M . =MI. Wie UMMINO Miii ...., MMIMI IMM=MI MMII IMFM aMEMO'" "" ' IMMdE n"." iMOMM Mill "=,..MME IIII = 4 MMOO" . 111 ."—'4llllllllllMr COLLEGIAN 100 YEARS AprillBB7 .Aprill9B7 Democrats take control of U.S. Senate By The Associated Press Republicin U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter handily defeated his opponent yesterday, but the thrill of his victory was dampened as his party lost its six-year hold on the Senate. Democrats, picking off GOP seats around the nation yesterday, broke the Republicans' six-year hold on the Senate and served notice to President Reagan that this midterm elec tion means his last two years in office will require "the art of government by compro mise." As polls closed on the West Coast, Senate Republican Leader Bob Dole of Kansas con ceded that the Democrats would win control of the Senate. "Oh yeah, it's a question of whether it will be 53 or 55" Democrats, he said. Casey takes state race By RICH KIRKPATRICK Associated Press Writer PHILADELPHIA Democrat Robert P. Casey, finally reaching the political summit he first sought 20 years ago, won a narrow victory for governor yesterday over. Republican William W. Scranton 111. Scranton appeared at the ballroom in his headquarters hotel around mid night and conceded that his effort had come up short. With 98 percent of the precincts reporting, Casey had 1,674,590 or •51 percent and Scranton 1,603,926 or 49 percent. Casey waited fir another 50 min utes, and didn't appear to his cheering, delerious supporters at his headquarters in Scranton until about 12:50 a.m. "I want to give my deep thanks, my very deep and sincere thanks to all of the people of Pennsylvania for the great honor they have conferred on me tonight, and my hope and my prayer is that I will prove equal to their confidence in the four years that lie ahead," Casey said. In his concession speech, Scranton said: "I have every good wish tonight for this state and its people and for Bob Casey." Scranton had been the target of an intense negative adver tising campaign by the Democrat. Reflecting on his two terms as Gov. Dick Thornburgh's lieutenant gover nor, Scranton said, "I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve for eight years a commonwealth I deeply love." Casey won even though he did not do as well in Philadelphia as Demo crats usually must do to offset Repub lican votes elsewhere in the state. With nearly all of the city vote in, Casey was ahead in the Democratic stronghold by only 128,576 votes in stead of the 150,000 to 200,000 Demo crats usually require. Casey was ahead in Allegheny County by 57,060, where Democrats lost four years ago to Gov. Dick Thornburgh, who couldn't run for re- inside Two early morning fires caused heavy damage to homes yester day, and police say they regard the blazes as "suspicious in nature." Page 5 index comics opinions sports statelnationlworld weather This afternoon doesn't look good, since it will be cool with periods of rain and showers, with the high only reaching 45 degrees. Tonight, it will be cool with showers continuing and' a low of 39 degrees. Tomorrow, morning clouds, then a possible early shower will give way to breaks later Heidi Sonen Democrats harvested Republican seats in Maryland, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and South Dakota and held the Democratic seat in Colorado. Additionally, Democrats were leading GOP incumbents in North Da kota and Washington, and threatening to move into the lead in Nevada, where the Republican incumbent is retiring. "It could be 55-45 or 53-47. We just lost a couple," said a dejected Dole. One Senate seat the Republicans held easi ly, however, was Specter's. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Specter held 57 percent of the vote as opposed to 43 percent for Democratic challenger Bob Edgar. The senator promised last night to "continue to be independent." "It was approval by the people of Pennsyl vania for the job I've done in office," Specter Bob Casey, governor•elect, gives the thumbs up narrow victory over the Republican gubernatorial election because he had served two consecutive terms. In Casey's and Scranton's home region, northeastern Pennsylvania, Casey was winning Lackawanna and Luzerne counties by 58,028 votes. Scranton, meanwhile, was not keeping pace with the margins the Thornburgh-Scranton ticket piled up Herman claims easy 77th District victory tLw- By JANE KOPACKI Collegian Staff Writer A consistent lead throughout the night and a strong finish allowed two term Republican incumbent Lynn Herman to claim an easy victory last night to keep control of his 77th Dis trict state House seat over Democrat ic challenger George Field. Herman carried 64 percent of the vote in Centre County at 10:17 p.m. with 20 percent of the precincts re porting. Herman dominated yesterday's election, taking an early lead of 26 percentage points by 9:30 p.m. with only 12 of 85 Centre County precincts .xeporting. Herman finished strong with 64 percent of the vote, with all of the precincts reporting. He tallied 8,264 votes in Centre County to Field's 4,597 votes. "I'm pleased with the results. We had hoped for a winning margin of 3,- 000 votes and this is more gratifying than we could have hoped for," Her man said. the daily Collegian said following his victory speech at a Phila delphia hotel. Hundreds of cheering supporters chanted "Six More Years" and 'Ar-len, Ar-len" dur ing a victory celebration that had been build ing since exit polls pegged Specter as the winner a minute after the 8 p.m. closing of the voting booths. "Considering the alternative, it's better to win," Specter said from the podium. "I want to thank the people of Pennsylvania for their expression of confidence and for sending me back to the U.S. Senate for a second term." Edgar told 200 supporters in Philadelphia, "While we have lost this election, we have not lost hope," during a 13-minute concession speech. "We have struggled together for what we you and I, all of us in this room know is right." eyes, he said: "We stayed the course and we dared to challenge the status to supporters at his headquarters in Scranton. The Democrat took a quo to make a better and safer world candidate; William Scranton 111. for all of us. At the end of the struggle we can say we made a difference." Lancaster County by 32,553 compared Wachob congratulated Clinger by to 37,698 four years ago. telephone shortly before addressing Casey, 54, a former state senator his supporters. and two-term reform-minded auditor Asked if he would run again, he general, was making his fourth bid said:."No, I think it's next to impossi for the governorship since 1966. He ble to come back for a third time. I had lost in the 1966, 1970 and 1978 think the people of the district have primaries before winning the nomi- spoken and I'm going to abide by nation this spring. their decision." four years ago in Delaware and Mont gomery counties, the GOP bedrocks surrounding Philadelphia and in Lancaster County. Scranton was leading in Delaware County by 38,460 compared to a 59,710 margin in 1982, was ahead in Mont gomery County by 52,074 compared to 71,041 in 1982 and was. leading in The 30-year-old from ' Philipsburg serves on the House Education Com mittee, which reviews the Universi ty's funding requests before the House votes on them. Herman has voted for capital projects for the University, including the Center for Engineering Excellence and the Agri culture Science and Industry. Center. He also supported increases to the Ben Franklin Partnership Program, designed to stimulate small business es and jobs in Pennsylvania. During the campaign, he called rejuvenating the Pennsylvania econ omy one of his top priorities. "I want to thank my constituents and assure them that I will execute my responsibilities to the best of my ability," Herman said last night from his Philipsburg home. The challenger controlled the elec torate in only two Centre County precincts, while tying with Herman for a third. Herman maintained con trol in the rest of the county. Field conceded his defeat at 11:30 p.m. from his home in Port Matilda. Republicans began the day trying to defend a fragile 53-47 majority The Democrats needed a shift of only four seats in their favor to gain the majority party's right to appoint committee chairmen and set the Senate's legislative agenda. Their targets were vulnerable GOP freshmen who narrowly won office on the strength of Rea gan's landside election in 1980. Senate Democratic Leader Robert C. Byrd of. West Virginia, in line to become majority leader, said he had first thought his party would win a 52-48 majority but as the returns came in, he confidently predicted, "I believe it's going to be better than that." Retiring House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill Jr., D-Mass., said that with a Democratic Senate, "The government will operate nn the basis that (Reagan) is the leader of the nation Lynn Herman He said: "We made some good points in the campaign. We let Lynn Her man know that we're not completely satisfied with the representation he is giving." Field added that the district showed it is satisfied enough to return the incumbent to Harrisburg. He said he planned to telephone Herman im mediately to congratulate him. Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1986 Vol. 87, No. 81 18 pages University Park, Pa. 16802 Published by students of The Pennsylvania State University 01988 Collegian Inc. Clinger romps to take county By JANE KOPACKI Collegian Staff Writer Republican incumbent William F. Clinger won a fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives last night, beating Democratic challenger Bill Wachob in a rematch that gained national exposure. Clinger, who survived a scare in 1984 after winning by only 6,000 votes, won by a comfortable margin in the 12-county, north-central Pennsylva nia race this year. In Centre County, Clinger carried 59 percent of the vote compared to winning only 49 percent two years ago against the former state representative. With all Centre County precincts reporting last night, Clinger received 18,103 votes to Wachob's 12,591 votes. With 60 percent of the ballots tal lied, Clinger declared victory at 11:20 as he carried 59 percent of the vote districtwide. At 11 p.m. Clinger led by a 29,328 to 22,498 margin while taking 57 percent of the vote. As the band played "Happy Days Are Here Again," Clinger appeared before his 250 supporters and began his victory speech by saying, "As a renowned American philosopher Jackie Gleason once said, 'How sweet it is.' " Laughter erupted into tears and chants at his campaign head quarters in Dubois. Clinger said, "You all won a great victory today." He called the win the most incredible grass-roots effort seen in central and western Pennsyl vania. "I'm delighted to be here. It's lot more pleasant an evening than I had two years ago." Wachob conceded the race at 12:30 this morning. In a speech to about 200 supporters gathered at the Elks Club in Johnsonburg, he thanked them for their hard work and said "we should go about rebuilding this congressio nal district." Swallowing hard while standing next to his wife, who had tears in her Decisive win sends Rudy back to House By JANE KOPACKI Collegian Staff Writer After a gruelling campaign of mis leading claims and distortion in the state House of Representative's 171st District, Democratic incumbent Ruth C. Rudy easily captured a victory last night that will return her to in Harris burg for a third term. Rudy won the Centre-Mifflin Coun ty district seat handily over Republi can challenger Joyce Conklin Williamson carrying a 40-percentage point lead 9,390 votes to William son's 4,072 with all preceints report ing. Totally controlling Centre County, Rudy did not allow Williamson a single precinct victory. Rudy, saying she was overwhelmed by the win, thanked voters in her 171st district. "I worked hard for the people of the 171st district." She said she probably wouldn't rest well after such an overwhelming vic tory. She added, "Tomorrow, I'll probably collapse." More election coverage Pages 2,16 . . . There will be more conciliation. It will be the art of government by compromise, it has happened many times in the past and it's not that bad." Overall, Democrats defended only 12 seats at the polls, while Republicans were trying to protect 22 of their own. The Democrats had 35 holdovers and the Republicans had 31. Of the 15 Republican incumbents who were swept into the Senate during the Reagan landslide in 1980, fewer than half could claim a comfortable lead over their Democratic challengers heading into Election. Day. William F. Clinger The rematch between Clinger and Wachob was targeted by Democrats as one of the top five races in the country because Wachob fared so well in this Republican district in 1984: The race attracted national atten tion over the past month as political and public celebrities including U.S. Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole, U.S. Rep. Jim Wright, U.S. Sen. and presidential hopeful Gary Hart, and Vice President George Bush were drawn into its ranks. "It's been a long and hard cam paign," Clinger said. "We ran a much different campaign this time." He added that his campaign team made mistakes in 1984 because it did not answer any of Wachob's charges then. . He was pleasantly surprised by the large margin of victory in Centre County. He said moving his campaign headquarters from Warren County to State College helped make him more visible. Clinger attributed part of the victo ry to his seniority and experience on the Pubic Works and Transportation Committee and Govermental Opera tion Committee, which better helps him deal with problems in district. Wachob said: "Clinger fought back and ran a very aggressive campaign a good campaign and when it came down to us slugging it out, he came out on top." Rudy was first elected to the state House in 1982 and serves on the state House committees on Local Govern ment and State Government and is secretary of the Agriculture and Ru ral Affairs Committee. Rudy said,"lt was my most diffi cult campaign because I was not sure how to react to my opponent and didn't want to be as negative (as Williamson). She described this cam paign as the most distressing. "My opponent ran a campaign with total disregard for truth and on groundless allegations," Rudy said last night, celebrating the victory in her home in Centre Hall. She added that as late as .11:30 p.m., she had received no word from Williamson. Williamson could not be reached for comment. The 48-year-old, Democratic in cumbent tallied 223 votes or 61 percent of the College Township West precinct, which includes cam pus votes from the East Halls pre cinct of Stuart, Snyder, Hastings and Please see RUDY, Page 16.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers