The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • Page 21

Che IBurlington Jf ree JDress Classified Crossword Employment Real Estate Automotive 9B 9B to fore recourt sue Pasty may SECTION Saturday, November 19, 1988 City Editor, Sam Hemingway Phone: 863-3471, ext. 2017 is satisfied the results are valid. "Mr. Diamondstone should have come to the canvassing meeting, that was the time to raise these issues," Douglas said. "Unofficial results are press results.

What counts are the certified returns from the clerks of the towns and cities." Douglas said the results were tallied twice at the canvassing meeting, adding, "I'm confident the totals are correct." Douglas said that under state statute results may be challenged basically if the error is "sufficient to change the ultimate result." "My personal view is that's a very difficult standard for him to address," Douglas said. "It's hard to believe any judge would be convinced any error was sufficient to change the results. "The law is quite clear, and I don't k. 4 FftCar. 4 Mrtj mfr hi have any discretion, the rules are spelled out in the statutes," he added.

"So his remedy is certainly in the courts if he feels he wants to pursue it." Diamondstone said the action would not be taken by the Liberty Union Party, but by about 15 individual people connected with the party. "We would not have undertaken a decision to do something like this if we did not think we were going to be successful," Diamondstone said. "We are not happy about having to make this move." In addition, Diamondstone claimed he and other party members had placed personal ads in several Vermont newspapers reading, "Where are your wandering votes tonight? Call home All is forgiven." Kunin sets spending record By James E. Bressor Free Press Staff Writer MONTPELIER Gov. Madeleine Kunin spent $640,000 in her successful effort to win a third term, making her gubernatorial campaign the most expensive in Vermont history.

According to finance statements filed Friday at the Secretary of State's Office 10 days after the general election, Kunin outspent her Republican opponent, Michael Bernhardt, by nearly a 3-to-2 margin. Her campaign was buoyed by strong political action committee contributions in the final days. It received $3,000 from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, $2,500 from the Hollywood Women's PAC, and $1,000 from AFSME APL-CIO and PAC-Vermont. The governor also received a $1,000 check from Barbra Streisand. Kunin spent a total of $639,862, compared to Bernhardt's $441,473.

Bern-hardt's total expenditures were less than what the previous two Republican gubernatorial candidates John Easton in 1984 and Peter Smith two years ago spent. Vermont voters chose Kunin for a third term over Bernhardt, giving her 56 percent of the vote. Kunin, who caught some flak two years ago when U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy turned some of his campaign funds over to her, shared some of her wealth this year.

She gave the Vermont Democratic-Committee $1,000 to help state Senate candidates. Democratic candidate for attorney general Edward Flanagan, who lost by a 2-to-l margin, reported ending the campaign with a $77,500 debt. Flanagan, who waged a campaign strongly tilted toward television advertising, spent $135,900 in his bid to unseat two-term incumbent Jeffrey Amestoy. Amestoy's financial statement was not filed with the Secretary of State's Office late Friday afternoon, but he trailed far behind Flanagan in both contributions and expenditures throughout the campaign. resort's fight dents say the issue has focused on opposition to the project by a handful of nearby landowners, while those favoring it have been seen as the developer and a few town officials.

"There is a well-organized, well-versed, very small group living on Sherman Hollow Road that are opposed to it," said Britt Cummings, a member of the Planning Commission and spokesman for the resident supporters. "But from what I can tell, the majority of people in town think the project should go through." Roderick Ross, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, town sure does want it," he said. The board will consider a request from residents Monday night for a special town meeting to deal with the issue. Cummings said residents have asked the selectmen to call a special town vote to authorize spending up to $25,000 to hire a lawyer to join Truax in any further action he may pursue for the approval Turn to RESIDENTS, 4B credit for housing MARK SASAHARA, Fr freji Annual craft fair Marchus, left, uses waxed linen to make the traditional round into a flat Shaker broom at the Hand Crofters' 35th Annual Fair. There are 170 booths on floors at Memorial Auditorium shoppers can find almost from paintings and to paper jewelry and light switches.

The fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today Sunday. Admission is there's for children 16 and younger. By Susan Allen Free Press Staff Writer MONTPELIER Liberty Union Party leader Peter Diamondstone said Friday he may sue Secretary of State James Douglas to force a recount or new election in two statewide races.

Diamondstone said unofficial results released after the Nov. 8 general election showed two Liberty Union candidates, Lisa Steckler running for lieutenant governor and John Craven in the treasurer's race, received at least 5 percent of the vote. Final results confirmed Tuesday, however, showed both Steckler and Craven received less than 5 percent, a decline Diamondstone called "an unusual event." "We're planning a lawsuit to either get I i.Vii lit- jji Attorney plans race for mayor By Ian Polumbaum Free Press Staff Writer Democrat Rick Sharp, a lawyer and property owner who has criticized and sometimes enraged Burlington's Progressive politicians, plans next week to declare his 1989 candidacy for mayor. Sharp, who has run unsuccessfully twice for Ward 2 alderman and once for state senator, has long been an adversary of Mayor Bernard Sanders and his backers. Sanders, an independent and four-term incumbent, has said he won't seek another term.

The most recent clash was over a tenant-protection measure, rejected by voters Nov. 8, whose proponents Sharp branded "socialists and communists." He in turn was accused of distortion and redbaiting. Sharp this week released a written notice that he would formally begin his candidacy Monday afternoon at City Hall. He could not be reached for comment late Friday. The notice received a low-key response from Aldermanic President Nancy Chioffi, D-Ward 5, who also plans to run for mayor, but a derisive one from one of Sharp's past election rivals.

"Ha, ha, ha, that's my reaction," said Alderman Gene Bergman, PC-Ward 2. Bergman at first said he did not want to inflame an already bitter relationship with Sharp, but then voiced anger stemming from the hous- v.v:VO:W Tth i a recount or a recount and a new election," he said. "There are votes missing." Tho Liberty Union members lost major party status when no candidate, including Steckler and Craven, received the required 5 percent. They now become a minor party, thereby losing the legal right to holdl primary elections. "I expect to present (Douglas) with a requesit Monday that he declare a cloud over tlfciis," Diamondstone said.

"Liberty Union status should continue until we have a unclouded answer." Dianmondstone added that if Douglas refused to respond to his request, several party mnembers would go to the Superior Court and file the suit requesting an electiomi or recount. Douglas, who plans to attend a meeting in Washington, D.C., Monday, said he all i v- I RICK SHARP ing bat ie and previous ones. "I lhave absolutely no respect for him," Bergman said. "I've seen him for too Sharp has accused the Sanders' administration of discouraging housing construction by trying to trample on the rig liits of landlords. In October he called tllie "just-cause" proposal, which would lhave permitted a city ordinance against arbitrary evictions, "rent control in disguise." He said its backers "don't believe in our constitutional right to own and control property." Chi offi, who plans to announce her candidiacy Dec.

1 at the Community Boa tho se, said Friday she wants to hear Sltiarp's mayoral platform before criticizing him. "I think he's certainly a highly energeljic person who will bring out lots of promts," CMoffi said, adding: "It will make for certainly an interesting race." Turn to SHARP, 43 1 Kristyn thread broom Vermont Craft two where anything, postcards enameled continues and no fee State notes McDonald's manager injured during robbery A night manager of McDonald's on Bank Street was stabbed in the leg Friday night and robbed of the restaurant's night cash deposit as he attempted to make the deposit at Vermont National Bank. Burlington Police Sgt. Everett Burns said the manager tried to deposit the green Vermont National Bank bag at the night drop box next to the restaurant at about 7 p.m., when a man grabbed the bag and stabbed him. Police did not release the amount of cash stolen or the name of the manager.

The manager was treated at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont, Burns said. robber, described as 5 feet 9 inches, 160 pounds, with dark curly hair, was last seen running west from the restaurant toward Pine Street, he said. Man wielding knife takes cash from market ESSEX Between $250 and $300 was taken from Marvin's Market in Essex Friday afternoon by a man wielding a knife, Essex police said. About 3 p.m., a white male described as 5 feet 7 inches, 16 or 17 years old, with brown hair, wearing gray pants and a gray sweater was seen leaving the store headed toward railroad tracks behind the market on Colchester Road, a police dispatcher said. No one was injured, the dispatcher said.

Vermont may receive $4.1 million in funds The Associated Press MONTPELIER Vermont should receive $4.1 million in federal funds next year from an anti-drug law Congress passed in October. The funding, about a 12 percent increase from the 1987 allocation, is to be used for various law enforcement, education, and treatment and rehabilition programs. About three-quarters of the grant money for Vermont and the other states is intended for education, treatment and rehabilitation. Vermont is scheduled to receive $1.4 million for school programs educating students about drug and alcohol abuse. A portion of the money also goes to the governor's office and the state Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

The amount is up from $796,000 in 1987. The state will receive an additional $1.7 million for drug treatment and rehabilitation. The amount appropriated to the states for drug enforcement actually declined under the law. Two years ago, Vermont received $1.36 million for various law enforcement programs. This year, the state's grant has dropped to a little more than $1 million, a decrease of 24 percent.

7 1 Vic Miller, an analyst for the Federal funds Information for States, said some if the enforcement money from last year bad not been spent, which was one reason for the smaller appropriation. Transient man arraigned on check forgery counts A transient man was arraigned in Vermont District Court Friday on three counts of check forgery, three counts of burglary, and one count of driving while under the influence of drugs. Burlington police arrested Joseph L. Craig, 25, at about 6:45 p.m. Thursday lifter receiving a call from a man who discovered a man matching Craig's description rummaging through his home off Shelburne Road, said Detective Emmet Helrich.

Since Tuesday, seven other people had reported that someone had entered their homes through unlocked doors, Helrich said. At the time of his arrest, Craig was wanted on a warrant for allegedly driving while under the influence of drugs in Milton, July 12, Helrich said. When Craig was arrested, police found checkbooks, wallets, purses and credit cards belonging to residents in the southern part of the city. Helrich said he has not determined if the three reported check forgeries made to Winooski police Nov. 7 and 8 are related to the burglaries under his Investigation.

Inside Births- 2B 5B Deaths. Sports- 2B 6 pay In court. Residents join By Lisa Scagliotti Free Press Staff Writer The fight to win state approval of a Huntington resort is not over yet for a group of residents who want to take an active role supporting the expansion of the Sherman Hollow ski touring center. Plans for the resort's golf course were denied a land-use permit in October 1987 by the District 4 Environmental Commission, and developer Paul Truax's appeal to the state Environmental Board met rejection last week. The project plans include expanding the cross-country ski resort with the addition of an 18-hole golf course, a 70-room hotel, 72 luxury condominiums, a conference center, theater, chapel and indoor sports center all for $22 million.

The board did approve the installation of lights to the ski trails, which, along with the golf course, was the first phase of expansion. Those organizing support among resi Land Trust given By Judith Cebula Free Press Staff Writer The Bank of Vermont and the Burlington Community Land Trust announced Friday an agreement to provide $3 million in financing for affordable housing in Greater Burlington. The $3 million line of credit will allow the Land Trust to purchase single- and multi-unit homes without the burden of the bank's administrative fees, said Bank of Vermont President Richard I. Fricke. The Land Trust will then refurbish the homes and sell them to middle-income families for the amount the organization spent to buy the property, said Land Trust president Don Dickson.

Since it began in 1984, the non-profit corporation has bought and sold 44 single-family homes and 17 multi-unit buildings. Fricke said the Bank of Vermont does not traditionally enter into this type of fincancing agreement alone. "With the size of bank we are in Burlington a project like this is something we would be looking into with other local banks," Fricke said. "But with the Bank of Boston as our prospective partner, they encouraged us to go the full amount." Fricke added that his commitment to the Land Trust will not falter if the Bank of Boston does not purchase the Bank of Vermont. Turn to LAND, 4B.