The Morning News from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 12

A-12 Sunday Ncwi Journal, Wilmington, September 10, 1978 mmtm hi. tf.M rfcy oo 7V ft''. i S4 Primary results STATE SENATE 3RD DISTRICT (Democratic nomination) Christopher F. Lynch 386 21 Robert I. Marshall 512 28 George F.

Schlor 400 28 Paul S. Swierzbinski 532 29 18TH DISTRICT (Democratic nomination) William M. Murphy Jr 955 59 William C. Torbert 673 41 STATE HOUSE 3RD DISTRICT (Democratic nomination) Herman M. Holloway Jr 449 55 Henrietta A.

Johnson 370 45 4TH DISTRICT (Democratic nomination) Jesus M.Prado 233 55 Marcello Rispoli 285 45 6TH DISTRICT (Democratic nomination) MaryC. Boudart 636 72 Robert R. Rossi 243 28 12TH DISTRICT (Republican nomination) Marybeth Boykin 439 25 George W. Coleburn 252 14 Jane Maroney 551 32 C. Leslie Ridings Jr 503 29 14TH DISTRICT (Republican nomination) Ruth L.

Mankin 476 60 Clinton F. Miller 322 40 15TH DISTRICT (Democratic nomination) Robert L. Byrd 582 38 David B. McBride 931 62 18TH HOUSE (Democratic nomination) Jeffrey J. Corti 225 28 Matthew M.Davis...: 32 4 Kathleen H.

Wilbur 538 68 41ST HOUSE (Democratic nomination) George H. Bunting 400 39 Charles P. West 619 61 NEW CASTLE COUNTY 5TH COUNCIL DISTRICT (Republican nomination) William P. Cooke 1,449 777 William F. Hart 437 23 SHERIFF (Republican nomination) Nicholas Cofrancesco 2.901 34 Frank W.

Page 5,703 66 Bernard H. Washam NA na PROTHONOTARY (Democratic nomination) George J. Fisher 6,362 65 Thomas N. Grier 3,373 35 REGISTER OF WILLS (Democratic nomination) James P. D'Angelo 0,000 00 Gerald R.

Reilly 0,000 007c KENT COUNTY CLERK OF THE PEACE (Democratic nomination) Edith Hemphill 1,737 56 Gail C.Wise 1,363 44 SUSSEX COUNTY 4TH DISTRICT COUNCIL (Republican nomination) Charles W. Cole 1,005 64 Richard Timmons 568 36 Denotes incumbent Denotes primary winner Staff photo by Fred Comt'gys Rosemary Kowalski, who works in Atty. Gen. Richard R. YVier office, helps her boss celebrate his Democratic primary victory last night in Wilmington.

Despite setbacks, Wier captures vote corruption tinit after he learned that they had bugged and recorded a conversation between one of them and Wier's chief deputy. As he announced the firings, Wier disclosed that part of that conversation concerned the 1974 Willard-Gebelein incident. Willard, Gebelein and others familiar with the incident said Wier overstated the case. Willard was never arrested, there was no drunken brawl and Gebelein wasn't the one who decided to have the charges dropped, they said. Meanwhile, the two lawyers Wier fired Milton P.

Shafran and Charles K. Meuse were telling both the U.S. attorney's office and the News-Journal of their personal investigation into what they considred "corruption" in Wier's office. Willard joined Shafran and Wier in calling for a federal investigation, but U.S. Attorney James W.

Garvin Jr. decided not to launch any investigation while it might have an effect on the election. The week's revelations followed another tortuous week for Wier. In late August, he fired Stephen E. Simmons, the corruption unit's chief investigator, ostensibly because he had exposed himself two months earlier to a Department of Justice secretary.

Later, Shafran and Meuse would claim that the real reason was that Simmons was "corrupt" and had mishandled investigations. Three days after Simmons was fired, Shafran himself was demoted and ousted from the corruption unit because of a lovers' quarrel he had had several months earlier with a female coworker. Wier suffered another setback Thursday when a Superior Court Continued from A-l sies, Willard called the campaign a "good clean fight" and said his workers did "a hell of a job" during his brief campaign. He said he wants to sit down with Wier to talk about political issues and party unity. Earlier this week, Wier attacked both Willard and Gebelein with a story about an alleged brawl outside a tavern.

The story purportedly included Willard being arrested and Gebelein intervening to have the charges dropped. Willard called that "a plain cheap shot" and Gebelein termed the story a "smear." Figures provided by election officials showed the following totals: Wier 10-177 Willard 7,503 Wier bested Willard in each of the state's three counties, but the statewide turnout was a light 15 percent among Democrats. Wier entered the race as a clear favorite and Willard was a political unknown. The results suggested that recent controversies may have sullied Wier's image as a flamboyant, aggressive crime-Ifighter. "I have no way of accurately reading it," Wier said, suggesting that decisions made in "cleaning up the problem had a beneficial impact." Henry Topel, state Democratic chairman, praised Wier's handling of his office crises.

"Nine out of 10 politicians would have closed the door. It took a lot of courage to do what he did," Topel said. The primary also shaped up as a test of strength between Wilmington and suburban New Castle County party leaders. Wilmington party chief Leo T. Marshall's organization helped Wier roll up an impressive lead in the city; pro-Willard suburban forces, headed by Eugene T.

Reed the county chairman, couldn't overcome Wier's success in the city. Marshall hinted that he' wasn't satisfied with Wier's nearly two-to-one margin in the city. "As long as you're a winner, it doesn't matter. Another week and it might have been close," he said. Wier bested Willard in the 15th Representative District, which includes Willard's home town of Els-mere.

Overall, the suburban vote was a virtual tie. Reed offered a traditional explanation for his failure to turn out a strong suburban vote for Willard. "You can't ever tell what a person's going to do when they go to the polls," he said. But Reed joined Wier and Willard in calling for party unity and admitted that Willard's showing means "Dick Wier's got problems in November." Wier took Sussex County by almost 500 votes and Kent by 1,250. The early weeks of the campaign were dull, as both candidates concentrated on wooing party chieftains.

Wier emphasized his record in fighting corruption and expanding the size and horizons of his office. Willard called Wier a "headline-grabber" whose investigations had created an atmosphere of "fear and intimidation." Willard said Wier was a poor administrator who couldn't control his staff. But the campaign took numerous bizarre twists in the last two weeks, and reached its height Wednesday. Weir fired two lawyers in his Party support boosts 4 hopefuls in county race. Fisher will run against Republican H.

Lynn Jankus in November. Washam, 35, of Dartmouth Woods, pleaded guilty Friday in Superior Court to three charges related to illegal collection of unemployment checks. The pleas disqualified him from holding public office. judge threw out much of the evidence in one corruption case involving the Diamond Chemical and Supply Co. But he recovered slightly Friday as his staff completed negotiating plea bargains that resulted in guilty pleas by a former top Wilmington school administrator, a Wilmington city councilman and a Republican contender for the New Castle County sheriff's nomination.

Wier, with the advantages of incumbency and a well-heeled campaign organization, had built a $28,000 war chest through Aug. 15 and spent nearly $20,000. Willard, in the first two weeks of his campaign, raised more than $5,000, and spent almost $2,800. Willard, a graduate of Salesia-num School, the University of Delaware and the University of Louisville Law School, started his legal career as a deputy attorney general in the summer of 1974. He resigned to start a private law practice in April 1976 and also worked as an assistant public defender.

Wier, a graduate of Tower Hill School, Hamilton College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, has spent virtually all his legal career in the Department of Justice. He compiled an impressive record handling major trials as state prosecutor before being elected attorney general in November 1974. Willard lives in Brandywine Hills and his wife Jeanne is expecting the couple's first child in January. Wier, of North Hills, is divorced. He will marry Anne Edwards in late November.

Contributing to this story were Paula Parker and Jacquie Powers. lata last month that yesterday's Democratic primary would be the toughest race he faced. At 29, he is the youngest member of the 129th General Assembly and is House Majority whip. Asked last night if he will support McBride against Republican Catherine J. Kelly and independent Paul De Bruyne in November, Byrd would say only, "I'm a Democrat and he's got the Democratic nomination." McBride's plurality included more than 200 votes in Wilmington election districts.

The 15th covers Elsmere and part of Wilmington. Its residents are mostly blue collar workers and it has been described in the past as a "machine district." Byrd had the backing of the party and was endorsed by the Delaware State Labor Council, AFL-CIO. Asked how he overcame that last night, McBride said his victory "proves the ultimate worth of the new primary system. The Democrats of the 15th district have finally had a chance to make their own choice of a candidate. In the 18th House district, now represented by ailing and retiring House Speaker Kenneth W.

Boul-den, the organization-backed Kathleen H. Wilbur, a 53-year-old housewife, easily beat Democratic primary challengers Jeffrey J. Corti and Matthew M. Davis. With all districts reporting, the results were: Wilbur: 538 Corti: 225 Davis: 32 Mrs.

Wilbur's victory last year over a De La Warr School Baord incumbent and her long association with the Democratic party, made her a sure victor almost from the start. Her prime opponent, Corti, 68, a retired Electric Hose and Rubber Co. employee and former fire chief, was running mostly out of pique over the way organization leaders picked Mrs Wilbur. By GAR JOSEPH Party organization support made the difference in the four contested races for nomination to New Castle County offices. Each of the candidates backed by party leaders, prevailed in yesterday's primary election.

In the Democratic contests, Sheriff Gerald E. Reilly ousted incumbent James P. D'Angelo for the register of wills nomination, and Prothonotary George J. Fisher easily defeated Thomas N. Grier.

On the Republican ballot, incumbent William P. Cooke turned back a challenge from former state Sen. William F. Hart to win renomination for the 5th District County Council seat, and Frank W. Page beat two opponents to win the nomination for sheriff.

Reilly, who by law cannot succeed himself as sheriff, got the backing of county and Wilmington Democratic leaders after a deal that involved the withdrawal of a candidate from the prothonotary primary. D'Angelo, 48, of Newark, who lost by a vote of 6,051 to 4,481 called the deal "cronyism." Cooke received 1,449 votes to 437 for Hart in the GOP 5th District County Council race. Hart, 50, of Chestnut Hill Estates, a former state senator and state representative, failed to get the support of party leaders, largely because of his past splits with them. He left the Senate in 1972 to manage the primary challenge of Family Court Judge David P. Buckson against then Gov.

Russell W. Peterson. Later, Hart took a job in Dover as lobbyist for then New Castle County Executive Melvin A. Slawik, a Democrat. Cooke, 54, of Brookside Park, will defend his council seat against Democrat Joseph P.

Farley in November. In the race for the GOP sheriff nomination, Page collected 5,703 votes to 2,901 for Nicholas C. Con-francesco. Election officials did not figure out a vote total for Bernard H. "Ben" Washam, who appeared to run third in incomplete totals, because he would be ineligible for office even if elected.

Fisher, 64, of Wilmington, re ceived 6,362 votes to 3,373 for Grier in the Democratic pronthonotary 4 legislative incumbents lose Continued from A-l by a reporter with the final tallies. Mrs. Johnson's defeat came de- r. t-f He velled excitedly for his wife to spite last-minute support from back a challenge from Kent Coun- come t0 tne pnonei and then asked wno managod vm if he could cal1 the reporter back her campaign two years and who Rep MarceHc Rispoli who t0 make Sure il 3 prank had said he intended to stay out of squeaked by political novice Jesus Ca.r' assumed for the last two rs Johnson, who became the laZ was hours that I had lost," he said. first black woman elected to the backed by the Wilmington organ- The lifelong Wilmington native House in 1970, defeated Holloway 1 r.

said he and his wife of 15 weeks 400 to 305 in 1976. In the 18th district Democratic had done much of the campaign- Commenting on her loss last primary with all election districts ing themselves, with help from night, she said, "It was the peo- reporting the results were: relatives, knocking on doors every pie's choice, baby." MurPhy evening. Murphy, one of two surviving bis Schlor, whose age of nearly 74 incumbents, who was backed by Murphy, a former car and real was an issue tne primary, Dare. the most heavily financed legisla- estate salesman wno says ne is jy fjnjsned ahead of the fourth tive campaign, easily trounced a now a full-time senator, fought candjdate in the field, Christopher challenge by Torbert, a Dover against charges that he was too F.Lynch. funeral director, close to insurance interests affect- Schlor, one of the Senate's quiet- Rispoli squeaked by political ed by legislation passing through est members, had a reputation as novice Jesus M.

"Jay" Prado who his senate Banking, insurance a strong iaw.and-order, pro-gam- Rispoli had said was interested and Elections Committee. He tout- biing backer. He backed most of only in serving the Spanish speak- ed his record as pro-consumer, the things the city Democratic ing residents of the multi-ethnic pro-senior citizens and pro-safety organization wanted, but had un- district. He credited his win to work, derestimated the threat to his With all election districts report-plain and simple work, by a 180- seat. As of Aug.

15, he hadn't spent ing in the Fourth Representative person campaign organization any money on his campaign. District, the results were: supported by Lt. Gov. James D. Marshall, 31, who attributed his Rispoli 285 McGinnis and neighboring state assumed win earlier in the Prado 233 nrifl Zimmerman, D-Lit- evening to campaigning on issues Rispoli will face Republican tie creeK.

0f interest to neighborhoods, had Kevin Free in November. Jr. 1 forme" YeoChaHei tf bcen for the state Divi" won a close race against race former Rep. Charles P. sj0n of Business and Occcupation- Free two years ago.

SrSer'S 3 jb Unde Maryc' Boudart, the WUming- Frankford liquor store owner Iormm- ton Democratic Party-backed George Howard Bunting in a With all election districts report- candidate, won easUy over chal- Democratic primary in which the ing, the apparent results were: lenger Robert R. Rossi, in a dis- party stayed on the sidelines. Swierzbinski 532 tnct usually carried by Repubh- West, 57, will now face Republi- Marshall 512 cans in the general election. can Kenneth C.Evans. Schlor 400 With all election districts re- With all election.

districts re- Lynch 386 porting in the Sixth porting in Sussex County's 41st Holloway Jr. upset Mrs. Johnson Representative District, the re-District race, the returns were: in a Democratic primary in which su West 619 the organization played an uncer- Boudart 636 Bunting 400 tain role. Accounts at various' Rossi 243 After a see-saw series of vote times said Marshall's troops were Neither candidate could be tallies, Paul S. Swierzbinski, a 28- sitting the fence in the race, were reached for comment.

Ms. Bou- year-old former deputy attorney quietly backing Mrs. Johnson or dart, 27, is an attorney with the general, beat Schlor, and Robert I. were backing Holloway, the son of Wilmington city solicitor's office. Marshall, the Democratic chair- a well-known state senator.

Rossi, 28, is a Wilmington adver- man's nephew who got no help With all election districts report- Using consultant, from his uncle. ing in the Third Representative During the campaign, Lee M. Swierzbinski had returned home District, the results were: Cassidy, a Democrat, noted that after 11 p.m. convinced that he Holloway 449 whoever won, "It's very much an had lost when he was telephoned Johnson 370 uphill race. It's a Republican Dis- trict, regardless of the registration, which is very close." Ms.

Boudart faces Republican Rep. Thomas E. Brady in November. Ridings was undoubtedly the most "philosophical" of the losing incumbents last night as he lost his House seat in a four-way race. With all election districts reporting in the 12th Representative District, the results were: Maroney 551 Ridings 503 Boykin 439 Coleburn 233 Mrs.

Maroney is assured of Ridings' House seat in November. In a district where Republicans hold a two-to-one registration edge, Democrats filed no opposition. In the 14th House District Republican primary, Ruth L. Mankin, 45, an 18-year veteran of behind-the-scenes party campaigning, beat Clinton F. Miller, 65, who had been running on what he said was the need to have a lawyer in the House.

With all districts reporting, the totals were: Mankin 476 Miller 322 Mrs. Mankin was stressing her political experience as former press aide to U.S. Rep. Thomas B. Evans Jr.

and involvement in two Texas Senate races. She will face Democratic Rep. Robert L. Maxwell of Lancaster Village in the fall. In a blue-collar district, the 15th, where party loyalty and labor backing were thought to be prerequisites for election, Byrd who possesses both lost to David B.

McBride. With all election districts reporting in the 15th Representative District, the results were: McBride 931 Byrd 582 Byrd, who said he had spent "10 years of my life aiming" at being a member of the House, predicted.