Instant Runoff Simulations for Choosing the Cambridge Mayor
In Cambridge, the Mayor is the Chair of the City Council and of the School Committee. This is not a popularly elected mayor, but over the years some have suggested that it should be. Often missing from the conversation is the question of how such a popular election would take place in the context of a Plan E Charter, proportional representation elections for City Council and School Committee, and a city manager form of government.
One suggestion that has been made is that without changing the Charter, the City Council could factor into their decision what the actual City Council ballots might have to say regarding the "popular choice" for who should be chosen as mayor. This is only a simulation and must be understood with the caveat that voters might vote differently if they knew that their City Council vote might also be used to elect the mayor. That said, here’s what the ballots have to say for the 1997 through 2011 City Council elections and what actually happened in the City Council vote for mayor for each of these mayoral elections.
| 1997 Election | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 | Round 8 | Round 9 | – |
| Galluccio, Anthony D. | 2738 | 2793 | 3299 | 3582 | 4136 | 4347 | 4701 | 6671 | 0 | DEFEATED — 8th round |
| Duehay, Francis | 2118 | 2440 | 2548 | 2739 | 2851 | 3827 | 6037 | 6759 | 6759 | ELECTED — 8th round |
| Triantafillou, Katherine | 2022 | 2241 | 2331 | 2679 | 2780 | 3596 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 6th round |
| Sullivan, Michael A. | 1833 | 1862 | 2359 | 2676 | 3593 | 3733 | 3984 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 7th round |
| Toomey, Timothy J., Jr. | 1816 | 1835 | 2005 | 2156 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 4th round |
| Born, Kathleen | 1712 | 1947 | 2024 | 2236 | 2342 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 5th round |
| Reeves, Kenneth E. | 1674 | 1771 | 1859 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 3rd round |
| Russell, Sheila | 1618 | 1664 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 2nd round |
| Davis, Henrietta | 1084 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 1st round |
| EXHAUST | 0 | 62 | 190 | 547 | 913 | 1112 | 1893 | 3185 | 9856 | – |
| Total | 16615 | 16615 | 16615 | 16615 | 16615 | 16615 | 16615 | 16615 | 16615 | – |
Actual result: On January 26, 1998 on the 3rd Ballot, Francis Duehay was elected as mayor for the 1998-1999 City Council term.
Note: The three most popular Instant Runoff candidates were Francis Duehay, Anthony Galluccio, and Michael Sullivan. The most popular candidate was elected as mayor.
| 1999 Election | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 | Round 8 | Round 9 | – |
| Galluccio, Anthony D. | 3540 | 4072 | 4192 | 4641 | 4996 | 5171 | 6685 | 7195 | 8857 | ELECTED — 9th round |
| Decker, Marjorie C. | 2193 | 2262 | 2570 | 2655 | 3054 | 3765 | 4072 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 7th round |
| Born, Kathleen | 2187 | 2249 | 2970 | 3072 | 3395 | 4343 | 4812 | 6810 | 0 | DEFEATED — 8th round |
| Braude, Jim | 1976 | 2021 | 2301 | 2355 | 2545 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 5th round |
| Reeves, Kenneth E. | 1825 | 1868 | 2022 | 2139 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 4th round |
| Davis, Henrietta | 1796 | 1832 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 2nd round |
| Toomey, Timothy J., Jr. | 1776 | 1889 | 1923 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 3rd round |
| Sullivan, Michael A. | 1610 | 1934 | 1999 | 2764 | 3147 | 3295 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 6th round |
| Maher, David | 1343 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 1st round |
| EXHAUST | 0 | 119 | 269 | 620 | 1109 | 1672 | 2677 | 4241 | 9389 | – |
| TOTAL | 18246 | 18246 | 18246 | 18246 | 18246 | 18246 | 18246 | 18246 | 18246 | – |
Actual result: In the wee hours of February 15, 2000 on the 5th Ballot, Anthony Galluccio was elected as mayor for the 2000-2001 City Council term.
Note: The three most popular Instant Runoff candidates were Anthony Galluccio, Kathleen Born, and Marjorie Decker. The most popular candidate was elected as mayor.
| 2001 Election | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 | Round 8 | Round 9 | – |
| Galluccio, Anthony D. | 3477 | 3851 | 4042 | 4478 | 4836 | 6241 | 6654 | 7415 | 8402 | ELECTED — 9th round |
| Davis, Henrietta | 2174 | 2229 | 2346 | 2435 | 3005 | 3271 | 4380 | 6232 | 0 | DEFEATED — 8th round |
| Murphy, Brian | 2172 | 2241 | 2303 | 2331 | 2713 | 2838 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 6th round |
| Decker, Marjorie C. | 1845 | 1914 | 2067 | 2173 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 4th round |
| Simmons, Denise | 1762 | 1814 | 2296 | 2369 | 2836 | 2995 | 3812 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 7th round |
| Toomey, Timothy J., Jr. | 1485 | 1578 | 1640 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 3rd round |
| Sullivan, Michael A. | 1420 | 1703 | 1828 | 2459 | 2611 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 5th round |
| Reeves, Kenneth E. | 1300 | 1345 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 2nd round |
| Maher, David P. | 1167 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 1st round |
| EXHAUST | 0 | 127 | 280 | 557 | 801 | 1457 | 1956 | 3155 | 8400 | – |
| TOTAL | 16802 | 16802 | 16802 | 16802 | 16802 | 16802 | 16802 | 16802 | 16802 | – |
Actual result: On January 7, 2002 on the 1st Ballot, Michael Sullivan was elected as mayor for the 2002-2003 City Council term.
Note: The three most popular Instant Runoff candidates were Anthony Galluccio, Henrietta Davis, and Denise Simmons. The 5th most popular candidate was elected as mayor.
| 2003 Election | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 | Round 8 | Round 9 | – |
| Galluccio, Anthony D. | 3500 | 3937 | 4023 | 4570 | 5024 | 5331 | 5951 | 8008 | 9528 | ELECTED — 9th round |
| Davis, Henrietta | 2786 | 2859 | 3204 | 3326 | 3712 | 4795 | 6137 | 6852 | 0 | DEFEATED — 8th round |
| Murphy, Brian | 2114 | 2318 | 2488 | 2544 | 2716 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 5th round |
| Decker, Marjorie C. | 1961 | 2033 | 2398 | 2495 | 2931 | 3475 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 6th round |
| Sullivan, Michael A. | 1913 | 2218 | 2320 | 3015 | 3396 | 3703 | 4039 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 7th round |
| Reeves, Kenneth E. | 1828 | 1897 | 2269 | 2371 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 4th round |
| Toomey, Timothy J., Jr. | 1817 | 1929 | 1986 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 3rd round |
| Simmons, Denise | 1683 | 1729 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 2nd round |
| Maher, David P. | 1452 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 1st round |
| EXHAUST | 0 | 134 | 366 | 733 | 1275 | 1750 | 2927 | 4194 | 9526 | – |
| TOTAL | 19054 | 19054 | 19054 | 19054 | 19054 | 19054 | 19054 | 19054 | 19054 | – |
Actual result: On January 5, 2004 on the 1st Ballot, Michael Sullivan was elected as mayor for the 2004-2005 City Council term.
Note: The three most popular Instant Runoff candidates were Anthony Galluccio, Henrietta Davis, and Michael Sullivan. The 3rd most popular candidate was elected as mayor.
| 2005 Election | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 | Round 8 | Round 9 | – |
| Galluccio, Anthony D. | 2437 | 2598 | 2994 | 3136 | 3383 | 3800 | 5171 | 5942 | 0 | DEFEATED — 8th round |
| Decker, Marjorie C. | 1823 | 1962 | 2054 | 2381 | 2689 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 5th round |
| Davis, Henrietta | 1804 | 1911 | 1978 | 2461 | 2936 | 3821 | 4229 | 6006 | 7864 | ELECTED — 9th round |
| Sullivan, Michael A. | 1777 | 1929 | 2532 | 2689 | 2865 | 3113 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 6th round |
| Kelley, Craig A. | 1665 | 1696 | 1724 | 1869 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 4th round |
| Simmons, Denise | 1621 | 2174 | 2262 | 2517 | 2794 | 3460 | 3853 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 7th round |
| Murphy, Brian | 1590 | 1662 | 1700 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 3rd round |
| Toomey, Timothy J., Jr. | 1577 | 1629 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 2nd round |
| Reeves, Kenneth E. | 1433 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 1st round |
| EXHAUST | 0 | 166 | 483 | 674 | 1060 | 1533 | 2474 | 3779 | 7863 | – |
| TOTAL | 15727 | 15727 | 15727 | 15727 | 15727 | 15727 | 15727 | 15727 | 15727 | – |
Actual result: On January 2, 2006 on the 1st Ballot, Kenneth E. Reeves was elected as mayor for the 2006-2007 City Council term.
Note: The three most popular Instant Runoff candidates were Henrietta Davis, Anthony Galluccio, and Denise Simmons. The least popular candidate was elected as mayor.
| 2007 Election | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 | Round 8 | Round 9 | – |
| Toomey, Timothy J., Jr. | 1829 | 1919 | 2010 | 2145 | 2244 | 3018 | 3561 | 3939 | 0 | DEFEATED — 8th round |
| Davis, Henrietta | 1811 | 2062 | 2313 | 2818 | 3435 | 3795 | 4443 | 5903 | 6645 | ELECTED — 9th round |
| Maher, David P. | 1672 | 1720 | 1886 | 2020 | 2200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 5th round |
| Reeves, Kenneth E. | 1480 | 1764 | 1838 | 2048 | 2249 | 2452 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 6th round |
| Murphy, Brian | 1343 | 1430 | 1633 | 1853 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 4th round |
| Seidel, Sam | 1314 | 1410 | 1687 | 1879 | 2283 | 2510 | 2814 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 7th round |
| Kelley, Craig A. | 1308 | 1380 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 2nd round |
| Decker, Marjorie C. | 1276 | 1468 | 1609 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 3rd round |
| Simmons, E. Denise | 1256 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 1st round |
| EXHAUST | 0 | 136 | 313 | 526 | 878 | 1514 | 2471 | 3447 | 6644 | – |
| TOTAL | 13289 | 13289 | 13289 | 13289 | 13289 | 13289 | 13289 | 13289 | 13289 | – |
Actual result: On January 14, 2008 on the 2nd Ballot, Denise Simmons was elected as mayor for the 2008-2009 City Council term.
Note: The three most popular Instant Runoff candidates were Henrietta Davis, Tim Toomey, and Sam Seidel. The least popular candidate was elected as mayor.
| 2009 Election | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 | Round 8 | Round 9 | – |
| Davis, Henrietta | 2343 | 2601 | 3010 | 3431 | 3677 | 4049 | 4846 | 5589 | 7678 | ELECTED — 9th round |
| Toomey, Jr., Timothy J. | 2199 | 2284 | 2355 | 2478 | 2645 | 3330 | 3648 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 7th round |
| Simmons, E. Denise | 2191 | 2318 | 2563 | 2912 | 3698 | 3949 | 4460 | 5158 | 0 | DEFEATED — 8th round |
| Maher, David P. | 1667 | 1749 | 1873 | 2017 | 2121 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 5th round |
| Kelley, Craig A. | 1623 | 1759 | 1952 | 2083 | 2154 | 2384 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 6th round |
| Reeves, Kenneth E. | 1450 | 1501 | 1580 | 1760 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 4th round |
| Decker, Marjorie C. | 1438 | 1476 | 1531 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 3rd round |
| Seidel, Sam | 1238 | 1373 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 2nd round |
| Cheung, Leland | 1205 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 1st round |
| EXHAUST | 0 | 293 | 490 | 673 | 1059 | 1642 | 2400 | 4607 | 7676 | – |
| TOTAL | 15354 | 15354 | 15354 | 15354 | 15354 | 15354 | 15354 | 15354 | 15354 | – |
Actual result: On February 22, 2010 on the 6th Ballot, David Maher was elected as mayor for the 2010-2011 City Council term.
Note: The three most popular Instant Runoff candidates were Henrietta Davis, Denise Simmons, and Tim Toomey. The 5th most popular candidate was elected as mayor.
| 2011 Election | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 | Round 8 | Round 9 | – |
| Cheung, Leland | 2591 | 2719 | 3119 | 3437 | 4151 | 4594 | 5632 | 6827 | 7695 | ELECTED — 9th round |
| Maher, David P. | 1951 | 2035 | 2193 | 2382 | 2480 | 3081 | 3554 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 7th round |
| Toomey, Jr., Timothy J. | 1924 | 2023 | 2094 | 2193 | 2275 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 5th round |
| Davis, Henrietta | 1839 | 1914 | 2104 | 2461 | 2800 | 2984 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 6th round |
| Simmons, E. Denise | 1597 | 2095 | 2200 | 2513 | 2702 | 3001 | 3812 | 4586 | 0 | DEFEATED — 8th round |
| vanBeuzekom, Minka Y. | 1459 | 1492 | 1728 | 1825 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 4th round |
| Kelley, Craig A. | 1416 | 1451 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 2nd round |
| Decker, Marjorie C. | 1356 | 1469 | 1588 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 3rd round |
| Reeves, Kenneth E. | 1255 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DEFEATED — 1st round |
| EXHAUST | 0 | 190 | 362 | 577 | 980 | 1728 | 2390 | 3975 | 7693 | – |
| TOTAL | 15388 | 15388 | 15388 | 15388 | 15388 | 15388 | 15388 | 15388 | 15388 | – |
Actual result: Inauguration Day is Monday, January 2, 2012. The 1st Ballot for mayor will be cast at the Inaugural Meeting.
Note: The three most popular Instant Runoff candidates were Leland Cheung, Denise Simmons, and David Maher.
Feb 22, 2012 Update: Henrietta Davis was elected on the 10th Ballot as mayor for the 2012-2013 City Council term. The 4th most popular candidate was elected as mayor.