Ward 5 has been the setting of vigorous, and at times questionable, campaigning, as five candidates try to unseat incumbent Democratic Councilman Mary Ann Lecate. Most of her opponents say she will lose the primary.

In a ward divided by more than just the two interstate highways that cut through its neighborhoods. Kucinich backers are expected to vote for Lester McFadden, 48, an auto worker who narrowly lost to Mrs. Lecate in 1977, in his third try for council.

Others are expected to scatter their votes among Mrs. Lecate, 51, a councilman for the past 31⁄2 years Larry Bresler, 30, a community activist and lawyer; Chris Mastroïanni, 25, Ward 5 Democratic Club vice president who resigned last month as chief deputy clerk of Cleveland Municipal Court in order to run for council; Caroline M. Gioitta, 23, a commercial photographer who has campaigned for others, including Kucinich; and Nina

Reilly, 40, director of the Clark Fulton Commmunity Center.

McFadden, who was appointed chairman of the zoning board of appeals by Kucinich last year, has made issues of busing, Mrs. Lecate's pending indictment in the carnival kickback case, big business, the recall and Forbes.

He accused Mrs. Lecate of voting on three occasions for "forced school busing."

.School desegregation was ordered by U.S.District Judge Frank J. Battisti and council never voted on it. Council voted to spend community development money on a film to promote . peaceful desegregation.

Mrs. Lecate, Bresler, Mastroianni, Miss Gioitta and Mrs. Reilly have centered their campaigns on ward problems, including pursuing more services, recreation, restoration of deteriorating homes and street repair.

All expressed dismay at McFadden's attacks on Mrs. Lecate and his efforts to make Forbes and busing issues.

Mastroianni said he has received telephone threats by persons who warned him to stop distributing his campaign literature, and Bresler said allegations have been circulated that he is a homosexual. He was married Sept. 1.