Tuesday, May 18, 1976 THE MICHjGAN DAILY Page Three
Senate race begins to heat
By LANI JORDAN and
ELAINE FLETCHER
Although the campaigns of
;everal of the candidates for
Phillip Hart's Senate seat seem
to be gaining momentum, the
general concensus among the
state and 1 a c a 1 Democrats
present at a Saturday evening
fundraiser for Rep. Perry Bul-
lard(D-Ann Arbor) was that Sec-
retary of State Richard Austin
oauld receive the nomination.
Among those present were
candidates Congressman James
O'lara (D-12th dist.) and John
otterbacher (D-Grand Rapids).
\ustin was unable to attend.
O'1IARA ASSESSING his posi-
tion said, "I think my chances
are good. It's going to be a
three way race (between Austin,
Iara, and Rep. Donald Reigle
(D-7th dist.) ) I think 40 per
cent (of the vote) will be
enough."
O'Hara stressed Austin's high
"name recognition" stemming
from his position as Secretary of
State, as the factor which would
contribute to Austin's success.
"My name recognition is strong-
est in the Detroit metropolitan
area (next to Austin's)," he said,
"but Dick will do better among
the blacks there as everywhere
else."
Federal spending is of central
focus in O'Hara's campaign.
"I have a special background
in education legislation," the
Congressman said, singling out
one area of concern. "I want to
extend the benefits of federal
programs to middle income fam-
ilies and help higher education
by bringing down tuition," he
explained.
O'HARA ALSO supports na-
tional health insurance and the
Equal Rights Amendment.
The emphasis in Otterbacher's
campaign is also on the econ-
omy. He advocates the passage
of a minimum income tax to
insure that people in the upper
income brackets do not avoid
paying taxes.
"I just think it's going to be a
long three months," said Otter-
bacher, who sees the nomina-
tion as wide open.
"IF THE election were held
tomorrow Austin would win but
just on naioe recognition," he
added.
House Majority Floor Leader
Joseph Forbes (D-Oak Park) has
not yet made a formal endorse-
ment of a Senate candidate but
said, 'If I did it would be a
toss-up b e t w e e n Reigle and
O'Hara. Austin is alright, but
he's too old (62). We need some-
one young because it takes a
long time to work your way up
in the Senate."
Rep. Lynn Jondahl (l-East
Lansing) however, is predicting
a race between Reigle and Aus-
tin. "Reigle's pretty good. He's
come out for good things," he
said.
ANN ARBOR Mayor Albert
Wheeler and Councilman Jamie
Kenworthy meanwhile came out
in support of Austin.
Jeff Carter, son of Democratic
presidential frontrunner Jimmy
Carter, and his wife Annette
also made a brief appearance
at the event. The two had been
campaigning in the Detroit area
throughout the day.
While many of the nearly 200
attending wore buttons support-
ing Morris Udall, the Carters
were not upset. "I think we're
going to win so I'm not depress-
ed by the Udall supporters,"
said Annette Carter.
THE UDALL supporters were
not overly enthusiastic. Otter-
bacer, a strong Udall backer,
said, "I really like the guy. I
feel almost like it's a hopeless
case but I really like his
record."
Jondahl, also a Udall sup-
porter commented, "It woold be
a miracle if he wins but he is
getting support."
During his introduction of the
Senate candidates and other of-
ficials present Bullard urged,
"Let's support the progressive
point of view. Let's get the max-
itum votes possible for Morris
Udall."
Citizens protest ramp tax
By MIKE NORTON
tWlen the twenty or so first-graders trooped
into last night's City Council meeting, Mayor Al-
iert Wheeler told them they'd get a chance to
sc democracy in action.
And if listening to local citizens announce a
taxpaver's rebellion is seeing democracy in ac-
tion, that's what they got.
RESIDENTS of the Maynard Street area were
us in arms last night, protesting the City's pro-
imsal to ley a "special assessment" on owners
of property within 600 feet of the Maynard Car-
port. The proposal, which originated with the
CoLHcii's IBarking Committee, is intended to cov-
er the costs of repairs to the structure.
Father Charles Irvin of St. Mary's Student
Chapel, which abuts on the parking ramp, call-
ed th assessment "grossly inequitable", since
thi overwhelming majority of his parishioners
is itk to church and do not use the ramp.
Ih addition, Father Irvin called the assass-
m:sct "nothing but a veiled tax," and maintained
ta such a tax was in violation of the First
\mendment, which guarantees the separation of
Chttrch and State.
"I WILL, resist the imposition or payment
of this assessment at whatever level is neces-
sary," he warned the Council.
The 78-year-old woman told Council to increase
the parking fees if they wanted to get more
money for the ramp.
"I want this thing stopped," she shouted. "And
ith my last breath I'll fight it!"
"WHO THOUGHT this thing up, anyway?"
she demanded of Council muiember Jamie Ken-
worthy (D-4th Ward).
"All I can say was that it was the recom-
rnendation of the Parking Committee," said
Kenworthy.
"But you're the head of the Parking Com-
mittee!" she exclaimed, pointing a finger at
him.
OTHER spokespersons for Maynard area ten-
ants and landowners appeared to protest the
as-essnent in speeches of equal vigor.
'lark McDonald, who spoke on behalf of the
p,-s--gro s of Nickel's Arcade on State Street,
c-uon'ed the Council that the assessment "could
lto- -a some of the merchants in the area".
"Without the merchants," added McDonald,
-'" iaht as well tear down your parking
o --torre."
F,s. s'id totincil member Earl Greene (D-
id \'ardu), the merchants are in just as much
-- ol 'f the structrture as it is of them.
"TIIS IS one hell of a hard question," said
Greene. "There isn't any easy solution. We can't
honestly tax the whole city for this, and we
can't say we'll just assess merchants and not
otter property owners.
"Maybe we just ought to jack the parking
rates way up," he said. "Or maybe what we
ought to close the mother down - force the is-
sues. In 10 weeks those merchants will be
screaming for it."
Greene claimed the Council had offered to
sell the structure to Jacobson's Department
Store, "but they wouldn't touch it because hey
didn' want to pay the tax on it."
ERA march
This marcher was among an estimated 10,000 demonstrators
who marched Sunday in Springfield, Illinois to lobby.for rati-
fication of the Equad Rights Amendment (ERA). The Amend-
ment, currently under consideration by the Illinois legislature,
is four states short of the total of 38 needed to make it law.
r,
9 ri1rt o-1uSrE E. u#uri ALL ws-J
Vote today
Today is a day that you can make a
difference. The Michigan primary is a
crucial race on both sides. The Presi-
dent needs to do well in his home state
to slow down the candidacy of Ronald
Reagan. Arizona Congressman Morris
Udall has put everything he has into
the state in an eleventh - hour attempt
to stop Jimmy Carter. So turn out in
droves and make yourself heard. Polls
will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00
Weather or not
Look for a cold day today, with the
mercury just reaching the upper SD's. It
will be partly cloudy with winds out of
the northwest at 20 miles an hour. There
is a 20 per cent chance of rain. Things-
will clear up by evening but remain cold
With lows in the upper 30's.
Candidates get local backing
By PHILLIP BOKOVOY
Even though the days of political pat-
ronage seem to have disappeared, there
is always a flurry of activity before
major elections as politicians make their
endorsements. Some are splashed across
the front of national publications and
others are buried next to the obituaries
in small town papers.
An endorsement no longer means that
the candidate will definitely give out
favors if elected, but the more powerful
the backer is the more likely he or she
will receive little goodies from Washing-
ton later on. Here's what local politicians
have to say about candidates in today's
primary:
Roger Bertola (R-Third Ward) said,
"Of course (I'm for) President Ford
Reagan's far too conservative for my
tastes and he's from California."
Robert Henry (R-Third Ward) echoed
Bertoia's sentiments, saying, "I have
known and seen him (Ford) in action
for a long time. Reagan is too conser-
vative for my tastes."
One city council member had other
reasons for supporting Ford. "Pragmat-
ically, he's a candidate who can beat
Carter," said Ronald Trowbridge
While the local Republicans displayed
unified support for Ford, the Democrats
offered a more mixed bag of endorse-
ments including the oft-preferred choice,
"no endorsement."
Mayor Albert Wheeler strongly sup-
ports Morris Udall. "He's the only liberal
candidate going."
Earl Greene (D-Second Ward), who
supports Udall, called Carol Jones (D-
Second Ward) "crazy" for endorsing
Carter. "Fred Harris was my guy first,"
Jones explained. "I do not see Udall
more liberal than Carter . . . Carter can
harness (the unhealthy attitude toward
the government) in a positive manner."
Another council member pledged her-
self a Harris fan. Elizabeth Keough (D-
First Ward) said, "Fred Harris is the
only honest one running
Brown'seeks Md. votes
By DAVE GARFINKEL
Special To The Daily
ROCKVILLE, Md.-Presidential hope-
ful Edmund Brown made a campaign
appearance here yesterday, in this, the
second largest city in Maryland. His
visit to the Washington area comes at a
time when public opinion polls show his
race with Jimmy Carter in today's pri-
mary to be a tossup.
The former Jesuit priest spoke to a
crowd of no more than 300, as estimated
by local police. A number of Brown's
own staff toted 16mm cameras, betray-
ing the fact that last-minute TV com-
mercials were being filmed for teleplay
last night.
Like many other candidates, the Cali-
fornia Governor was vague on specifics.
But amidst the mouthing of platitudes,
Brown regaled the audience-with a good-
ly selection of one-liners,
See MD., Page S