The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 43

Metro Monitor 12C INSIDE: Bodies of Two Men Found After Apartments Fire 2C Coupie Gets $1 0 Million Court Award in Daughter's Death 1 1 SECTION Atlanta 3urraU the Atlanta constitution SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1988 Elccllen's Ci7ect on Iho 1909 Georgia Legislature Lewis Grizzard Haws, neti Republican gains show a movement toward a two-party system in the Legislature, but the GOP Is still a long way from any major power sharing with the Democrats. t'ackt) Like Republicans, blacks continue to build their numbers slowly. But they are still vastly under-represented in terms of their percentage of the population. Unlike Republicans, however, blacks have the ad- vantage of being able to work within the Democratic hierarchy. Blacks chair three legislative committees.

UDemocrats I I Republicans House Correction A story in Saturday's At- 1 lanta Journal-Constitution in- correctly reported that all 54 partners in Arthur Andersen Atlanta office had been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury investigating ac- counting practices at the Georgia Power Co. and the Southern Co. Two partners and the firm have turned over documents pursuant to sub- poena, according to Robert F. McCullough, managing part--i ner of the Atlanta office. It is the policy of these i newspapers to correct errors of fact that appear in their news columns.

Republicans chair none. 1888 151 Democrats29 Republicans 1989:32 1988:28 Voment Lost ground In 1 988, losing three seats Including some of their most influential members. Like blacks, women remain under-represented. 1209: 144 Democrats36 Republicans "'l-j Tlw Real Scoop OnWIiy Wimp Beat tlw Shrimp The most asked question following last week's election seems to be why did Michael Dukakis lose? I've read at least 14 columns attempting to answer the question. Dukakis didn't answer Bush's charges soon enough, his campaign staff, was too inexperienced and he was too short were three of the reasons given.

Actually I didn't read anywhere that the reason Dukakis lost was he was too short I made that up to show you a perfect example of how the media distort things. But that could have been it, -couldn'tit? Senate li Democrats I Republicans rvwxn 1988:27 1989:24 1988: 46 Democrats10 Republicans Committer Chairmanships: Most of the 10 open chairmanships will likely remain in control of white males with women and blacks possibly gain- Ing a small share of the positions. In rjxrr the House, strong allies of Speaker Tom Murphy will get the leadership positions while Lt. Gov. Zell Miller controls the Senate appointments.

Nh 1889:45 Democrats11 Republicans DOTChiefl Gould Gain More Clout Tax Hike Would Promise Control of Larger Fund ByBertRoughtonJr. 1 StaffWriter If Gov. Joe Frank Harris's plan to raise the motor fuel tax 6 cents succeeds, a penny on every gallon of gasoline sold in Georgia will go to a fund under the discretionary control of Transportation Commissioner Hal Rives, If the proposal is approved by the General Assembly, the Local Assistance Road Program (LARP) would be permanently endowed by the tax, which would pump an estimated $43 million into the program in the first year. LARP has averaged $30 million a year over the past five years. The 11-year-old fund is perhaps i the most popular aid program in the state, particularly in rural areas.

For many poor countiesit Is the only source of money to resurface and repair roads. Mi Diirao Hictrikutae mnnoilT RON COODINQTONStaff Ranks of Female Legislators Drop 12 House Loses Three Powerful Women; Newcomers Lose Mentors without having to obtain the approval of the Legislature or the state Transportation Board. "Some-; member, chose to run for the Georgia Public Service Commission, but lost in a runoff to Bobby Rowan, who was elected to the Ms. Galer, also a 12-year legislative veteran, was defeated 8 by Robert Steele, a Columbus in- surance agent and former profes-: sional football player. Rep.

Virgin-la Ramsey, a Republican from Brunswick, lost to Ronald Fen- nell, a Brunswick sales representative. Rep. Mary Ida Phillips (D-Soperton) decided not to seek reelection and will be replaced by a Ms. Steinberg and Ms. Galer were considered strong candidates to chair committees.

"The women that we lost were leaders," said Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), who was just elected to her second term in the Legislature. "Their loss will be felt by people like me who are new." Two women Cynthia McKin-ney of Atlanta and Karen Irwin of Winterville were elected to the Legislature, replacing men! A shortage of women willing to run for the Legislature is cited as a major reason for the representation at the Capitol. Many women are simply unwilling to live in Atlanta for three months each year while the Legislature is in session, said Ms. Steinberg.

Two-thirds of the women in the 1989 Legislature live in metro Atlanta. "If they're married and they have kids and don't live in Atlanta, it's an impossible job," said Ms. Steinberg. "If I hadn't lived here, there's no way I would have WOMEN Continued on 4C The loss of women legislators, comes when at least 10 committee chairmanships have come including committees that -can make or break significant legislation such as the proposed 6-cent gasoline tax hike. Three of the most powerful' women legislators Reps.

Cathey Steinberg (D-Atlanta), Mary Jane Galer (D-Columbus) and Earleen Sizemore (D-Sylvester) won't return next year to move up in the male-dominated legislative power structure. Each of them has been replaced by a male legislator. Ms. Sizemore, who has served in the House for the last 14 years, was one of only two chairwomen in the Legislature. A' 12-year House member, she left her seat to run for Worth County school superintendent a post she won.

Ms. Steinberg, a 12-year House By David Beasley StaffWriter With the start of the 1989 General Assembly about two months away, women legislators have suffered a 12 percent drop in their ranks and the loss of some of their most influential, members at a time when key leadership positions are open. While blacks and Republicans will have their highest numbers ever in the Legislature this winter, there will be a net loss of three women members. There will be 22 women in the House and two in the Senate when the General Assembly convenes, down from a record 27 during the 1988 session. Women will make up: slightly more than 10 percent of the General Assembly, while they represent more than half the state's population.

times something in the LARP program comes to our attention, but. not often," said Steve Reynolds, chairman of the Department of Tmnsnnrtatinn fDOTl hoard. I vrcuigc ousii is a mil, angular fellow and here's Dukakis, a comparative runt 7 Sang Randy Newman, "Short people got nobody. The Democrats tried to portray Bush as a wimp, but the Republicans came back with, "Our wimp can beat your shrimp." During the campaign, as a matter of fact Dukakis, hungry for seafood, walked into a restaurant and asked, "Do you serve shrimp?" "Certainly," said the maitre d'. "Sit anywhere you please." That Frankie Avahn Factor That's an old joke and never happened, of course, but once a member of the media starts distorting things, it's hard to stop.

At any rate, too, have been giving some thought to why Du-; kakis was beaten so badly and I. now offer my own theories. May-. -be after I'm through, the facts will be so distorted we can put' the election behind us and get on to the more important things -such as Geraldo Rivera's upcoming prime time special, "The Dental Floss Strangler." The Frankie Avalon The- ory: Did anybody else notice how much Michael Dukakis looks like, an aging Frankie Avalon? Obviously the American people don't want a president who reminds them of a guy who hung around Annette Funicello all those years and still thought "Going all the way" meant swimming out from the beach until the water was over your head. The Eddie Fisher Theory: Come to think about it Michael Dukakis looks more like an aging Eddie Fisher than he does an aging Frankie Avalon.

Nobody has liked Eddie Fisher in this country since he ditched Debbie Reynolds and ran off with Liz Taylor. I have no idea whatever became of Eddie Fisher but I hope he' wound up as a chiropractor. The Truth About the Word The Bushy Eyebrow Theory: Michael Dukakis has some industrial-strength eyebrows. I kept worrying that they were No state official has discretion-, ary control of any fund approaching the size of LARP. The Emergency Fund, which generated sharp criticism for Mr.

Harris two years ago, contains only about $2.3 DOT Continued on 6C Angry Backers Of Ex-Editor Hold Protest! By Ron Taylor If' Tabernacle Turns 90, Seeks Pastor To Spur Renewal ByGustavNiebuhr Religion Writer When the congregation gathers at the Baptist Tabernacle, they usually fill fewer than 200 of the historic sanctuary's 2,600 seats. But this Sunday, as Tabernacle celebrates its 90th anniversary, its secretaries are printing up 500 worship bulletins. It's an act of faith against huge odds, because Tabernacle today is threatened with extinction. As the church prepares to enter its 10th decade, its aging, largely white congregation is hoping to revive it by embracing a diverse downtown community from which it withdrew during the civil rights, movement But first, Tabernacle urgently needs a leader, someone to replace its last permanent minister, who left nearly two years ago. "We're having a hard time find- i- -II I StaffWriter i With a four-piece' Dixieland band playing and public television commentator Hodding Carter III marching along, about 250 demon-; strators rallied Saturday outside1 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution building to protest the papers' ac- ceptance of Editor Bill Kovach's resignation nine days ago.

5 3 Mr. Carter, novelist Pat Conroy and the paper's Pulitzer Prize-win-; ning editorial cartoonist, Doug Mar- lette, were among the speakers criticizing the papers' management for allowing Mr. Kovach to leave. "In journalism, there is a war under way for its soul. Atlanta just happens to be the newest battle- ground," said Mr.

Carter, who came a friend of Mr. Kovach's when Mr. Carter was spokesman for the RENEE HANNANSStaft The men of the Baptist Tabernacle meet for The small group reflects the dwindling num- KOVACH Continued on 3C breakfast Thursday in the church's sanctuary, ber of members at the downtown church. it- .1 1 TABERNACLE Continued on 9C ifwfcniwviik VUHU1IU0U vii 1 7 i No Bull! Town Enjoys Being Dumped On as Chips Fall to Raise Money maae oi veicro ana it ne waiKea into a wall they would have to get the fire department to free his head. Never trust a man with bushy eyebrows.

The "Kittyandl" Theory: Did you notice that every time Dukakis spoke, he began every sentence with "Kittyandl," referring, of course, to his lovely wife? If he'd said, he might have won Texas, The Harvard Theory: No-' body who didn't go to Harvard likes anybody who did. George Bush went to Yale, of course, but a great many voters think that's where they make locks. The Word Theory: Michael Dukakis actually eats, and enjoys, liver. A man who likes liver probably also watches pub-: lie television, listens to records featuring a cello player and lected stamps when lie was a kid, which can mean only one thing: Michael Dukakis is a nerd. Once you've distorted one or two facts, it's so easy to go on a rampage.

more used to doing for its 1 "We've got dynamite gymnastics, dancing, football and baseball for the kids," said Ted city manager. "We needed? something for our older folks." So when the chips were the city of Bowdon decided to run was a crazy way to raise money, they; also found it strangely rentertaining." 1 I "Whoever gets dumped on wins, and it doesn't happen that way in life too said Matt Miles, whose car dealer father donated a 1979 blue Camaro as first prize. And by the time the first chip dropped, people had chipped in more than $7,500 for the proposed senior citizens center, in a towm ratively for a new building where they could play bingo and sew quilts, had trouble explaining Saturday's "Bull Chip "It was a little funny trying to tell my family," said retired postal clerk Mary E. Porter, 64. She told them they could pay $5 for a yard-square patch of a former cotton field and would win a car or cash prize if the bull "fertilized" their square.

Although mort ptople agreed it By Michelle Hiskey StaffWriter BOWDON, Ga. Several hundred folks gathered on a blustery afternoon Saturday at the neighborhood recreation center, and waited anxiously for the chips to fall. Not poker chips. Not potato chips. Not chocolate chips.

Bull chips. "How can you say it mildly?" said Mayor Jimmy W. Watts gazing out at three'cattle grazing in right field, past the diamond where girls play softball. "We're just waiting for them to do what they do naturally." Cox an 1,100 pound Brahman bull and Jersey bull calves Junior and John were the talk of this town of 1,753 all week and the center of attention Saturday, although people were delicately sidestepping exactly why the trio became celebrities. Even Bowdon's senior citizens, hoping to cash irfthe chips figu iiim ruin mini rifru-Ni vi 11 iiihm borrowed from a nearby county a CHIPS Continued on 14C.