Cambridge Residents Support Dukakis for Governor

With about two weeks remaining before the state's general elections, a random sampling of Cambridge voters yesterday indicated strong support for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Michael S. Dukakis.

Of the 20 people interviewed yesterday, 15 said they would vote for Dukakis on November 2 while only three said they support Republican candidate John Winthrop Sears '52.

Most of those expressing a preference for Dukakis cited the former governor's track record on social programs.

Welfare

"I think Dukakis will keep government levels for welfare up," Richard J. Davison, a registered Democrat, said yesterday. He added that Dukakis will likely lessen the corruption in the state government as well.

"I am interested in the stance he [Dukakis] is taking for social justice," a second Democrat said. Dukakis did a "reasonable job" in his first term as state governor, he said.

Cambridge resident J. Glover Taylor said he plans to vote against what he calls a national swing towards conservatism this year. The choice between liberal and conservative candidates such as Dukakis and Sears is "particularly dramatic," he said.

"I think he's doing the right thing in making Reagan an issue," said another supporter of Dukakis.

Alarms a Mystery

Some of those interviewed said they support Dukakis only because they have heard little or nothing about Sears, a former state representative and former Boston city councilor.

Silence

"All I ve heard about Sears is that he's an arch-conservative," said one resident. Others agreed that they knew virtually nothing about Sears' platform or his campaign.

Supporters of Sears praised what they called the candidate's honesty and common sense. They said that Sears would likely cut back corruption in the government.

Slugs

"Massachusetts can do well to get rid of the slugs that proliferate in the state government." George E. Wilson, a registered independent, said. Wilson said that he is more closely allied with Sears' beliefs that with those of Dukakis. "Sears has business sense," he added.

A second independent who said he supported Sears called the candidate "a reasonable fellow who's honest but not very interesting." He said that he opposes Dukakis because of his "opportunistic" spending policies during his last term as governor.