The Times from Munster, Indiana • 21

C-2 THE TIMES Wednesday, November 5, 1986 ind. ELECTIONS 1986 Races are contests Democrats sweep county offices Election briefly By RICHARD BRYANT Times Staff Writer -r-" A fx yJv -s. i if Js fe' 5 A 1 It' I worked in the sheriffs department for 10 years. Five years ago she ran for sheriff to succeed her husband but was unsuccessful. In the treasurer's race, Angel won his third term in that office, though not in succession.

Angel served as county treasurer from 1974-82, and has served the last four years on the North Township Advisory Board. Angel, 65, a certified public accountant from Munster, gathered 66,443 votes to Mc-Carley's 36,389. McCarley, 54, of Schererville, was seeking her first public office. In the assessor's race, Benjamin, a Merrillville attorney, eclipsed his opponent by collecting 72,000 votes to lead the Democratic party ticket. Benjamin gathered more than twice as many votes as his opponent, Highland Realtor Harkin, who garnered 33,315.

Benjamin's candidacy apparently was not marred by his recent appearance before a federal grand jury looking into ticket-fixing in drunken driving cases in the Lake County courts. In the race for County Commissioner from the 1st district, Clay, the current Lake County recorder, trounced Congress by a score of 27,977 to 5,291. Clay, 51, is a former Lake County councilman (six years) and a state senator from Gary. Congress, also of Gary, was seeking his first office. CROWN POINT It wasn't even close.

Democrats will continue to serve as Lake County auditor, treasurer, assessor, and retain their majority on the Board of Lake County Commissioners. For auditor, Anton outpolled Republican Edmund F. Baran by two-to-one. For auditor, Nick Angel defeated Republican Barbara McCarley by nearly the same margin. For assessor, Peter Benjamin was the county's top vote-getter en route to beating GOP nominee Joseph "Doug" Harkin.

And for 1st District County Commissioner, Rudolph Clay wiped out Fred Congress. The trend mirrored other countywide races, where the traditionally mighty Democrats trounced Republicans despite a scandal-plagued courthouse which has seen the county sheriff, county clerk, two county court judges and a handful of other court officials all Democrats go to jail in the past two years. In the auditor race, Anton, 57, the widow of the late former sheriff Chris Anton, gleaned 68,732 votes in her first run for public office. It was no contest with Baran, an East Chicago Republican, who had 34,195 votes. Though it's her first victory, Anton is no newcomer to the courthouse crowd.

She has Lake County Sheriff Stephen R. Stiglich (D-inc.) 69,927 Ralph J. Grothaus (R) 35.243 Harry Glenn (Lib.) 856 Prosecutor Jock F. Crawford (D-inc.) 77.395 Commission, 1st District Rudolph Clay (D) 27,977 Fredrick Congress (R) 5,291 Circuit Court Lorenzo Arredondo (D) 70,037 Clerk Kenneth R. Peterson (R-inc.) 40,211 Robert Antich(D) 63,935 Auditor Anna Nuzzo Anton (D) 68,732 Edmund F.

Baran (R) 34,195 Assessor Peter Benjamin (D) 72,000 Joseph Douglas Harkin (R) 33,315 treasurer Nick Angel (D) 66,443 Barbara McCarley (R) 36,389 County Council 1st District Richard Blastick (D-inc.) 11,317 Carlos Tite(R) 3,266 2nd District James A. Fleming Jr. (D) 12.559 John L. Brumfield Jr. (R) 998 3rd District Andrew Smith (D-inc.) 10,123 James E.

Pope (R) 1,504 4th District Richard Galambos (D-inc.) 8,297 Jack L. Friedrickson (R) 4,127 5th District Thurman Ferree (D) 10,452 William E. Needles (R) 7,713 6th District Robert F.Crossk (D-inc.) 9,485 William Kurtis (R) 7,197 7th District Rocco AAaggio (D) 6,421 Sydney Garner (R-inc.) 9,292 Calumet Township Trustee Dozier Allen Jr. (D-inc.) 46,267 Theodore P. Ross (R) 8,642 Assessor Thomas Barnes (D-inc.) 46,825 Percy Strowhorn (R) 6,847 North Township Trustee John D.

Klobuchar (D) 24,178 Ralph Potesta (R) 17,923 Anna Payne (Ind.) 1,323 George Stepancevich (Ind.) 244 Assessor John F. Pers (D) 27,698 Jovan Vercel (R) 12,285 Cedar Creek Township Trustee -v- tlwiiwi ii nini I hi it Jt.l 1. iisv 4'- i4m Vtl W-l ,1 tKvfJ Rep. Andy Jacobs, D-Ind, celebrates victory with failed Senate candidate Jill L. Long Tuesday in Indianapolis Dem take 7 ouse seats By THOMAS P.

WYMAN The Associated Press Democrats have wrestled a pair of Indiana congressional seats from Republicans and spoiled a GOP bid to knock off 8th District incumbent Frank McCloskey. Tuesday's election results gave Democrats a 7-3 hold over the Hoosier congressional delegation. Two fundamentalist Christian candidates, both Republicans, were defeated. McCloskey held a margin early today in the southwest Indiana district he won last time by a four-vote margin in the House of Representatives. In.

northern Indiana, Democratic challenger Thomas W. Ward won a narrow 3rd District victory over three-term GOP incumbent John Hiler. And state Sen. Jim Jontz, D-Brookston, defeated his Senate colleague, James Butcher of Kokomo, in the battle for the 5th District seat left vacant by the retirment of Republican Elwood "Bud" Hillis. In the 8th District, Republican challenger Rick Mclntyre hurled unproven allegations of drug use and rousing campaign visits by President Reagan and Vice President George Bush against McCloskey.

But Mclntyre failed in his effort to win their million-dollar rematch of the 1984 contest. "To think that after Ronald Reagan was here and George Bush was here," McCloskey said before supporters interrupted him with cheering. "We did have the basic overall economic issue going for us. People of this district want more than Reaganomics," he added. Still, Mclntyre did not concede.

"I wish I could come to you this evening and say our race is over, but I can't," he told supporters. Jontz said economic issues accounted for his victory in a district the GOP carried by more than 60 percent of the vote the past two elections. Butcher conceded defeat with Jontz leading 51-48 percent with 98 percent of the vote tallied. "People were concerned about the trade crisis and the farm problems, and they were willing to vote for a Democrat because they wanted a change," Jontz said. Butcher, a fundamentalist Christian who worked to expand his appeal beyond religious voters, called the campaign a "tremendous" experience.

"Coming in second is no fun," he said. "We'll be better for having run the battle and run the race with a great deal of dignity, and all that belongs to you and to God." Ward issued a victory statement in the 3rd District and left South Bend headquarters to celebrate. Hiler spokesman Jan Powell said, however, the congressman had not conceded defeat. In other results, Rep. Phil Sharp, a Democrat, again turned back the GOP challenge in the 2nd District, winning 62 percent of the vote against Beech Grove fundamentalist minister Donald J.

Lynch for the nominally Republican seat Sharp has held since 1974. "People were really sort of reaffirming their beliefs in the value of diversity of opinion and skepticism about individuals and groups who claim to have absolute truth," Sharp said. "I think in some respect my opponent and his supporters stirred up fears in a number of voters." Democrat Lee Hamilton, Indiana's senior-most representative, defeated GOP candidate Robert W. Kilroy of Jefferson-ville by a 3-1 margin to retain the 9th District seat he has held since 1964. The senior Hoosier Republican, John T.

Myers, defeated Democrat L. Eugene Smith of Linton 2-1 to keep the 7th District seat he has held since 1966. In northeast Indiana, Republican Dan Coats handily defeated Democratic challenger Gregory Alan Scher of Huntington for the 4th District seat. Coats has held the seat since his former Capitol Hill boss, Sen. Dan Quayle, gave it up for his successful 1980 Senate challenge.

Quayle defeated handily Democratic challenger Jill Long Tuesday for a second term. Republican incumbent Dan Burton piled up a 2-1 margin in beating Democrat Thomas F. McKenna of Carmel to win a third term from the 6th District. Nick Angel won his third term as treasurer, though not In succession. Angel served as county treasurer from 1974-82, and has served the last four years on the North Township Advisory Board.

helped, but he said he was disappointed that Lake County voters supported council candidates who recommended a deficit budget. Kurtis said he has one year left on the town board, and he will "go to work tomorrow" to complete the rest of his term. The other council races broke down this way: Richard Blastick has been a county councilman for 16 years. Make that 20. Blastick, a Democrat, turned back a challenge from Republican Carlos Tite by better than 8,000 votes.

Blastick, who set his sights on the Lake County Convalescent Home operations, drew 11,317 votes to Tites' 3,226 in the 1st Council seat. James Fleming has found his first run for office a successful venture. The Gary policeman easily took the 2nd Council seat Tuesday, turning back a challenge from John Brumfield Jr. Fleming chalked up 12,559 votes to Brum-field's 998. Fleming told a gathering at his victory party that he felt "very good about this victory, and I'm hoping I'll be able to work with the other county councilmen, because there are a lot of things before us.

For example, poor relief and the jail situation. And I'll be working hard in those areas to make sure the citizens of Gary and East Chicago get treated fairly." Andrew Smith wasn't worried about the 3rd County Council race before Tuesday bids 11 Times photoj by John Smierclak Democrats had reason to smile Tuesday night. Peter Benjamin, top center, defeated Republican Kenneth Peterson in the race for county clerk, while Anna Nuzzo Anton, right, defeated Republican Edmund Baran in her bid to become county auditor. Lake County Democratic Chairman Robert Pastrick, mayor of East Chicago, above, offers a toast at party at Wicker Park Social Center, Highland. GOP council fail Edward E.

Bradbury (D) Harold C. Dahl (R-inc.) Assessor Edna Bruckman (R) 774 922 1,099 Center Township Trustee Ralph G. Schroeter (D) 2,440 Louis Ferrero (R) 3,231 Assessor Martha Wheeler (R-inc.) 3,526 Eagle Creek Township Trustee ClarenceJJradley (R-inc.) 185 Hanover Township Trustee Dennis P. Palmer (D) 751 Rudolph Huizenga (R) 597 Assessor Louis J. Wislocki (D) 833 Hobart Township Trustee Billy Joe Rosser (D-inc.) 4,809 Stanley Szostek (R) 3,344 Assessor Paul L.

Wolek (D-inc.) 5,220 Tom E. Wright (R) 2,742 Ross Township Trustee John Meznarick Jr. (D) 3,829 John W. Rooda (R-inc.) 5,757 Assessor Theodore A. Kamlnski (D) 5,265 Albert S.

Wirtes (R) 4,539 St. John Township Trustee Gerry J. Scheub (D-inc.) 5,066 Donald F. Grady (R) 3,030 Assessor Joseph A. Rokosz (D-inc.) 4,953 Leonard P.

Sunde (R) 2,967 West Creek Township Trustee Ricky N. Niemeyer (R) 584 Winf ield Township Trustee John B. Curley (R-inc.) 666 By SHARON ROSS Times Southlake Bureau Manager CROWN POINT Up until today, there were two ways to look at the Lake County Council's political makeup. The Republicans decided that 7th Council District incumbent Sydney Garner needed sdme GOP companionship at the council table. The Democrats figured the majority hold was the way it should be whether by retaining incumbents or electing new coun-cilmen.

Now there's only one way to look at it. The Democrats stomped through the Lake County Council races Tuesday and Garner is still the only Republican at the council table. The strongest Republican hopes were pinned on William Kurtis, a Merrillville Town Board member who wanted to unseat 6th Council District incumbent Robert Crossk. Kurtis announced his council intentions more than 18 months ago. But it wasn't in the cards or the ballot boxes.

Crossk defeated Kurtis 9,485 to 7,197 in what would be the closest Republican challenge on the council. Kurtis said he was disappointed in the defeat but not in the campaign. "It was honest and clean," Kurtis said. "We gave it a good shot. We have no regrets.

We ran a good campaign." He theorized that Crossk's incumbency because he said the district wasn't Republican territory. He was right. Smith bested Republican challenger James E. Pope 10,123 to 1,504. Richard Galambos said that if he were re-elected to his 4th County Council seat, he'd have a balanced budget every year, oppose option income taxes, build more efficiency in county government and eliminate duplication of efforts.

His constituents will get a chance to treated fairhip Republican Committeeman J. Michael Peck agreed that the LaRouche candidate, "hurt Stevenson but really didn't hurt anybody else." But Will County Democratic Party Chairman LeRoy Van Duyne said the presence of the LaRouche candidates on the ballot might have prompted many voters to sit this election out. Marty Gleason, strategist for Democrat Shawn Collins, a loser in Tuesday's 4th Congressional District contest, felt the presence of the LaRouche candidates on the Democratic Party ticket hurt Collins. "They hurt because since they appeared on the ballot, Sen. George Sangmeister (D-Mokena, who lost the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in the March Democratic Party primary)) could not," Gleason said.

"If he (Sangmeister) was on the ballot as the lieutenant governor candidate, he would have helped bring out the vote for Shawn in the outlying areas.".