The Issues
City demographics are changing rapidly, DiCara adds, noting the departure of many middle class whites to the suburbs and the influx of Blacks, Hispanics, and gays.
The candidates also agree that race relations is one of the most pressing problems faced by the city. "There are still unspoken racial barriers in Boston," says DiCara.
"Kevin White probable would like to see MelKing in the final election," says Flynn. "[White] has been very effective in pitting neighborhoods and people against each other for his political advantage. Something like that would be catastrophic."
Observers say that racism will most likely manifest itself in housing and education related issues. Poorer tenants, a large proportion of whom are minorities, have little protection against real estate developers who have been driving up rents. And public schooling has lost much of its white constituency over the issue of busing, says DiCara, resulting in a disproportion between minorities and whites in area schools.
"In 1975 the findings were that Boston school were segregated--certain students went to certain schools because of their race," DiCara explains. "The proposed remedy--the busing orders--was not a remedy. Busing didn't make any sense and people bolted the school system."
The candidates agree that the management of the school system will be of prime importance to the new mayor. according to Kiley, 30 percent of tax expenditures go to public schooling.
The Race
Distinctions between the challengers and between White and the rest of the field will probably become more apparent as candidacies are officially declared and campaigning begins in earnest in April. Other issues--the reliance on property taxes for city revenues, the fact that White has been mayor for 16 years, the polarization of the neighborhoods and the business community will no doubt be discussed.
But issues will probable take a back seat to Kevin White. If he runs, he will use his considerable political skills to bring the media and the voters around to his side. Aside from Kearney, who raised $119,300 last year, none of the challenger has shown that he is able to raise enough funds to fight an advertising war with White. Flynn and king are the most visible contenders, but they will probably be fighting for the same constituency Finnegan, because he is such a late entrant, may never figure into the race unless he can parlay his popularity as a radio host into a healthy campaign bank account. And DiCara and Kiley must show that they have more than a narrow constituency.
Says Flynn, "The real question is whether the last of the big city mayors is going to survive."