The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 7, 1984 -Page 7 Democrats debate party's future By SEAN JACKSON and KERY MURAKAMI Special to the Daily DETROIT - Faced with a debacle in the presiden- tial but optimistic that their candidate would hold his U.S. Senate seat, state Democratic leaders were split last night on where the party should go, or if it should even change its ways at all. "The American electorate wants us to go back to the drawing board," said Donald Riegle, Michigan's 2nd term Senator. "We need a break from the old politics, which in a sense Walter Mondale represen- ted. "WE'VE GOT a job in the next four years to put forward a fresh message that is more in step with the people . . . I think we are going to see some fresh faces, young fresh faces - someone like Bill Bradley, Mario Cuomo, or Gary Hart," he said. Joining Riegle in pushing the Democrats toward a new look, and perhaps more toward political center was Sander Levin, a U.S. representitive from Michigan's 17th District. "There will be a lot of re-assessing because the people demand a fresh look," Levin said. "The problems are sufficiently serious that you can't predict the solution or the leaders who will come out of the solution." SEVERAL. OTHER party leaders, however, said the Reagan landslide told more about the president's personal appeal than party politics. They said that the close race between Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, one of the Senate's most liberal members, and ultra-conservative Jack Lousma showed that voters are still willing to support Democrats. "I don't think this is a great repudiation of the Democratic party. "WHAT THIS represents is a lot of popularity for an incumbent president," said Ellen Globokar, state director for the Mondale-Ferraro campaign. "The voters disagree with (Reagan's) politicies, but they like the man, they like the image, and they like the so- called economic prosperity. I think the future looks brighter for us. All you have to do is contrast the two conventions to see what kinds of leaders we have. Most of the Democrats gave electrifying speeches, while most of the people I know fell asleep watching the Republican convention." Most of Levin's camp seemed to agree. "IT'S NOT a reflection on the party as much as a reflection on the popularity of Reagan, said Cal Smyth, campaign field manager for Levin's bid. "Carl Levin was able to sell his message to the public. Reagan did basically the same thing ... we are still a strong and viable party, especially within the state. But we have to take a long look on where we are going. We have to look at what Reagan's policies are buying and we have to see how we can fit our policies into what the people want." Detroit Mayor Coleman Young attributed much of the Reagan landslide to the recent upturn in the economy, which he said is the result of only a small party of Republican policies if at all. He said voters backed Reagan because they were better off financially. "People generally vote their pocketbooks," he. said. "I don't think we will do anything different (in the next election)." Regents await election results Daily.Photo by CAROL L. FRANCAVILLA Regent Robert Nederlander (D-Birmingham) isn't worrying about the out- -ome of his campaign to be re-elected a second time to the University's top governing body, but says "anything is possible, nobody knows." Sche bil holds lead county sherif race By LAURIE DELATER They referred to voting trends and watched the major political races closely, but candidates for two seats on the University's Board of Regents resigned themselves last niight to waiting until this morning for the final tallies. "I was just going to go to bed," said Republican candidate Veronica Latta Smith from her Grosse Ile home at 11 p.m. DEMOCRATIC incumbent Robert Nederlander of Birmingham and his running mate, Marjorie Lansing of Ann Arbor, took the lead in Washtenaw County last night. With 40 percent of the precincts reporting, Nederlander had 20,767 and Lansing had 19,662. Smith trailed with 17,133 while Republican Neal Nielsen had 16,284. Libertarian candidates Better Erwin captured 824 votes and her running mate William Krebaum won 532. But Lansing said last night at a gathering at Regent Sarah Power's home in Ann Arbor that she wasn't cer- tain statewide tallies would mirror local results. The Eastern Michigan University professor said it's possible one Democrat and one Republican could be elected to the board. Indeed, many of the major newspapers throughout the state endorsed Nederlander and his Republican opponent Smith. LANSING recalled the 1980 regental elections during which the earliest results predicted the re-election of Republicans Deane Baker and David Laro. By the following morning, however, the final tallies had flip- flopped to make Baker and Democrat Nellie Varner the winners. "I could go from nothing to a non- regent," she said, resting her chin in her hand, fighting to keep her drowsy eyes open. "As far as I am concerned, I've gone out and beat the bushes trying to bring in that vote," Lansing said, calling the long wait for election results a "nothingburger." SMITH WAS optimistic last night about her chances of being elected. "It wouldn't surprise me if people voted a split ticket," she said. "I don't feel like I'm losing, or I'm winning. I'm just waiting," she added. Nielsen could not be reached for comment. Nederlander, first elected to the board in 1968, declined to comment on his chances of being re-elected for a third term. But he said many people who voted in the regental elections probably selected their candidate based on name recognition. He was, however, confident, saying: "We think we are going to win." By DOV COHEN and JERRY MARKON "Incumbent Washtenaw County Speriff Ronald Schebil held a slim lead over challenger James Douglas last right with 40 percent of the ballots counted, but unreported rural returns were expected to favor Schebil. At a local restaurant last night during a Democratic volunteers party, Douglas predicted that he would lose tie outlying areas of the county, which are predominantly Republican, but was confident about winning votes in the county's urban areas. Douglas said he was "happy because tie campaign produced two qualified candidates." :"We didn't resort to mudslinging," the Saline police chief said. "The cam- paign was based on issues. This speaks well for law enforcement in this coun- ty." Before learning of the final results, Douglas seemed prepared to deal with the possibility of a loss. "If I don't win, I look forward to working with (Schebil) during the next four years." Awaiting the returns at the Ann Ar- bor Inn, incumbent Sheriff Ronald Schebel said "one of the biggest things we hope to accomplish is to continue the level of services in the face of shrinking resources. We've done it so far." "We've been given the same budget as far as number of dollars as three years ago," he said. "It's a challenge." "We've got to continue our focus on youth," he added. So far we've done a good job in that area." BLOOM COUNTY N r T. Watch for it in Deihey ahead in close race for prosecutor } By DOV COHEN 'Awaiting the returns from the Nyashtenaw County Prosecuting Attor- ney race last night, Republican incum- bent William Delhey said, "I went out and met the people and talked to ser- Vice clubs. I'm confident. The record Fve established speaks for itself and is a very good record." Delhey said he thought he could win even if President Reagan had not been reelected. "Our county is great on ticket splitting," he said. "I've won Olections in the past when the county has supported Carter and McGovern. I'm not convinced the county will go for leagan. This county has always gone Democratic." "The voters approve of the way I uphold the criminal code," said the five-term incumbent. "Everything I've heard (opponent George Sallade) say, we've already ac- complished," he said, listing his assistance in establishing the adult crisis center and career crime unit, and his "vigorous" crackdown on white collar crime. "I don't think he has had the ex- perience and capability in criminal law," he said. Calling this campaign "very similar" to his others, Delhey said, "I've run on my record, proven leadership, and recognized ability. I've run that way all these years." Democratic candidate George Sallade said last night the prosecuting attorney's office "will never be the same if I win." Promising to "revise the office from top to bottom," Sallade waited for the results as he and Delhey ran very close into the morning. "I'll be very pleased with the results win or lose," Sallade said. Daily Photo by DOUG McMAHON University students line up to vote yesterday at the Union. Some waited as long as two hours. co in On CO "I U' students vote Mondale (Continued from Page 1) hours, did not discourage student voters. One of the longest lines built up at the UNION. "It's ben about an hour-and-a- lialf wait since one o'clock," said Paul McCoy, chairperson of the polls there. MCCOY SAID the long lines were not a product of voter inexperience or in- 'decisiveness, but that of length of the ,ballot. "There is a legal two-minute limit, but we haven't timed anyone," McCoy said. "No one has taken an inor- dinate amount of time. We have a very &intelligent constituency here." Many students saw it as their duty to vote, regardless of lost hours at the library or the bar. "My ancestors died for this right and 'I'm not taking it for granted," said a black student who waited an hour and a half at the Union to cast her votes. Students showed litle creativity in making the time pass quickly. Some studied, some listened to Walkmans, but most just twiddled their thumbs and waited. "I WOULD study, but you have to move every two seconds, said LSA senior Erica Danos, who got stuck in the long lines at the Union. "Crossword puzzles would have been a good idea," Danos said, disappointed that she hadn't thought of it sooner. At South Quad, the lines moved more quickly this year than in 1980 due to "well-defined procedures that minimized the time needed to get students through the line," said South Quad poll chairperson Mary Ann Roth. Roth said that this year a worker stood at the front of the line and ex- plained the voting procedures to groups Doily Photo by DOUG McMAHON U.S. Senator Don Riegle (D-Michigan) talks with young members of his constituency last night at Cobo Hall. ev!!nh fiih