be welcome at City Hall.

There are a number of other worthy candidates in this year's Cambridge council race.

Among them is incumbent Kathy Born, a reliable progressive voice. Born is a strong supporter of affordable housing and improved public roadways and parks, and she is also pushing to build a badly needed new library. Long-time councilor Frank Duehay remains a tireless defender of low-income residents and affordable housing, and his diplomatic political style has kept him a council favorite for 26 years. Outspoken incumbent Katherine Triantafillou's work on behalf of issues such as women's public safety is impressive, and she, too, ought to return to the council.

Looking ahead: Mayor Menino