W illiam F. Weld '66 has done what most Harvard students can only dream about.

As Massachusetts governor, he has achieved fame and power. Perhaps more impressively, as an undergraduate, he finished his senior honors thesis in a mere two weeks.

Weld hopes that his re-election bid in November will be as successful as those two weeks he spent under the Hasty Pudding stage writing his thesis with pad and paper, an effort which culminated in a summa cum laude distinction.

The Republican governor claims he has been equally proficient in his first term in office.

"[Lt. Gov.] Paul [Cellucci] and I are encouraged by what we've done so far--balancing four budgets, cutting taxes five times, abolishing the early release of inmates, getting our economy growing again, reforming our public schools, trying to protect the state's open space and rivers," says Weld, a former Adams House resident.

Weld is advertising the strength of his record in the race against State Sen. Michael J. Barrett '70 (D-Cambridge), State Rep. Mark Roosevelt '78 (D-Beacon Hill) and former State Sen. George Bachrach (D-Watertown).

Specifically Weld has enphasized three major issues in the campaign; crime, welfare reform and the state's economy.

On the first issue, crime Weld has supported the popular "three strikes and you're out" proposal, which would mandate life sentences for criminals convicted of three violent felonies.

Weld has also espoused the reinstitution of capital punishment, last used here in 1947.

"I think we should say to someone convicted of a third violent felony: `That's it. You've ruined too many lives. Now your life is ruined,''' Weld says. "There shouldn't be debate about 'three strikes'. It should be a law."

The February slayings of Boston Police officer Wayne Anderson and Paxton Police chief Robert Mortell prompted Weld's call for the reinstatement of capital punishment.

"These were good men, and they were taken from us by men gone bad," Weld says. "These cop-killers are walking advertisements for why we need to bring the death penalty back to Massachusetts."

"It's time to stop talking tough," Weld adds. "It's time for action. On the death penalty. On life sentences for three time losers. On building more prisons."

As governor, Weld has turned a contentious streak from debating the diverse residents of Adams House in the dining hall to arguing with Democrats in the state legislature.

"The Democrats in the legislature have refused to hold even a single hearing on capital punishment," Weld says. "The Massachusetts legislature is using all its tricks to keep the issue from even being debated, much less enacted. That's not Democratic leadership, that's legislative arrogance."