She generally gets high marks in the district, especially for constituent services and outreach. " If there’s a meeting, I’ve not heard of Maureen or her staff not covering that, " says long-time Dorchester activist and Democratic State Committee member John Doogan. " That’s not one of her faults. " Notes Byrne, " I don’t think there’s a widespread anti–Maureen Feeney feeling. She’s been very hard-working and effective. " Even her opponent Brophy declares, " I think she’s doing a great job. " Though he quickly notes that he could do better.

But Juaire, for one, has qualms about her performance. More than any of her other competitors, he has taken Feeney to task for her shortcomings — principally her 1996 council vote against granting domestic-partnership benefits to same-sex couples. Feeney says she never opposed the benefits for gay couples, but was simply holding out because she wanted other groups, such as unmarried long-term roommates, to be made eligible. She would still like to see that, but says she now supports legislation that would specifically address the needs of unmarried partners. Last year, she was one of only two councilors who went to the State House to lobby for the domestic-partnership bill backed by gay activists, which would grant benefits to the partners of gay and straight unmarried state employees, and allow municipalities to do the same. She even co-sponsored a council bill urging the Massachusetts House to approve domestic-partner benefits. But, says Juaire, it’s not enough: " It’s nice for someone to come around, but I’m a candidate who’s already there and lived it. " Heated letters between the gay supporters of Feeney and Juaire have gone back and forth in both the gay publication In Newsweekly and the local Dorchester Reporter.

Widely considered Feeney’s most serious challenger, Juaire built an impressive record as the head of the Dorchester Allied Neighborhood Association (DANA), an umbrella group for various civic organizations. Using it as his platform, he was instrumental in obtaining $80 million for the renovation of four Dorchester T stations (Ashmont, Shawmut, Fields Corner, and JFK/UMass). " Mark came into the neighborhood not a long time ago, and obviously has the [political] bug, " observes Ward 13 Democratic Committee member Bill Walczak. " He really wants to be involved in politics, which in Dorchester is civic associations. "

Juaire says his interest in politics was piqued by his desire to work on local issues like the MBTA renovations and crime — not to mention a lymphoma diagnosis three years ago that led him to reorder his priorities. (The cancer is now in remission.) " It makes me want to change the world, " he says. But it also makes him come out swinging. The 38-year-old, a software analyst at Partners Health Care who took leave from his job to campaign full-time, is clearly ambitious. Though this is his first time on the ballot, he took out papers to run against House Speaker Tom Finneran last year. (He ultimately decided not to run because he was working with Finneran on securing funds for the T-station renovations.) He’s also previously run unsuccessfully for Democratic Party positions, including a seat designated for a gay man on the Democratic State Committee, and a slot on the Ward 16 Democratic Committee. Greeting commuters at the Ashmont T stop on a Tuesday morning in his crisp white shirt and tie, he bears an uncanny resemblance to Al Gore. But he doesn’t share the former veep’s wooden demeanor. Juaire, who has raised nearly $15,000 so far and has a full-time campaign manager, knows how to campaign. He’s constantly yelling out to familiar faces, " Hi Charlie! Hi Peter! " He even squats down to nuzzle a woman’s dog. " Sasha, " he asks the dog, " what if we get a dog park on every corner? Will you vote for me? " Schlocky, yes, but Sasha’s owner is charmed.

By taking on Feeney directly, Juaire has certainly raised more ire among Feeney’s supporters than any other candidate. But he also has strong connections among Dorchester’s civic associations and more funds than any other competitor. " If I were asked to call it now, I’d definitely say Feeney and Juaire " would be the top two vote-getters in the primary, says Doogan. (The top two advance to the final election on November 6.)

NATHAN COOPER, a facilities supervisor at UMass Boston who runs an independent business selling cell phones, is also well known in the community. A Boston native and a resident of Codman Square for 17 years, Cooper formerly served as president of the Codman Square Neighborhood Council and currently sits on the board of the Codman Square Main Streets Program. " I know Nathan is very interested in seeing that African-Americans and others have a voice in the community, " says Walczak. " I think it was seeing the dramatic turnout [among black communities in the 2000 presidential election] and wanting to capitalize on that. I’m sure Nathan saw it as an opportunity. "

Cooper refuses to criticize Feeney directly, but notes that there are problems in the district. " People have to make numerous calls to City Hall, " he says. " It’s almost as though you have to know someone to get a streetlight fixed. " As the first African-American ever to run for the District Three seat, Cooper says he wants to reach out to everyone, especially racial and ethnic minorities whose needs often fall through the cracks. One way is by opening a district office, a practice recently pioneered by Councilor Chuck Turner of Roxbury. " Because English is a second language for many in the Asian community, " says Cooper, " they’d probably like a district office where someone can relate to them. I’d explore that; that’s been done in Roxbury and has been very successful. " Though he’s careful with his language, Cooper also breaks with Feeney on another issue. " My staff would be diverse and reflect the district, " he says. " Not that you have to have a diverse staff to deliver the services, but in this day and age it makes sense. " (Feeney’s staff has never included an American-born member of a racial minority or an immigrant who speaks English as a second language, though she insists that it’s not an intentional snub.)