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Write-in campaign keeps Decker on Cambridge City Council

E-mail|Link|Comments () November 6, 2009 12:13 PM

By Meghan Irons, Globe Staff

CAMBRIDGE -- Marjorie Decker, a city councilor who waged a write-in campaign after missing a deadline to get her name on the ballot, will keep her seat for another two years, according to unofficial election results published today by the City of Cambridge.

Decker captured one of nine at-large seats on the council in a race that included 29 candidates. Councilor Larry Ward was defeated, and newcomer Leland Cheung filled the final ninth spot on the council, according to the unofficial results on the city's website.

Decker launched a write-in effort after her campaign missed the deadline to submit the 50 signatures needed to be listed on the Nov. 3 ballot. She blamed the error on a campaign mistake. But other political observers said her campaign had the wrong date.

Cambridge has a proportional representation election system which allows voters to rank their candidates in order of preference. Decker was banking on residents giving her their highest vote to keep her seat.

The write-in campaign delayed the results because election officials had to count Decker's 3,590 write-in votes by hand. Cambridge officials cautioned that the results will not be finalized until Nov. 13, when provisional and overseas absentee ballots will be counted.