And while many lament the passing of Duehay andRussell their departure ensures the upcoming CityCouncil races will inject the council with newblood.

"We've been nursing the status quo for severalyears now," says Kenneth E. Reeves '72. "I see itas an opportunity for the Council to stand up andhave five or seven members to go the same way intothe future."

The most prominent issues that stand before thecouncil are the locations and building of a newcentral Cambridge public library and a new policestation.

The council must also deal with the impendingrenewal of controversial City Manager Robert W.Healy's contract this summer. Duehay has been astrong supporter of Healy, and with his departurethe city manager's job could come open again.

Cambridge must also deal with the disappointingnews of Massachusetts Comprehensive AssessmentSystem test results, which while they remainrespectable, do not put Cambridge schoolchildreninto the state elite. Even the number of Harvardacceptances for Cambridge high school studentsdecreased this year.

Perhaps a new perspective is best. TheCambridge where Duehay was raised and that heruled over as mayor is coming to an end. AnAbercrombie & Fitch franchise is moving in wherethe Tasty once was, and worries aboutgentrification are gaining momentum in the"People's Republic," as residents like to calltheir city.

But both have proven themselves as extremelycapable politicians. Russell has stepped far outof her husband's shadow. Their impact on the citywill continue to be felt long after their chairsare filled by others