Longview Daily News from Longview, Washington • 5

The Daily News, Longview. Wash. Wednesday, November 9, 1988 A5 Election '88 Slade Gorton runs, wins as a hard-liner He listens and leans right in comeback bid I 0 7 i Associated Piess photo By David Amnions The Associated Press SEATTLE How'd Slade Gorton do it? Democrat Mike Lowry seemed to have momentum heading into their U.S. Senate showdown: He had an army of passionate backers, a successful image makeover, powerful TV ads, a wildly popular governor and House Majority Leader Tom Foley as campaign draws, and even help from the man he beat in the primary, Don Bonker. But Gorton won.

What gives? Here are some early theories: Defense Gorton hammered away at his peace-through-strength stance, painting Lowry as soft on defense and naive on foreign policy. Gorton, a retired Air Force Reserve officer, was an early and ardent supporter of the Everett Navy home port, which means jobs in Snohomish, Kitsap and King counties. Gorton aides coined the phrase Defense Counties to describe Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap counties, due to their military bases and defense contractor jobs. Gorton predicted he'd take all three counties and he did. Bonker's legacy All but overlooked by most in the political landscape predictions was Gorton's strong showing in the counties served for 14 years by the man who lost a sometimes bitter primary to Lowry, Democrat Don Bonker.

Bonker squired Lowry around the 3rd District, but Gorton, who worked the district, carried Clark County, fought Lowry to a standstill in Thurston, and came close in Cowlitz. All three are dependably Democratic bastions. Were district voters still holding the torch for Bonker and angered by Lowry? Parenthetically, another liberal environmentalist, state Rep. Jolene Un-soeld, also had trouble in her congres- Associated Press photo As wife Sally looks on, Slade Gorton exults in his U.S. Senate victory Tuesday night in Seattle and as Lowry did this year he relied on in-state advisers and a local grass-roots network.

Even cynical reporters said they were convinced that the "new Slade" was for real and seemed to be enjoying campaigning without the regal trappings of office. Politics of contrition The once and future senator took an unusual tack for a politician: He said he'd been bounced from office because he didn't listen well enough to the voters. He also apologized for a series of votes he took in his single Senate term, including tax votes, inclusion of Social Security cost-of-living adjustments in deficit-reduction plans, and a controversial vote swap that resurrected his old sobriquet "Slippery Slade." Evans and Adams His old pal, Republican Sen. Dan Evans, was a frequent, effective campaign asset, serving as "hit man" against Lowry in negative ads and as Slade-is-terrific pitchman in positive spots. The 'L word Just as George Bush used the word liberal to harass Michael Dukakis, so Gorton used it vigorously to portray Lowry as out of the mainstream.

He termed Lowry as more liberal than both Michael Dukakis and Ted Kennedy. Gorton insisted his own "moderate conservative" views were more in vogue. Hanford Hanford was nowhere near the volatile issue that contributed so much to Gorton's defeat two years ago. Christian right An energized army of evangelicals, still mobilized from their takeover of the state GOP convention for Pat Robertson, was cited as a possible bloc that could make a difference in a tight race sional bid, even though she was the Democratic standard-bearer in a Democratic district. Drugs Probably Gorton's premier issue was a hard-line stance on drugs.

He rapped Lowry votes against drug bills and even dragged up an old college newspaper article implying that Lowry advocated legalizing marijuana. Gorton contrasted his own views for harsh punishment, including the death penalty for drug pushers whose wares are directly linked to a death. Gorton seized on the issue earlier than any other major state candidate. Image makeover Gorton sought to warm his aloof, icy image with a hands-on, folksy approach to campaigning. Instead of hiring outside consultants as he did two years ago in losing to Brock Adams Rep.

John Miller rejoices at re-election McDermott wins Congress bid; Miller re-elected SEATTLE (AP) Democrat Jim McDermott of Seattle far outpaced his 7th District opponent in the most heavily Democratic district in the state to win the seat vacated by unsuccessful Senate candidate Mike Lowry. McDermott, with 99 percent of the 7th District's precincts reporting, had 77 percent Absentees to decide 3rd District: Page A3 to Robert Edward's 23 percent. Democratic Congressmen Tom Foley, Norm Dicks and Al Swift and Republican Reps. Sid Morrison and Rod Chandler were easily re-elected in Tuesday's general election. So was Republican John Miller, who had been expected to have a much tougher time defeating Democrat Reese Lindquist in a bitter 1st Congressional District rematch.

With 99 percent of the precincts reporting, Miller had 55 percent to Lindquist's 45 percent. The Miller-Lindquist race in north Seattle and some surrounding suburbs was the most expensive congressional contest in state history, with the two men raising a combined $1.4 million. "It was a tough, aggressive, hard-fought campaign and I wish Mr. Lindquist well," Miller said. Gorton From Page Al could win King County by a large enough margin to compensate for Gorton's victories elsewhere.

"It wasn't an easy year for Democrats, but the issues we ran on were very, very important," Lowry said in an interview. While holding out hope he could come from behind, the 10-year liberal congressman from the 7th District said if he lost he'd "start looking for a job, and stay active politically." "This is simply a night for celebration, not for analysis. Sally and I are almost as tired as we are happy. As we look back, this was the best-run Senate race in America, as far as I'm concerned." Lowry refused to concede. "It just isn't over, that's all," he said.

He retired for the night without making a definitive statement. Earlier, he had held out hope that he statewide trip or two to thank in person the people who made this work. All our talk was about the importance of the grass roots. It was the first time since 1940 for a statewide candidate to win without winning King County." The cautious Gorton waited until hours after the polls closed before he declared to cheering supporters, "We're going to finish in first place in this race." To reporters, he added, D's picked up a net gain of two, for a 56-44 split in the upper chamber. "Right now I'm numb," a delighted and somewhat disbelieving Gorton said in an interview at 2 a.m., shortly after he'd been declared the victor in a hard-fought and sometimes nasty campaign.

"I'll go home and sleep as long as I can and then come into the office and figure it all out," said Gorton. "I definitely want to make another School candidates neck and neck Absentees to decide Senate control Local legislative results: Pages Bl, B3 SEATTLE (AP) The seesaw battle for control of the state Senate remained very much in doubt early today as ballot counting continued in the few remaining precincts. For a time, it appeared Democrats had wrested a slim, 25-24 majority from Republicans, but a late surge of votes in the 11th Legislative District sent GOP candidate Leo Thorsness ahead of appointed incumbent Sen. Gene Lux. Lux had picked up a 2 percent lead in the King County district earlier, but that disappeared and Thorsness moved into a 135-vote lead with all but two of the 169 precincts reporting.

It was almost certain the race would be decided by absentee ballots that will be counted over the next two weeks. If Thorsness clings to his slim lead, the Republicans would once again control the upper house by a 25-24 margin. It was all Democratic in the House. Unofficial returns showed Democrats adding three seats to their already lopsided 61-37 majority. Not all Democrats in the House escaped unscathed.

Rep. Barbara Holm, D-Littlerock, lost her bid for a second term in the 20th Legislative District. She was defeated by Centralia businessman Bill Brum sickle. Also in the 20th District, Centralia attorney Chris Bailey, who was favored to win the open seat, was defeated by Rose Bowman, a Centralia businesswoman. Another Democrat who went down to defeat was retiring State Superintendent of Public Instruction Frank Brouillet.

Brouillet, who served four terms Commissioner Richard Marquardt beat Democrat Al Rainwater. After a nip-and-tuck start, Lands Commissioner Brian Boyle turned back a spirited challenge by Grays Harbor County Commissioner Mike Murphy. Boyle, a former Cowlitz County commissioner, has been commissioner of public lands since 1980. In the battle to head public schools, Heck, 36, tapped education unions and other sources to raise a whopping $450,000 for his campaign. Billings, 48, raised less than a fourth of that amount.

"I'm not going to apologize" for the heavy spending, Heck said late Tuesday. He predicted the race would receive an automatic recount because the candidates would wind up separated by less than one-half of 1 percent of the vote, a margin triggering a recount under state law. Billings said she did well despite fewer resources, because voters wanted somebody who had worked in and understood education. She is a former teacher and worked nine years as a manager in Brouillet's office. Heck has contended that his political connections and understanding of the Legislature would make him a stronger voice in the post.

In the lieutenant governor race, Fleming, 50, and Pritchard, 63, both said they would use the office to build bridges between political factions. Pritchard said late Tuesday he would help Democratic Gov. Booth Gardner deal with the Legislature, and would focus his energies on problems with public education, including drug abuse. SEATTLE (AP) Republican Joel Pritchard won the lieutenant governor's race Tuesday, while a teeter-totter contest to lead Washington's public schools appeared headed for an automatic recount. Five veterans of other statewide offices beat back challenges while the vacant treasurer's seat went to Democrat Dan Grimm, with about 85 percent of precincts reporting early today.

Pritchard, a former congressman and state lawmaker, defeated George Fleming, a state senator from Seattle. Pritchard garnered 719,020 votes, or 53 percent, against 643,277, or 47 percent for Fleming. The post is being vacated by Democrat John Cherberg, who served for 32 years. Judith Billings was running neck-and-neck with early favorite and heavy campaign spender Denny Heck for superintendent of public instruction, a post being vacated by retiring chief Frank Brouillet. Billings, a Puyallup attorney, and Heck, a former state House majority leader from Olym-pia, had 620,176 votes and 616,682 votes, respectively, or about 50 percent each.

In the treasurer's race, Grimm, a state representative from Puyallup, drew 52 percent of the vote to beat Longview native Andy McLauchlan, who lives in Seattle. The seat was held for 24 years by retiring Bob O'Brien. In other statewide races, Republican Secretary of State Ralph Munro defeated Democrat John McKee of Seattle; GOP Attorney General Ken Eikenberry beat Democrat Bill Erxleben; Democratic Auditor Bob Graham defeated Republican Sam Reed; and Republican Insurance as state school chief, was attempting to regain the 25th Legislative District seat he held until 1972. However, he was defeated by Republican Randy Tate of Puyallup. The Democratic swing in the Senate was keyed by the victory of Patty Murray in the 1st Legislative District, made up of parts of King and Snohomish counties.

Murray defeated veteran moderate Republican Sen. Bill Kiskaddon. With 153 of 185 precincts reporting, Murray had 53 percent of the vote. Another key was state Rep. Dean Sutherland's apparent victory in the 17th District, consisting of Klickitat, Skamania and part of Clark counties.

Sutherland challenged appointed incumbent Republican George Rohrbacher. The lead changed hands several times during early counting but by early today, Sutherland had taken a 51 percent to 49 percent lead with 94 of the district's 115 precincts reporting. Republicans seized one Democratic Senate seat when state Rep. Neil Amondson defeated appointed incumbent Democrat Gary Odegaard in the 20th District of Lewis and southern Thurston counties. Whichever party prevails following recounts, its slim majority won't give it much power beyond organizing the Senate and naming committee chairs.

On budget issues, it's certain Republicans will be able to control by enlisting the help of conservative Democrats. Voters back wage increase, environmentalists waste initiative Voters also gave easy approval to three constitutional amendments. The proposal for a tenfold increase of the state's property tax exemption for each head of a family, to $3,000, was passing by 78 percent to 22 percent with 88 percent of precincts reporting. An amendment to expand and extend the energy conservation programs of public utilities was passing by 76 percent to 24 percent with 88 percent reporting. A third amendment removing offensive references to the handicapped and mentally ill from the state Constitution also was winning easy approval, 81 percent to 19 percent with 88 percent of precincts reporting.

The minimum wage initiative calls for raising that standard from the current $2.30 per hour to $3.85 in January and $4.25 in January 1990. Farmworkers were included under the protection for the first time. The Livable Income Campaign, made up of church, labor and women's groups, gathered over 300,000 signatures in support of the initiative after a similar effort failed in the Legislature. The competing toxic waste measures prompted a slew of often-confusing rhetoric during the campaign. Voters also had the option of rejecting both proposals.

Initiative 97, drafted largely by the environmental community, would give the state Department of Ecology authority to unilaterally order a site be cleaned up. It also permits the department to pursue heavy fines and criminal sanctions against polluters. That proposal was pitted against much better funded Initiative 97B, backed by big business and most state legislators, that called for government and industry to work together to clean up sites. Those provisions became state law at a special legislative session one year ago. Supporters of Initiative 97 gathered 200,000 signatures to get their proposal on the ballot, and legislators decided to put up their version as an alternative.

Both proposals would raise money to clean up 400 hazardous waste sites through a tax on hazardous substances. Under both proposals, polluters would pay to clean up sites where they dumped hazardous wastes. But Initiative 97 featured higher penalties for violators and did not allow lawsuits by polluters to delay cleanups. Alternative 97B gave businesses incentives to clean up sites, including excusing polluters from SEATTLE (AP) Supporters of an 85 percent increase in the state's minimum wage that won approval hope the vote sends a message to Congress to increase the national minimum wage next year. And environmentalists sent a message to big business by convincing voters to select their in-ititative for cleaning up toxic waste dumps over the alternative pushed by business and top state officials.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic because we've gotten 77 percent of the voters to give working people a raise next year," Bob Swanson, campaign director of the Livable Income Coalition, said late Tuesday. "It's like a Kingdome wave that starts with strong support in Washington and ripples across the country and ends in Washington, D.C.," he said. With 88 percent of the precincts counted, toxic waste Initiative 97 led Alternative 97B by 55 percent to 45 percent. The first pollution measure on the ballot, which asked whether the state should have any hazardous waste cleanup law, passed 85 percent to 15 percent with 88 percent of precincts reporting. The two-step boost to the minimum wage was winning approval by 77 percent to 23 percent with 88 percent of the precincts reported.

future liability once a site was cleaned and allowing state funds to be used to assist in some cleanups. The three proposed constitutional amendments had little organized opposition. The property tax measure boosted that exemption from $300 to $3,000 for each head of household. Current law had provided that any household goods, land or equipment used in a business operated from a home were subject to property taxes if worth more than $300. Supporters argued it cost more to collect the tax than it brought to state coffers.

The second amendment would extend the authority of publicly owned utilities to make residential energy conservation loans past the current 1990 deadline. It would also extend the loans to all customers, instead of just to handicapped and low-income people. The final amendment would remove offensive references to "idiots, insane, dumb and defective youth" from the current state Constitution sections describing state educational, reformatory and penal institutions. The amendment called for changing two sentences to add language such as "blind," "deaf," "mentally ill," or "developmen-tally disabled" in place of the archaic wording..