The Morning News from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 6

The News-Journal papers Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1986 Election '86 A6 Faces change, but the balance New jersey results pi power is same in legislature Benjamin W. Timberman (D) 8,862 Clinton H. Ware (D) 9,790 Steve Dixon (R) 6,741 JoanMulfordHassler(R) 7,856 1 Delores Walker (D) 441 53 Ed Biddle(R) 384-47 Joseph A. Weaver Jr.

(D) 39954 Betsy Erhardt(R) 346-46 FredJ.DePalma(R) 1,202 Charles F. Spencer (R) 1 ,1 27 Anthony J. Crescenzi (D) 976 Ralph J. DiVito (D) 1,013 year, and indeed, it proved to be a major factor," Castle said. "Much to-do about nothing then," said Senate Majority Leader Thomas B.

Sharp, D-Pinecrest, about the House's results. "That's amazing. The seats changed but the numbers didn't." Seventeen of the 39 House incumbents seeking re-election ran without major party opposition this year, including 10 Democrats and seven Republicans. Two other seats were open. In the House, Republicans overcame controversies past and present.

Meconi attacked Taylor's role and personal judgment in a legislative redisricting, approved in 1985, that improperly benefited Arnold. The bill altered district lines to allow Arnold to buy a new house without moving outside his district. Taylor, sponsor of the bill, claimed ignorance of its real intent, saying he only wanted to make voting simpler for constituents in the area. Taylor later admitted that he had been aware of Arnold's interests. Arnold eventually resigned after a Senate committee ruled he had violated the state constitution.

Taylor's bill was later reversed. More recently, Taylor was named with Rep. Richard F. Davis, R-Sherwood Forest, Rep. Gwynne P.

Smith, R-Green Acres, and Rep. Gerald A. Buckworth, R-Buchanan Acres, as legislators who had fun-neled Delaware Trial Lawyers Association contributions to another Republican, John L. Romanowski, who already had received the legal maximum from the lawyers group. Rep.

Edward J. Bennett, D-Dover South, retained his seat in the race against Romanowski. Davis defeated Robert P. Hopkins and Buckworth topped Kevin M. Howard for re-election after overcoming stiff challenges.

Smith easily won over Libertarian Vernon L. Etzel. The GOP also won Delaware's Rv MnNTr-mfirn I and EILEEN GILLIGAN Staff reporters Voters reversed two House Republican upsets of 1984 and jpusted a veteran Newark-area legislator Tuesday, in elections that Heft the political balance of power in the House and Senate. I Sen. Margo Ewing Bane, R-Hyde (Park, successfully defended her eat in her second race in seven Ihionths against Democrat Joseph E.

Reardon. I But in House races, former Dem-Jocratic Rep. Rodney Dixon of Wilmington Manor regained the seat pep. Bruce C. Reynolds, R-Wil-nington Manor, wrested from him in a House upset in 1984.

Former Democratic Rep. George fl. Bunting Jr. of Selbyville meanwhile reclaimed the Sussex County seat he lost to Rep. Charles W.

Steele R-Dagsboro, in the last election. The only incumbent beaten by a newcomer, Rep. Marian P. Anderson, D-Robscott Manor, lost her 25th Representative District seat to Du Pont Co. attorney Steven H.

Amick of Tall Pines. In the most hotly contested race, Rep. Steven C. Taylor, R-Heritage Park, overcame a challenge by Vincent P. Meconi, the Democrat that Taylor upset in 1984.

Overall, the results left House Republicans with the same 22-19 majority they held in the 133rd General Assembly. "Voters preferred Steve. Low turnout couldn't help matters. I don't know what else to say," Meconi said after conceding defeat. Taylor said his second consecu-'tive victory over Meconi was an of the Republican's service in the legislature.

He said he was able to win, "I think by representing the people out here and voting the way they felt I should." Taylor said he could not have without the help of Republicans who stormed his district over weekend to raise extra support for him. i "I think when vou represent the people, work hard, the results show that," Taylor added as cheers went up at the Midway Shopping Center Republican headquarters Tuesday night. Meconi, who lives in Heritage Park, said he would return to his job as an aide in Lt. Gov. S.B.

Woo's office at 8 a.m. today. He had taken two weeks off. Reardon would not concede victory Tuesday night. Kevin C.

Freel, a top aide in Reardon's campaign, spoke from Robert A. Traae (Ind.) 458 Samuel E. Donelson (D) 460 Beverly Harasta(D) 406 I Harry F. Smith Jr. (D) 474 Paul T.

Molinari (D) 447 Marian B. Crump (R) 404 Anthony R. Rullo (R) 409 ijjj.u'jiiiMUj,ii,ii.im -n James K. Gallagher (D) 2,233 J. Stuart Belcher (R) 2,130 John T.

Allen (D) 1,611 Charles W. Morris (R) 1,564 Joe Rappa Jr. (Independent) 1 ,040 IHHiaTlffPWiHfflWim H. Lee Lark (R) 35272 Louis F. Clancy (D) 35228 Staff photo by Jim Graham Margo Ewing Bane celebrates with Ernie Woodacre after finding that she had retained her Senate seat.

the minority Republican caucus pulled out a win in one contested race between Republican Robert T. Still of Mitchell Estates and Democrat Edward J. Gormley of New Castle. Both were seeking a seat vacated by Republican Angelo T. "Bucky" Citro of Elsmere, who did not seek re-election.

Amick, who upset a 10-year veteran in his win over Anderson, had substantial campaign support from prominent Republicans, including contributions from the party's national committees and from former Gov. Pierre S. du Pont IV. Gov. Castle said he saw no great surprises in the legislative outcome, and said the results show the state's electorate is "pleased with what's happening.

"The election showed that incumbency was a great strength this the Democrat's home Tuesday night, and said, "We intend to pursue an official recount. He just wants to be with his family tonight, which is his prerogative." "We have been calling around to different districts and in a couple different places people have different numbers than we got," Freel said. If someone incorrectly read a number off a voting machine, that could make the difference in the race, he said. Bane credited her volunteers and voters who helped her win districts lost in an April special election to fill the seat vacated by Republican Sen. John H.

Arnold. Those voters who turned around and voted for her this time "knew what I did do" in the Senate, Bane said. The political breakdown in the Senate remained the same, as all incumbents retained their seats and County chairman views the results, says Democratic Party is looking ill 'Asterisks denote incumbents races 1 1 2,57674 4,46526 8,77965 3,94635 1 71 4,881 33 10,89867 (R) 1 2,04268 5,43932 'Asterisks denote incumbents 30 years -JUHI iiiiMlliiML southwesternmost district the 40th Representative District for the first time in 58 years Tuesday when Laurel Republican Clifford F. Lee beat Democrat George J. Collins despite a heavy Democratic majority in the district.

Collins had battled through a three-way primary to win the right; to take on Lee for the seat vacated' by Rep. Carrol W. Cordrey, D-Del-mar. The GOP also retained the 4th Representative District seat vacated by Rep. Kevin W.

Free, with Republican Joseph G. DiPinto's win over Democrat Mark A. Murowany. N. passes toxic cleanup bond issue Gannett News Service TRENTON New Jersey voters Tuesday once again showed their willingness to go into debt for the state's environment by overwhelmingly approving a $200 million bond issue for cleanup of hazardous waste dumps.

The bond measure, a key element in a comprehensive five-year toxic cleanup scheme crafted by the Leg-islature and Republican Gov. Thomas H. Kean, was drawing nearly 2-to-l support, with 158,168 votes for and 84,759 against, according to late returns. Voters also accepted a technical change in the language of a separate $100 million bond issue for toxic cleanup that was approved in 1981. The change, which was winning with 206,575 votes to 109,204, erases a provision that has prevented the state Department of Environmental Protection from raising the money before other state and federal revenue sources are exhausted.

The bonding items were the statewide highlights of an election that lacked major candidate contests beyond races for 14 congressional seats. Late results indicated all incumbents held comfortable leads with Democrats holding an 8 to 6 edge over Republicans. affected turnout since the last-minute push to get voters out is often done by supporters of individual candidates who have opposition. At least two contested state Senate races drew voters to the polls in Sussex County, where turnout ran as high as 64 percent in some senatorial districts. Overall, Shipley said the turnout was "so-so" in Kent and Sussex Counties, and relatively strong in New Castle County outside ple, not identifying himself as the brother, and the people are saying, 'Steve, we are going to vote for reported Burrows, who led the Democratic challenger's bid to regain the 21st District seat he lost to Taylor in 1984.

She said she was considering filing a complaint. But the double-team worked, and Taylor defended his seat. Blame it on voter apathy in a midterm election or lackluster campaigns, it was eerily quiet at election night parties. The state Republican Party gathered, as usual, at the Nur Temple Shrine to watch returns, but bartenders at the social hall in New Castle said they had never seen such peace. "There's just not much interest in the election," said event coordinator Richard H.

Evans, who estimated that the GOP was "50 percent quieter" than he had ever seen before. While the Republicans and Democrats toasted victory and drowned defeat, at least one minor-party candidate took a more sober approach to post-election festivities. Patrick F. Harrison, American Party candidate for Congress, said his party at the Elsmere Town Hall would be alcohol-free. He challenged his opponents to follow suit.

Reporters Robert Engler HI, Sunni Khalid, Maureen Mil ford and Herb Pinder contributed to this article. New Castle County Democrats "suffered a hell of a loss," the party chairman declared about two hours after the polls closed. "The party's sick. It doesn't look good," said Eugene T. Reed Sr.

as he watched his son, Eugene lose to Joseph F. Flickinger III for the open register of wills office. Besides the younger Reed's loss, the GOP retained the prothonotary's office and took the post of recorder of deeds from the Democrats, who won only the sheriff's race. Tuesday night is television night at the Winslow home, but the ABC sitcom the family usually watches was pre-empted in favor of returns from the attorney general's race between incumbent Democrat Charles M. Oberly III and Republican challenger J.

Dallas Winslow. "Usually we watch 'Who's 9-year-old daughter Linda said as the family settled into the den of their Talley Hills home. "And tonight we are going to find out who the boss is." The boss turned out to be Oberly, who won a second term as Delaware's top lawman. It might have been a case of mistaken identity, but state Rep. Steven C.

Taylor's twin brother had Vincent P. Meconi's campaign in a dither Tuesday night. Meconi's campaign coordinator, Alda Burrows, complained that Jeffrey Taylor was masquerading as his brother at a polling place. "He's going up and shaking hands with peo Pennsylvania Richard T. Schulze (R) Timothy D.

Ringgold (D) Robert S. Walker (R) James D. Hagelgans (D) Arthur D. Hershey (R) James B. Norton III (D) Elinor Z.

Taylor (R) Melva Mueller (D) Joseph R. Pitts (R) CurtWeldon(R) tsiu a. bpingier (U) Sheridan D. Jones Jr. Robert C.

Wright (R) Kathrynann W. Durham Ralph A. Garzia(D) 93 percent ol precincts reporting lowest in 350,000 ZlRegistered voters Turnout, ofl-year Turnout, presidential 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 WAYAAnxrti (D) Statewide Rv fHRISTfiPHFR PIIMMFR By CHRISTOPHER PUMMER voter turnout estimated to be Vwmpfit Ronnhlinan onHMitoo Tho Tn 1071 too i i benefit Republican candidates. The In 1974 the last election in OOP traditionally gets a larger Eercentage of its registered mem-ers out to the polls. "It did favor the Republicans," said state Democratic Chairman Samuel L.

Shipley. "We didn't get the turnout we needed in the city" (Wilmington). Unofficial estimates indicated 158,000 of 296,000 registered voters went to the polls Tuesday. That would be the lowest voter participation level for any election since at least 1956. which the state's Congressional seat topped the ballot 59 percent of registered voters cast ballots.

Leo T. Marshall, Wilmington Democratic committee chairman, said statewide Democratic candidates were hurt by poor turnout in Wilmington's black districts. He estimated that fewer than 50 percent of total registered voters in Wilmington cast ballots. Five of 11 state Senate candidates and 17 of 41 state House candidates had no major-party challengers. Party leaders said this Staff reporter A lackluster election kept Delawareans away from the polls Tuesday.

Voter turnout was esti-mated at 53 percent the lowest level in at least 30 years. "I think it was just a dearth of issues," said state Republican Party Chairman Francis A. 'DiMondi. "In Delaware, with the satisfaction over the way the state is going, there's been no overriding issue." A low turnout was expected to ft. fx' it 56 '58 '60 '62 '64 '66 '68 70 '72 '74 '76 '78 '80 '82 '84 '86''.