Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 3

pan 3A Courier-Post Monday, October 18, 1993 Karen Funfgeld News Editor 486-2571 Events of the Region, Nation World 2 i '1 V- PiglBttllBBjP Perot backers unhappy with Florio and Whitman Walk raises funds for AIDS services WOODBRIDGE Supporters of Ross Perot left their first state convention Sunday largely dissatisfied with the two major gubernatorial candidates. But members of the state chapter of United We Stand America said it 2 it "Well, the bug is bad and he tries to do harmful things to my mommy and daddy," Cathy Ott said. The fund-raiser, sponsored by the Philadelphia-based group From All Walks of Life, attracted an estimated 12,000 participants and raised about $625,000 for AIDS programs and services in the region, organizers said. The group, the largest private AIDS fund-raiser in southeastern Pennsylvania, has given over $1 million to the cause, executive director Eric Wichner said. Stephen Brown, the event's spokesman, said most major U.S.

cities sponsor such a walk. Toronto, where the Philadelphia Phillies are playing the Blue Jays in Game 2 of the World Series, also held a walk Sunday, Brown said. Associated Press PHILADELPHIA Character actor Dennis Ott's resume lists his weight as 280 pounds. These days, however, Ott carries just 215 pounds on his 6-foot-ll frame. Ott, 35, developed full-blown AIDS last year after the American Red Cross informed him in 1990 that blood he had donated tested positive for the virus.

He unknowingly passed the HIV virus to his 43-year-old wife, Louise, who has not developed AIDS. Their daughter Cathy, 6, has tested negative. "We're open with her and she knows that Mommy and Daddy have a bug," Ott said Sunday after the family finished part of the 8.4-mile Philadelphia AIDS Walk '93. By Lori Ervin, lor the Courier-Post Sense of purpose: Dedication propels walkers in Sunday's Philadelphia AIDS Walk '93, sponsored by the Philadelphia-based group From All Walks of Life. Said one walker infected with the virus whose wife and daughter also participated in the event: "The face of AIDS is family." 7th District race follows custom and turns nasty doesn't matter much because their organization shuns endorsements and just wants its members to vote their conscience.

Gov. Jim Florio addressed about 75 participants Sunday, fielding 18 questions on topics ranging from health care to the legitimacy of the Federal Reserve System. He gained his loudest applause when he said the burden remains on the backers of the North American Free Trade Agreement to win his support. Perot has made opposition to the pact a cornerstone of his movement. Florio said President Clinton has asked him and other governors to withhold immediate judgment on the pact.

Republican candidate Christie Whitman addressed the group Friday and said she supports the agreement. Both candidates stressed their support of the group's willingness to get involved, but many group members appear to be backing some of the 17 independent candidates on the ballot. Neighborhood shocked ENGLEWOOD Residents of a tree-lined neighborhood here said they are shocked by allegations that a couple kept four of their adopted children bolted in a prison-like attic that had no beds, heat or light. A neighbor of Anthony and Shirley James said the entire block was surprised to learn of the charges filed against the couple. "It's a sad statement of affairs when you live in a neighborhood and you learn something like this had happened," said the man, who asked not to be identified.

The four children boys, ages 10 and 11 and two girls, ages 15 and 16 told Englewood police they had been kept in a 30-by-12-foot attic since 1990. Police inspected the attic Oct. 8 after being called to a local supermarket by store security who caught the 11 -year-old and 16-year-old with $70 worth of food in their bookbags. James, 36, and his 39-year-old wife, arrested Wednesday, were each charged with four counts of endangering a child's welfare. They're free on $10,000 bail.

Authorities said the couple adopted the children in New York state and are receiving $24,000 a year from that state to care for them. Courier-Post wire services The Democrats accused Anderson, a guidance counselor in the Trenton public schools, of double dipping. Taking authorized paid leave to attend legislative sessions is legal but improper, the Democrats say, and they ask for a change in the law allowing it. The Republicans countered by charge ing that Casey had taken disability leave from his job at a Philadelphia bank so he could campaign full time. How personalized has the campaign become? The three Republicans Thurs day attacked Casey for backing the state health plan it called for the closure of Zurbrugg Hospital in Riverside and could not resist a dig.

They noted that when Casey went for an operation on hi 4 injured thumb, it was in a Camderi County hospital. Lavonne Johnson of Willingboro, had been squeezed out in a deal with Camden County Democratic Chairman George Norcross. Hindered by dissension, the Democrats have nevertheless campaigned aggressively, working on gun control and crime issues from the gubernatorial race. The Republicans state Sen. Bradford S.

Smith, Assembly members Priscilla Anderson and Jose Sosa counter with the same issue they used in 1991: Florio's $2.8 billion tax package. They cite their partial success by reducing the sales tax a penny on the dollar and say only a Republican Legislature can finish the job. But the campaign has taken a nasty edge, as has become a recent custom in the 7th District. Democratic ticket now faces. That ticket now includes Assembly candidate Steven Petrillo, a Pennsauken committeeman and Camden County freeholder.

But he had lost in a hotly contested primary, won by insurgent slate mates Catherine A. Costa for Senate and George Williams of Maple Shade for Assembly. But Costa chose to withdraw rather than face a rising crescendo of questions about her use of campaign committee funds. Taking her place was the lone winner on the organization ticket, John Casey of Palmyra, and Petrillo was named to replace Casey. That divided the Burlington County Democrats, one faction of whom charged that their candidate, By CARL A.

WINTER Courier-Post Staff The Democrats began their campaign in the 7th Legislative District with bright hopes of recapturing the three seats now held by Republicans. It appears on almost every party leader's list of key districts needed to reverse the 1991 landslide that swept the GOP into control of both chambers of the State Legislature. The district, embracing Willingboro and the Burlington County river towns, has traditionally voted Democratic. Theoretically, the addition of Pennsau-ken in the 1991 redistricting should only add to traditional Democratic margins. Yet crossing the county line has been a critical factor in the difficulties the Thumbnail sketches of 7th Legislative District candidates 7th Legislative District SENATE: John "Jack" Casey AGE: 68 OCCUPATION: Data processing supervisor at CoreStates Bank, Philadelphia.

EDUCATION: Associate Degree, Rider College. EXPERIENCE: Casey was a borough council member for nine years, council president for seven; mayor 1984-87; appointed to General Assembly in 1991. Bradford S. Smith AGE: 42 OCCUPATION: Partner in family law firm. EDUCATION: Undergraduate and law degree from Duquesne University.

EXPERIENCE: Served on the Cinn-aminson Township Committee from 1977 to 1985, as a Burlington County freeholder from 1984 to 1992 and as a state senator since 1991. ASSEMBLY: Priscilla B. Anderson AGE: 58 OCCUPATION: High school guidance counselor in Trenton. EDUCATION: Bachelor and master's degrees from Trenton State College. EXPERIENCE: Served on Willingboro Township Council from 1981 and was re-elected in 1985 and 1989, serving EDUCATION: Graduate of Drexel University, EXPERIENCE: Served on Mount Holly Council from 1986 to 1992, twice served as mayor.

Elected to Assembly in 1991. George Williams AGE: 49 OCCUPATION: Runs own property investment and management firm. EDUCATION: Graduate of Merl chantville High School and U.S. Navy schools. 1 EXPERIENCE: Elected to Maple Shade Township Council in 1988, served as mayor.

Also served on municipal zoning and planning boards. i as mayor in 1984 and 1991. She was elected to the Assembly in 1991. Steven M. Petrillo, AGE: 34 OCCUPATION: Lawyer in Pennsauken with private practice.

EDUCATION: Graduate of Dartmouth College and Rutgers-Camden Law School. EXPERIENCE: Elected to Pennsauken Township Committee in 1988, to Camden County Board of Freeholders in 1992. Served as deputy mayor in 1991. Jose F. Sosa AGE: 42 OCCUPATION: Community relations director for St.

Francis Hospital, Trenton. TZ3 I Serbs, Muslims OK exchange of prisoners; attacks continue Thatcher candid in new book LONDON Margaret Thatcher, in her memoirs released Sunday, said her relations with President Bush were "somewhat strained." But with President Reagan the chemistry never failed even when she chewed him out. In 77ie Downing Street PTTT" Years, the former prime minister said Bush shared her opposition to swift German unification, but backed off when she challenged him. "I found myself dealing with an administration which saw Germany as its main European partner in leadership, which encouraged the integration of Europe and which sometimes seemed 4 Immigration officials propose overhaul of asylum procedure WASHINGTON Immigration officials propose streamlining the nation's overwhelmed political asylum system, cracking down on abusers and cutting back on work permits for applicants. Congressional lawmakers will be briefed on the proposals this week and a House subcommittee on immigration is expected to discuss them when it takes up several bills dealing with asylum Wednesday.

The proposals are the second set of immigration initiatives advanced by the Clinton administration to correct highly publicized flaws in the system. Earlier this year, legislation was introduced that would make it easier to exclude asylum seekers who arrive at U.S. airports without documents or with fake documents. The latest proposed reforms cover asylum applicants who are already in the country, legally or illegally. The proposals include doubling the number of asylum officers to about 300 and the number of immigration judges to about 150.

Flotilla of aid goes to Cuba KEY WEST, Fla. A flotilla loaded with 40 tons of powdered milk, vegetable oil and candy arrived in Cuba, the second such trip this year. Seventeen boats journeyed the 90 miles across the Straits of Florida to deliver the goods, arriving in Cuba Saturday afternoon, said John Young, director of Basta! Spanish for "enough." The group was received by Cuban government officials, Young said. "They are just absolutely thrilled, he said. "Every comment I received was one of thank you and appreciation." Because of the battered Cuban economy, many in the island nation are suffering from infections and vitamin deficiencies caused by malnutrition.

Young and other Bastal members say the Cubans deserve help from the American people. However, many Cuban exiles oppose the shipments, saying they will shore up Fidel Castro's failing regime. Newspaper chain official hurt MIAMI Knight-Ridder Inc. Chairman James K. Batten was critically injured Sunday night when his car struck a concrete light pole in Coral Gables, Fla.

The 35-year veteran of Knight-Ridder, one of the nation's largest newspaper chains, was talking on his car telephone when the accident occurred about 7:20 p.m., police said. Witnesses told police Batten's car, which was in a left-hand turn lane, suddenly veered right across two lanes of traffic, jumped a sidewalk and hit the light pole. No other car was involved in the accident and Batten was alone in his car. Batten, 57, suffered head trauma, major lacerations to his face and a fractured left leg, doctors at Jackson Memorial Hospital told Knight-Ridder executives. He was listed in critical condition.

2 killed in fishing boat crash CHARLESTON, W.Wa. Two bass boats participating in a fishing tournament on the Kanawha River collided Sunday, killing two people and injuring two others, police said. No one witnessed the accident, and police on Sunday afternoon did not know what caused it. Police did not identify the victims, pending notification of their families. Courier-Post wire services SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina Sarajevo residents were urged to stay indoors Sunday as occasional blasts shook the city.

But even as they fought each other, Serbs and Muslims agreed to start exchanging all prisoners. The shelling was lighter than Saturday, when U.N. monitors counted 590 projectiles hitting the city and 69 rounds fired by Sarajevo defenders at besieging Serbs in surrounding hills. At least 10 people were killed and 57 wounded in Sarajevo over the weekend, most of them Saturday, officials said. On both days, Bosnian army officials claimed the Serbs were using chemical weapons, but that report could not be substantiated.

At the height of the fighting Saturday, rival Bosnian government and Serb leaders met at Sarajevo airport and agreed to exchange all prisoners, starting Wednesday, Bosnian radio reported Sunday. Trade pact opposed in France PARIS The president and premier of France spoke out over the weekend against concluding a world trade accord, stepping up France's resistance to a pact intended to boost world trade. Many in France argue the GATT accord would fail to protect their country's agricultural and cultural interests. "France certainly is interested in signing an agreement," Premier Edouard Balladur said in a television interview Sunday night. But he added that "if nothing changes, it is obvious we will not approve this accord." The dispute has focused chiefly on an agricultural accord concluded last November between the European Community and the United States, which France rejects.

It would cut subsidized exports by 21 percent and has angered French farmers. THATCHER to underestimate the need for a strong nuclear defense," Thatcher, 68, wrote. "I felt I could not always rely on American cooperation." Iran, Iraq to hold official talks NICOSIA, Cyprus An Iranian government delegation arrived Sunday in Iraq to make the first high-level exchange between the two countries in three years. The state-run Iraqi News Agency said the Iranian team, headed by Javad Zarif, deputy foreign minister for international affairs, will start official talks Monday in Baghdad. Foreign Ministry Director-General Saad Abdel-Majid al-Faisal will head the Iraqi team, according to the agency, monitored in Cyprus.

Courier-Post wire services.