The Indianapolis News from Indianapolis, Indiana • 13

Wednesday, November 6, 1 996 THE INDIANAPOLIS NEWS A-13 emos could pick House speaker GOP demands recount in dose race that would break 50-50 tie IH ssss the first time Engle, who switched parties in 1995, had run as a Democrat. Democrats also lost an eastern Indiana seat. New Castle Rep. David Copenhaver, running for the first time since being appointed to the seat in 1995. lost to Republican Thomas Saunders.

On the other side of the State-house rotunda, little changed in the Indiana Senate. Early results showed the division between Democrats and Republicans would remain the same Republicans holding 31 seats and Democrats with 19. Republicans held on to the District 42 seat vacated by Republican Jean Leising, who lost to U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton.

With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Robert Jackman of Milroy beat Democrat J.D. Lux of Shelbyville 55 to 45 percent. Michele McNeil and Robert N. Bell contributed to this report. challenger Russ StilweU.

Stilwell, a union official, had been expected to win back the Democratic-leaning seat former Speaker Michael Phillips once held. "I know I did the right thing on all my votes (in the Legislature). I have no regrets, and I'll always be proud of that," Lambert said. In northeast Indiana, freshman Rep. John Becker lost his rematch with former Rep.

Ben Giaguinta, a Democrat. Two years ago, Becker beat Giaguinta by a mere seven votes, making it the closest legislative race of the season. Republicans weren't the only ones to suffer incumbent losses. In the southeast part of the state, Rep. Robert Hayes, D-Co-lumbus, lost to Republican challenger David Yount.

And in northeast Indiana, Rep. Barbara Engle, D-Decatur, couldn't muster enough votes to beat Republican challenger Michael Ripley. Both parties had invested heavily in that race. It was Staff Photo Mke Fender ALSO A WINNER: Rep. John Gregg, who is in line to become Indiana House speaker, addresses Democrats Tuesday night.

1988 to 1990 with the two parties sharing the speaker's post because at that time there was no mechanism for breaking the tie. Despite some Republican losses. Speaker Paul Mannweiler was still saying early today that he thought his party could hang on to a majority of the House seats. He had hoped that one of the hotly contested Terre Haute races would favor the Republican incumbent. But, in the end, that lawmaker.

Rep. David Lohr, appeared to have lost. Until Tuesday, the Republicans controlled the House 55-45. But that majority was whittled down to 50-50 after Incumbents In both parties lost. "Our strategy all along was that if we could beat three or four of their Incumbents that would make it real difficult for them to beat us," said Mannweiler, R-Indian-apolis.

Republicans hated to lose the seats they did, including two in Indianapolis. On the city's Near Southside, Democrat Ed Mahern defeated freshman Rep. Irene Heffley by nearly 1,100 votes. Mahern, a real estate appraiser whose brother once served in the Indiana Senate, beat Heffley 6,053 to 4,979, according to unofficial results. On the Eastside, former Rep.

John Day won back the seat he had held for 20 years by defeating freshman Rep. Marty Womacks. Day won 6,043 to 4,097, according to unofficial results. Libertarian Frank Bogan garnered 240 votes. Day credited the popularity of President Clinton and Lt.

Gov. Frank O'Bannon, who won the governor's race, with putting him over the top. Womacks agreed that the success of Democrats at the top of the ticket hurt her. "I did everything I could have done, and I have no regrets about anything. The Democrats just came out," Womacks said.

In the southwest corner of the state, Rep. Sally Rideout Lambert, R-Boonvllle, lost to Democratic By Suzanne McEkide STAFF WRITER Republicans, who appear to have lost control of the Indiana House of Representatives, today filed a notice of a recount in a western Indiana legislative district they lost by 95 votes. If upheld in their favor, the change would give the Republicans a 51-49 majority in the House and give them the power to elect the speaker. If a 50-50 tie remains, Democrats will get to select the speaker, thanks to a 1995 law that allows the party that wins the governor's race to control the House In the event of a tie. Rep.

Michael Young, R-Indian-apolis, confirmed that the Republican majority filed for a recount In House District 46. Tuesday's vote gave incumbent Democrat Vern Tincher 9,838 votes to Republican David L. Lohr's 9,743. Young said the recount petition was filed with Indiana Secretary of State Sue Anne Gilroy about 8:15 a.m. He said a recount commission is scheduled to meet this afternoon.

Barring a change by the recount commission, the next speaker likely will be Rep. John Gregg, who has served as House minority leader for the Democrats since they lost control of the chamber In 1994. Democrats planned to caucus today to select the next speaker. After it was evident the Democrats had nabbed 50 seats, Gregg said he looked forward to working with the state's new governor, Frank O'Bannon. "It's not soaked in yet," the Sandborn Democrat said shortly after he learned he likely would be the next speaker.

The Indiana Senate, long controlled by Republicans, will continue to be led by the GOP. while Democrats will return to power in the House. They controlled the House from 1990 to 1994 but lost power two years ago when 10 of the party's incumbents lost. The House was split 50-50 from Incumbents carry day in north suburban legislative contests CD zh years and get switching the state's assessment system to one based on a fair market value. Meanwhile, Jim Buck, 51, won a second term representing District 38 in the Indiana House.

In doing so, the Republican beat out Libertarian challenger Joseph Gravagna, 50. There were no Democratic candidates. "I'm glad it's over," Buck of Kokomo said Tuesday night. "You're always nervous until the end, especially while we're trying to get numbers from five different counties." Among the issues Buck campaigned on were the elimination of property taxes by restructuring Indiana's sales and income tax system. In District 32, Republican incumbent Eric Turner, 44, defeated Democrat Elizabeth Stanley, 25.

Turner served In the Indiana House from 1982 to 1986. He was defeated in his bid for a third term. He didn't seek elective office again until 1994, when he won. Incumbents were way ahead in Madison County voting in two other districts. Democrat Rolland Webber, 64, gained nearly 55 percent of the vote, compared to 45 percent for challenger Steve Chapman, 49, in a District 37 rematch of their narrow race two years ago.

In a pro-labor stronghold, Webber had union support. Chapman made an issue of Webber's health during the campaign. Webber had a heart attack in 1991. In District 36, seasoned Republican Rep. L.

Jack Lutz, 50, won a third term In the Indiana House, defeating Democratic challenger and Anderson attorney Patrick Cunningham 32. Correspondents Michelle Barbercheck and Susan H. Miller contributed to this report. death, taxes and my morning Sign up now for GTE cellular service for two By Jenny Labalme STAFF WRITER With little surprise, a Republican stronghold produced a predictable result: It re-elected incumbent Republican Teresa S. Lubbers to a second term in the Indiana Senate Tuesday.

Lubbers' race was one of six contested legislative races in Hamilton, Boone and Madison counties. Favorites either won or were ahead in each of the races. In the three-way race against Democrat Jill Chambers and Libertarian James Satterthwaite, Lubbers easily chalked up a sizable margin in the Senate District 30 race. The district takes in parts of Fishers, Carmel and northern Marion County. What made Lubbers a unique candidate among the many Indiana races is that the 45-year-old lawmaker doesn't accept PAC contributions.

She has maintained that she doesn't want special interests to Influence her vote. Lubbers has said her goals for the coming years are to continue her work on issues related to small businesses, education reform and drug-related crime. In other Metro North legislative races: For the first time In decades, a Hamilton County resident will represent District 39 rather than someone from Boone County. Republican Gerald Torr, 38, trounced Independent Mark R. Struble.

There were no Democratic candidates. "I'm proud as heck to be the first resident of Carmel elected to the General Assembly in 50 years," Torr said. Torr, an insurance adjuster with Quality Claims, plans to be active in the legislative debate on property tax reform. He favors "Things that are sure to come: off local 50 off your monthly service charge plus 50 me SOUae airtime through March 31, 1997. No activation fee And if you act now, we'll even waive the activation fee so you'll save even more.

So hurry in to The Cellular Connection to save 50, get your free Nokia phone, and enjoy the super clear reception on The GTE Mobilnet. Paging and Minl-Dlsh Satellite Systems SHELBYVILLE 46 Public Square 392-4100 TERRE HAUTE 2501 S. Third St. (812) 235-1944 Providing Cellular, MUNCIE 1126 W. McGalliard 282-5212 NEWCASTLE 1310 Broad Street 593-1310 RICHMOND 3413 Main St.

966-0800 GREENWOOD 888 North US 31 882-8040 INDIANAPOLIS 8407 Castleton Corner 841-3370 INDIANAPOLIS WEST 3816 N. High School Rd. 329-9900 ANDERSON 1908 Scatterfield 644-4444 CARMEL 2280 East 116th St. 843-2900 CONNERSVILLE 112 W. 30th St.

825-0681 INDIANAPOLIS EAST 7363 N. Shadeland Ave. 576-0400 KOKOMO 814 S. Reed Rd 456-3131 LAFAYETTE 2138 Sagamore Pkwy. South 477-1372 paper! No matter how early I go put for it, it's always there.

My children were carriers anal know how hard it is to he so reliable. I surely appreciate it." Mrs. Marjorie Shedd FOR DEPENDABLE HOME DELIVERY CALL 633-0000 AUTHORIZED WIRELESS AGENT New customers only. Credit check and approval required. Two-year service agreement repuired for 50 airtime and monthly charge discount and free cellular phone.Not with Talk-N-Go rate plan.

No! valid with 3ny other promotional offers ,50 airtime discount excludes taxes, roamingatid long distance charges. Other restrictions may apply. Offer expires 1 11 596..