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