The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 5

THE COURIER-JOURNAL LOUISVILLE, KY. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1988. KENTUCKY Win may help Perkins become politician in his own right By MIKE BROWN Staff Writer WASHINGTON Democratic leaders in Kentucky's 7th Congressional District say Rep. Chris Perkins re-election victory helps establish him as a political figure in his own right. "Chris has met the first challenge.

The challenge now is for him to build on that foundation," state Rep. Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, a Perkins supporter, said yesterday in an interview. Carl Perkins groomed his only child as his political heir. And when he died, party leaders gave the Democratic nomination to Chris without a fight. "This is really his first race, the first time he has ever had to get out and build an organization of his own," said Greg Stumbo, adding that the experience will increase Perkins self confidence.

There has long been speculation that Per- See WIN PAGE 5, col. 3, this section Perkins got 59 percent of the vote Tuesday to defeat Republican Will T. Scott, a former Pike County circuit judge. In most districts that would be a landslide, but not in the 7th, a Democratic bastion. Perkins' father, Carl D.

Perkins, who held the congressional seat for 36 years before his death in 1984, regularly drew more than 70 percent of the vote. Chris Perkins got 74 percent when he ran in 1984 to succeed his father and 80 percent in his 1986 re-election bid. For the past 20 years the district's lowest victory margin has been the 62 percent the elder Perkins got in 1968 and 1972. But while Chris Perkins' showing Tuesday "was certainly not in the mode of the traditional Perkins victory," it was nonetheless a healthy one under the circumstances, said Hindman physician Grady Stumbo, a Democrat who twice ran unsuccessfully for governor. The two Stumbos, who are distant cousins, said that, unlike Chris Perkins' two previous opponents, Scott was a credible candidate who mounted an aggressive, well-financed race.

"I think Chris has shown he can be competitive that he can get out and win," said Grady Stumbo. Pike County Judge-Executive Paul Patton, a Democrat, said he has always thought that Perkins would have to beat several serious candidates before he could establish the seat as his for good. Tuesday's victory was one such step, he said, adding, "If I were Perkins, I would be pretty pleased." Personalities, persistence played big role in Combs' win in high court race "That probably did have something to do with it," Sinnette said. "He took those counties where he was weak and went to work on them." Stephenson was not available for comment yesterday but said Tuesday night that he was philosophical about the loss: "It's the system. 1 inrffltimurr Combs ijs 1 I pit JAM I t'Sd filth Jbfr By GIL LAWSON Staff Writer Court of Appeals Judge Dan Jack Combs says a bluegrass band, a country-Western singer and lots of handshaking helped him overcome Justice James B.

Stephenson's primary election advantage and capture a seat on the state Supreme Court. Combs defeated Stephenson Tuesday in the 7th District race, garnering 57.5 percent of the vote. Unofficially, Combs received 63,503 votes to Stephenson's 46,953. Stephenson, who served two terms on the high court, won the May non-partisan primary with 43.6 percent of the vote, edging out Combs and Boyd Circuit Judge Charles S. Sinnette.

The top two vote-getters ran in the general election. Combs was outspoken during the campaign despite a judicial code that directs candidates to avoid discussing legal and political issues. Stephenson, meanwhile, was more reserved and stressed his experience and impartiality. "The difference in our personalties was a factor," Combs said yesterday. "He's kind of an aloof individual where I am outgoing." Others agreed that Combs' personality may have helped him win votes.

Elections add 16 new faces to Kentucky legislature By TOM LOFTUS Staff Writer FRANKFORT, Ky. The Kentucky General Assembly will have a new look in January with five new senators and 11 new representatives. But Republican George Bush's big win in Kentucky had no effect on legislative races as Democrats gained one seat in each legislative chamber as a result of Tuesday's election. The Senate will have 30 Democrats and eight Republicans, while the House will have 72 Democrats and 28 Republicans. No legislative leaders of either party or chamber lost, but the votes in the primary and Tuesday, plus retirements, have resulted in five open committee chairmanships.

Here's a quick look at changes in each chamber: HOUSE The Democrats won two seats Tuesday when Mike Ward of Louisville beat incum- See VOTERS ADD PAGE 5, col. 1, this section Corrections clarifications A listing in Sunday's real-estate section should have said that Mary A. Passafiume had sold unit 1, Chapel View Condominiums, 1745 Newburg Road, to John F. and Mary Ann Hagan Hall. Because of a reporter's error, a story in yesterday's Food Features section said Al-ben Barkley was vice president under Franklin D.

Roosevelt. Barkley served under President Harry Truman. Voters choose and they have chosen." During his law career, Combs was on the side of many unpopular causes and is viewed as someone who is more liberal on the rights of criminal defendants and accident victims. Stephenson is known as a law-and-order judge who is conservative on issues such as accident liability and employment security. Sinnette also said he thought the large turnout in Eastern Kentucky for the 7th District congressional race and the broad-form deed amendment helped Combs.

Stephen-See PERSONALITIES PAGE 5, col. 1, this section Write-in candidates total more votes than Lundergan STAFF PHOTO BY STEWART BOWMAN percent of the vote; Carson received 3,008 write-in votes, or 37.3 percent; and Lexington advertising executive Jerry Kuy-kendall received 1,420 write-in votes, or 17.6 percent. Secretary of State Bremer Ehrler said yesterday he did not remember when a write-in candidate in Kentucky DOWN THE STRETCH: Architecture students Mitch Hunter, left, Kent Evans, right, and Mike Sparkman leaped for a sponge football yesterday on the walk in front of the architecture building at the University of Kentucky. Hopes dim for urban-county governments Lundergan By TODD MURPHY Staff Writer LEXINGTON, Ky. He received fewer than half the votes cast in his race Tuesday, but Democratic state Rep.

Jerry Lundergan might have beaten back what was probably the toughest write-in opposition ever in a Kentucky legislative race. Lundergan's apparent victory remained clouded yesterday, however, amid questions about jammed voting machines, insufficient ballot paper, stolen write-in pens, and Lundergan's gift of boxes of food to poll workers on Election Day. Lexington lawyer Steve Carson, a write-in candidate who garnered only 600 fewer votes than Lundergan for the 76th District seat, said yesterday he would wait for Fay- ette County Clerk Donald Blevins' special report on the election before deciding whether to challenge the results. "We'll wait and see what happens," he said. What happened on Election Day, finally determined after county election workers finished counting the write-in ballots about 2 a.m.

yesterday, was this: Lundergan, whose name was the only one on the ballot received 3,636 votes, or 45 had received so many votes nor did he remember when two write-in candidates had together outpolled the candidate on the ballot. "I was amazed that that many people would go to the polls and flip that (write-in) slot," he said. As election returns were being tallied Tuesday evening, both Kuykendall and Carson charged that Lundergan may have violated electioneering laws by arranging for a catering firm he partially owns, Lundy's Catering, to deliver boxes of food to election See LUNDERGAN PAGE 3, col. 1, this section 1975 and in Jefferson County in 1982 and 1983. But the issue did not make it on the ballot in Warren County or Daviess County, as planners decided to resolve several issues first In Warren County, proponents want the legislature to prevent the change in government jurisdiction from affecting the wet-dry boundaries that would apply in a referendum on alcohol sales.

In Daviess County, officials want to know See URBAN-COUNTY PAGE 3, col. 5, this section remained neutral on the notion in Warren County. Owensboro Mayor Dave Adkisson doubted the vote would have a significant impact, although had it passed it might have provided "a psychological boost." Bowling Green-Warren County and Owensboro-Daviess County have been preparing charters for merged governments. Proponents in Warren had hoped to establish the county as the second in the state with a merged city-county government after Lexington-Fayette County, which has had the arrangement since 1972. The idea was rejected in Boyd County in By TIM ROBERTS Staff Writer BOWLING GREEN, Ky.

The decisive defeat Tuesday of proposals to create urban-county governments in Scott and Franklin counties has officials in two Western Kentucky counties wondering if their voters could react the same way. Voters in Franklin County rejected the proposal there 10,692 to 5,928. In Scott County the vote was 4,272 to 3,035. "It's not a very hopeful sign for proponents of merged government here," said Bowling Green Mayor Patsy Sloan, who has Tough talk kV 'i sTv i to go to wakes and visit your friends in the hospital." Anastas told the students he did just that in 1982, when two of his students died in drunken-driving accidents within a few days of each other. The experience led him to leave his job and start SADD, which now has chapters in more than 9,000 high schools.

He' was brought to Kentucky by the local SADD chapter and the Meade County Board of Education. His audience included more than 1,500 students from 22 schools, some as far away as Prestonsburg and Owensboro. Most of the visitors were members of SADD chapters. Although Anastas was clearly a stranger, speaking in a New England accent and mentioning school sports alien to Kentucky, like lacrosse and ice hockey, he spoke of themes students immediately understood. "Everything he said was true," said Mike Hampton, a Meade County senior who plays on both the football and basketball teams.

"He didn't talk down to us like an adult He talked to us," said Candi Johnson, a sophomore at Jefferson County's Jeffersontown High School. For example, without a hint of judgment Anastas said he knew most of the high school students in the audience went to parties where alcohol was present He also said he understood how peer pressure can cause people to do things they'd really rather not "The devil is playing a little head game with you," he said. If. ttmHB a.A-.-,.. SADD founder teaches horror of drinking, driving By LARRY BLEIBERG Staff Writer BRANDENBURG, Ky.

Robert Anastas didn't start out talking about death yesterday. The founder of Students Against Drunk Driving began his talk more like a comic master of ceremonies warming up a crowd. Microphone in hand, the former coach from Massachusetts wandered across the Meade County High School gymnasium for nearly 20 minutes telling exaggerated stories of his travels. He mentioned chasing a heavy-metal rock band off a stage and sitting through boring anti-alcohol lectures from experts. Anastas slowly got more serious, but his approach STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL HAYMAN Robert Anastas, founder of Students Against Drunk Driving, spoke at Meade County High School in Brandenburg yesterday.

was different from what students say they normally hear about alcohol. "I'm not going to talk about the physical and psychological effects of drugs You'll look at me and say, 'I don't he said. "But I don't think you kids want to die. I don't think you want to bury your friends. I don't think you want SADD members Stephanie Clendenin, in plaid, and Pam Buchheit, right, listened to Anastas.

And finally he said he knew most students never talked with their parents about what really goes on in their lives. The combination of these factors becomes deadly See SADD PAGE 3, col. 1, this section BUSINESS, BACK PAGE INSIDE Weather 2 Deaths 8 Business 9-12 LOOKING BACK 50 YEARS AGO NOV. 10, 1938 Millions of dollars' worth of Jewish property was destroyed and synagogues were burned in Germany in reaction to the accusation of a 17-year-old Jew in the killing of an official of the German Embassy in Paris. Savings rates in the area More layoffs by CSX.