Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 1

Li One of America's Great Newspapers 50 CENTS VOL. 73, NO. 95 11399 FINAL WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1999 imWWLi uiiUuvl Republican defeats Wecht by narrow margin to become the county's first chief executive and lead a new form of government WINNERS OF KEY RACES ALLEGHENY COUNTY Common Pleas Court BobColville(D) 0 FrankJ. Lucchino (R-D) Gene Scanlon Jr. (R-D) EJ Kevin Sasinoski (D) 0 Kim Clark (D) 0 Kim Diane Eaton (D) County Executive lJim Roddey (R) County Council Atlarge HDaveFawcett(R) John P.

DeFazio (D) District 1 ET Ronald Francis Jr. (R) District 2 JanRea (R) District 3 EfTomShumaker(R) District 4 Eileen Wagner (D) District 5 Evince Gastgeb(R) District6 5f Mike Crossey (D) District 7 Rick Schwartz (D) District8 Charles IMartoni (D) District9 0 Richard D.OIasz(D) District 10 GJames E. Simms (D District 11 0Rich Fitzgerald (D) District Efwayne Fontana (D) District 13 0TomFoerster(D) Controller gDan Onorato (D) District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. (D) PITTSBURGH School Director District 2 EDarlene M. Harris (R-D) District8 0MarkA.BrentleySr.(R-D) "Pittsburgh Works" home-rule charter amendment EJYes ELECTION '99 SECTION Coverage of local races in Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

Democrat John Street expected to succeed Mayor Rendell. Page A-18 For election updates and more photos, visit PG Online at www.post-gazette.com V- I vy tT iVlt V'-- ss "Mm V-i Jim Roddey is cheered at the Doubletree Hotel last night after announcing that Cyril Wecht had called him to concede defeat. Bob DonaldsonPost-Gazette won control of the board of commission- Rule Charter, the blueprint for govern- ers by winning two of its three seats, but ment change that prevailed by an even even in that contest, Democratic Com- slimmer margin in a May 1998 referen- missioner Mike Dawida had managed dum. to come in first. SEE RODDEY, PAGE A-14 The voting pattern of Roddey's roughly followed that of the Home ft?) By James O'Toole Politics Editor, Post-Gazette Republican Jim Roddey will be the county's first chief executive after clawing his way to a slim but stunning victory over Coroner Cyril Wecht.

However narrow the margin, it was big enough to give Roddey a place in Allegheny County history. He hailed it as a mandate for change under the new form of government he will lead as the county enters a new century. "About 11 months ago, we began a process of talking to the people of this county about change. It's important we start talking tonight about unity," Roddey told a ballroom of cheering supporters shortly before midnight and moments after Wecht had called to congratulate him. "Our goal is to make this a victory for every person in Allegheny County," Roddey said, his voice competing with intermittent exuberant chants of "Let's go, Jim; let's go, Ji "We are going to attract companies; we are going to create jobs; we are going to bring our young people home and we are going to create opportunities," he said.

Wecht has achieved notable success in other aspects of his professional life, but politics has been less kind to him. He was turned out of office after one term as commissioner in the early 1980s and now finds himself at the wrong end of a memorable upset. In a brief statement to his disappointed supporters, Wecht offered thanks and the prediction that better days were ahead for his party. "Friendships do not die based on political elections," Wecht said. While Roddey promised a bipartisan administration, his upset, after the most expensive election in county history, was historic in partisan as well as governmental terms.

It was a back-breaking blow to the Democratic Party that has dominated local politics since the New Deal. Four years ago, the GOP ft Our goal is to make this a victory for every Martha RialPost-Gazette person who lives in Allegheny County After conceding the race, Cyril Wecht, with his wife, Sigrid, acknowledges the applause from supporters in the ballroom of the Westin William Penn Hotel last night. Jim Roddey WEDNESDAY Searchers pinpoint key flight recorders Slaughter in Hawaii Disgruntled worker about to be fired tube manufacturing. The Region, Page F-l Air time Bob Edwards reflects on public radio's morning news program "Morning Edition," which observes its 20th anniversary on Friday. Magazine, Page D-l INDEX Weather Blustery, colder, possible snow showers.

High 38, low 26. Page A-2 Winless in last 6 The Penguins bow to the Los Angeles Kings, 5-4, despite Jaromir Jagr's two goals and two assists. Sports, Page C-l Quality of life The quest for economic development in Pittsburgh vital equipment. Magazine, Page D-l Sorcery, censorship A parent opposing the backlash to the Harry Potter books places the kids' thriller series in the best tradition of "The Wizard of Oz." Life Support, Page D-5 Retirement Fortune magazine's Manager of the Century, Jack i i kills 7 co-workers at a Xerox office, surrenders later. National, Page A-4 Z2 tf.J 3 requires more than lip service in support of the city's public Welch, will step down as about the aircraft's final moments.

Once something went wrong, they said, the twin-engine jet began a tortured and ever-faster descent so precipitous that it reached supersonic speeds of more than 660 mph. Radar sweeps tracking the aircraft's plunge from Nantucket Island show that in the last 37 seconds of its flight, Flight 990 twisted away from its assigned northeast heading to make a long right-hand turn. Investigators said they hoped SEE EGYPTA'R, PAGE A-l 2 By Dan Barry and Michael Cooper The New York Times Navy searchers said yesterday that they had definitively determined the location of both the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder belonging to EgyptAir Flight 990, an essential discovery in the quest to learn why the Boeing 767 plummeted into the Atlantic Ocean off New England early Sunday morning, killing all 217 people aboard. In addition, investigators last night provided further details chairman ot General Llec-tric Co. in April 2001.

Business, Page E-l Transition In McKeesport, schools, Senior Editor Clarke Thomas writes in Perspectives, Page A-23. Phone fear Even without any documented evidence, Lottery F-2 Magazine D-1 Marriages D-1 5 Movies D-4 Obituaries F-5 People D-5 The Region F-1 Scoreboard C-7 Sports C-1 Television D-8 Weather A-2 Abby D-5 Bridge D-7 Business E-1 Classified 0-9 Gene Collier D-1 Comics 0-6 Crosswords Divorces D-1 5 Editorials A-22 Horoscope D-7 Sally F-1 Kids D-6 NL 1 a customer service Dhone center for satellite dish users cell phone users are being celebrates its first anniversary on what used to be the site of steel- warned that their devices could spark an explosion or interfere with 6.