T 'I14 C~4r trirniA~ *rnt News: 76-DAILY Display Ads: 764-0554 Classified Ads: 764-0557 One hundred eight years of editoria/feedom Wednesday November 4, 1998 As I&d si ces Fl I g0 WHAT'S INSIDE Brater re-elected to state House for third term, Page 11. Smietanka concedes to Granholm for attorney general post, Page 11. Four Democrats, one Republican win city council seats, Page 12 John Hansen elected to state House. Page 11. Dem " gain seats dfespSO ite scOan"dal WASHINGTON (AP) - Defying history, Democrats battled Republicans *a standstill - and perhaps better - yesterday in mid-term elections likely to bolster support for President Clinton on the eve of congressional impeach- ment proceedings. Resurgent Democrats won the single biggest prize of the night when Gray Davis was elected governor of California. The GOP held control of the Senate but Democrats ousted two vigorous nton critics - Alfonse D'Amato of w York and Lauch Faircloth of North Carolina. Democrat Carol Moseley- Braun, the Senate's only black member, lost her bid for re-election in Illinois. In the House, where GOP leaders scheduled impeachment proceedings to begin later this month, Democratic gains made it possible that the GOP would lose part of their 11-seat majori- ty. In that event, Speaker Newt See NATIONAL, Page 12 Gov. wins 3rd term in1 landslide By Mike Spahn Fieger time!" he exclaimed. and Jason Stoffer Engler said the vote shows citizens Daily Staff Reporters support for his record and agenda, LANSING - Gov. John Engler tri- despite Fieger's unwillingness to umphantly thanked the citizens of acknowledge the governor's accom- Michigan last night after he over- plishments, much less his victory. whelmingly defeated Democratic oppo- "We're going to go full-speed ahead nent Geoffrey Fieger to earn a third on the agenda we talked about in the term as governor of Michigan. campaign," Engler said. "I'm proud to After his 10 p.m. acceptance have support of the Michigan voters." speech, Engler danced with his wife Engler called the final win of his and triplet daughters to "Walkin' on political career, which maintained his Sunshine." As of 2 a.m., with 65 per- 28-year undefeated streak in Michigan, cent of the precincts reporting, Engler "the best of all" had 62 percent of the vote to Fieger's 38 The large margin, Posthumus said, percent. should help Republicans take control of "I want to thank the people of the state House, a victory that could Michigan tonight," Engler told his help the passage of the administration's cheering supporters in Lansing. "I'm platform. very excited. I'm ready for another four "We've worked hard with our years." friends in the House," Posthumus said. The mood at Fieger's Detroit elec- "But it would be a lot easier working tion party rang of frustration and help- with our friends the Republicans." lessness. Many of Fieger's supporters David Williams, a social worker were reluctant to predict victory for with the state of Michigan who attend- their candidate and said the press and ed Fieger's party, said Fieger pulled out political establishment did everything a moral victory even with all political in their power to discredit a political cards stacked against him. newcomer. "He really discussed the issues and Fieger, in a I1 p.m. speech, told a tried to point out the things Engler has room full of press and campaign work- done wrong," Williams said. "He did a ers that regardless of the race's results, great job and I hope he runs again in his message would endure. 2002." "Tonight we concede nothing and Macomb Party Prosecutor Cari express contempt for the lies and Marlinga, a Democrat, said Fieger's hypocrisy of so-called leaders," Fieger flamboyant personality, combined with said. "Continue the struggle. Stay negative spin from advertisements and involved. Stay engaged. the press, never allowed the public to "We started a movement and ... learn about the "real Geoffrey Fieger.' soon we will restore freedom, justice "Geoffrey's history of shooting and compassion to our government. It's See GOVERNOR, Page 12 White elected regents Photos by LOUIS BROWN and MARGARET MYERS/Daiy Above: Michigan Gov. John Engler celebiated his third consecutive gubernatorial victory last night. Right: Democratic challenger Geoffrey Fleger, flanked by wife Keenle and running mate James Agee, urged voters to 'stay Involved.' "I am someone who will work f or all people. We need a government that is responsive, but also responsible." - Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon nx Sheldonanoce victryu over Koib Brandon, By Erin Holmes and Katie Plona Daily Staff Reporters One Democrat and one Republican narrow- ly edged their opponents, including one incum- bent, in the University Board of Regents race with 92 percent of the votes tallied at 3:47 a.m. Democratic regent candidate Kathy White and Republican David Brandon captured seats on the board, each receiving 25 percent of the vote. Not re-capturing his seat as the senior mem- ber of the board, Regent Philip Power (D-Ann Arbor) received 22 percent. Power has served since 1987. State Rep. Jessie Dalman (R- Holland) received 23 percent. Early results mirrored the early morning tal- lies, but from the time the polls closed at 8 p.m., the standings shifted as precincts continued to report their totals throughout the night. The Democrat and Republican taking the top two spots maintain the political makeup of the University's elected board, which currently has a 5-3 Democrat-Republican ratio. Although this year's election was the first political race for White - a Wayne State University Law professor with a background in the U.S. military, electrical engineering and patent law - it reminded her of another famil- iar contest. Referring to some words of advice her Ann Arbor Pioneer High School cross country coach gave her, White said she is a winner for perse- vering and seeing the election through to the end. "I was reminded of that today," said White, who was surrounded by family in Detroit. "Win or lose, this has been a won- derful experience." Brandon, a successful business executive from Plymouth who chairs Central Michigan University's Board of Trustees, had been opti- mistic since early in the evening. He and other confident Republican supporters joined Gov. Engler on stage following the governor's victo- ry speech at about 10 p.m. at the Lansing Center. "We worked extremely hard to campaignx.. to introduce our candidacy to the state. We feel confident that we did all we could do," Brandon See REGENTS, Page 12 By Gerard Cohen-Vrignaud and Kelly O'Connor Daily Staff Reporters In a repeat of the 1996 Ann Arbor mayoral election, Republican Incumbent Ingrid Sheldon held her seat by a small margin in yes- terday's race, defeating Democratic challenger Chris Kolb. With 60 of 62 precincts reporting as of 2 a.m., Sheldon carried 49.72 percent of the vote, with Kolb a close second at 48.38 percent. Libertarian candidate Elizabeth Keslacy, an Architecture and Urban Planning junior, drew 1.67 percent of the vote. "This has been a very tough campaign," Sheldon said. "The demographics are against me in this community and that makes it diffi- cult to get out my message: I am someone who will work for all people. We need a government that is responsive, but also responsible." Kolb appeared at Conor O'Neill's bar on Main Street around 11:30 p.m. looking slightly deject- ed. The crowd greeted him with loud applause, louder than for the other Democrats present - including incumbent U.S. Rep. Lynn Rivers (Ann Arbor) and State Rep. Liz Brater (Ann Arbor), both of whom declared victory last night. "We had a lot of energy in our campaign," Kolb told the sympathetic supporters. "I will make you one promise: In the year 2000, we will have a Democratic mayor of the city." Ann Arbor City Council member Pat Putman (R-2nd Ward) said Sheldon's reputa- tion for finding "a middle ground" in city gov- ernment is what helped secure her seat. "Ingrid is very good at building a consensus among members of the council and mediating. See MAYOR, Page 12 Rivers will go back to Washington for 3rd term State denies Proposal B By Nikita Easley and Jennifer Yachnin Daily Staff Reporters Amidst Irish folk music and a host of Democratic candidates, 13th District incumbent U.S. Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor) accepted her third victory. "This was a team effort," Rivers said during her acceptance speech at Conor O'Neill's Irish pub located on Main Street. "At the beginning, things looked very bleak .., the other side had a lot more money." As of 1:30 a.m. with 81 of 145 precincts in Washtenaw County reporting, Rivers topped Republican challenger Tom Hickey with 67.58 percent to Hickey's 30.84 percent of DETROIT (AP) - Voters in Dr. Jack &vorkian's home state yesterday rejected a mea- sure that would have made Michigan the second state with legalized physician-assisted suicide. Wi th 71 percent of the state's 5,998 precincts reporting, Proposal B was opposed by 70 percent and supported by 30 - 1,480,033 votes to 629,130. Trnn--- R' A-fpa h+ e. an frrcheaod by Roman Catholic Church and Right to Life of Michigan. "Surely the vote on Proposal B does not signal the end of the debate on assisted suicide;" Dr. Cathy Blight of the anti-Proposal B coalition Citizens for Compassionate Care said in a state- ment. "Some might argue that if B weren't so badly written nr if the nrnnonents would have waged a IR"'MORAFRNM