Leonard J. Russell
Encyclopedia
Leonard J. Russell was a mayor (council chairman) of Cambridge, Massachusetts
and husband of mayor Sheila Russell. Russel, a former waste disposal manager, represented traditional conservative blue collar
workforce of Cambridge at the time when traditional neighborhoods were giving up to pressure from expanding universities and high technology companies.
Russell joined Cambridge local politics during the 1973 municipal council election. Two years later he won the council seat, followed by re-elections in 1979, 1981 and 1983. Russell launched his career as an independent candidate on a platform for a professional city management, and joined the bi-partisan coalition that was established to elect Walter J. Sullivan as mayor. Russell remained in alliance with Sullivan and in opposition to Cambridge Civic Association for most of his tenure, although eventually Sullivan sided with CCA.
Russell was elected mayor of Cambridge in January 1984; it was his fourth attempt for a mayor's seat. At first, the city council was split, with incumbent Alfred Velucci and three other candidates, including Russell, competing for the job; media predicted a protracted campaign like that of 1948, when it took 43 weeks to elect a candidate. Russell, this time in alliance with liberal council members, nevertheless was elected after only four weeks of debate. He was immediately involved into clashes around the firing of long-term School Superintendent William Lannon, accused of political patronage but supported by the parents; the situation temporarily defused only in the end of October and was followed by a work-to-rule
action by schoolteachers in November. He also had to moderate local campaign against nerve gas testing at Arthur D. Little
. In another controversial move, Russell spoke to "stop the expansion of MIT and Harvard
into Cambridge's neighborhoods" and intervened against Harvard University plans, declaring his intention to take the property owned by Harvard on eminent domain
terms and redevelop it into low-income public housing
.
Russell himself, speaking on the first anniversary of mayoral election, claimed local ordinances on human rights
and on suppression of smokers to be his most important achievements of this year. The controversial smoking ordinance, enacted in July 1984, banned tobacco smoking
in restaurants, except for specially designated smoking areas. Russell said, "I was in favor because people should be able to go out and enjoy a meal without being disturbed by others smoking". After his death media disclosed that Russell was already fighting cancer
when elected mayor.
Shortly after his death, the state of Massachusetts renamed Huron Avenue Bridge after Russell. Harvard University
established six, now (2009) three Leonard Russell scholarships for local municipal employess.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
and husband of mayor Sheila Russell. Russel, a former waste disposal manager, represented traditional conservative blue collar
Blue collar
Blue collar can refer to:*Blue-collar worker, a traditional designation of the working class*Blue-collar crime, the types of crimes typically associated with the working class*A census designation...
workforce of Cambridge at the time when traditional neighborhoods were giving up to pressure from expanding universities and high technology companies.
Russell joined Cambridge local politics during the 1973 municipal council election. Two years later he won the council seat, followed by re-elections in 1979, 1981 and 1983. Russell launched his career as an independent candidate on a platform for a professional city management, and joined the bi-partisan coalition that was established to elect Walter J. Sullivan as mayor. Russell remained in alliance with Sullivan and in opposition to Cambridge Civic Association for most of his tenure, although eventually Sullivan sided with CCA.
Russell was elected mayor of Cambridge in January 1984; it was his fourth attempt for a mayor's seat. At first, the city council was split, with incumbent Alfred Velucci and three other candidates, including Russell, competing for the job; media predicted a protracted campaign like that of 1948, when it took 43 weeks to elect a candidate. Russell, this time in alliance with liberal council members, nevertheless was elected after only four weeks of debate. He was immediately involved into clashes around the firing of long-term School Superintendent William Lannon, accused of political patronage but supported by the parents; the situation temporarily defused only in the end of October and was followed by a work-to-rule
Work-to-rule
Work-to-rule is an industrial action in which employees do no more than the minimum required by the rules of their contract, and follow safety or other regulations to the letter in order to cause a slowdown rather than to serve their purpose. This is considered less disruptive than a strike or...
action by schoolteachers in November. He also had to moderate local campaign against nerve gas testing at Arthur D. Little
Arthur D. Little
Arthur D. Little is an international management consulting firm originally headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and formally incorporated by that name in 1909 by Arthur Dehon Little, an MIT chemist who had discovered acetate. Arthur D. Little pioneered the concept of contracted...
. In another controversial move, Russell spoke to "stop the expansion of MIT and Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
into Cambridge's neighborhoods" and intervened against Harvard University plans, declaring his intention to take the property owned by Harvard on eminent domain
Eminent domain
Eminent domain , compulsory purchase , resumption/compulsory acquisition , or expropriation is an action of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent...
terms and redevelop it into low-income public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
.
Russell himself, speaking on the first anniversary of mayoral election, claimed local ordinances on human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and on suppression of smokers to be his most important achievements of this year. The controversial smoking ordinance, enacted in July 1984, banned tobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking is the practice where tobacco is burned and the resulting smoke is inhaled. The practice may have begun as early as 5000–3000 BCE. Tobacco was introduced to Eurasia in the late 16th century where it followed common trade routes...
in restaurants, except for specially designated smoking areas. Russell said, "I was in favor because people should be able to go out and enjoy a meal without being disturbed by others smoking". After his death media disclosed that Russell was already fighting cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
when elected mayor.
Shortly after his death, the state of Massachusetts renamed Huron Avenue Bridge after Russell. Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
established six, now (2009) three Leonard Russell scholarships for local municipal employess.