European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 8, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday novembers 1990 the stars and stripes a Page 5 Richards pulls off upset in Texas unseat Florida s Martinez by William m. Welch Washington apr Democrat Ann Richards pulled off an upset to grab the Texas governorship from the republicans on tuesday defeating millionaire oilman Clayton Williams. Democrat Lawton Chiles unseated Florida a gov. Bob Martinez and democratic challengers Defeated Republican governors in Rhode Island and Kansas on an election night that saw statehouse incumbents struggling for political survival. Republican gov. De Diprete lost the Rhode Island statehouse he had held since 1984 to Democrat Bruce Sundlun and Democrat Joan Finney Defeated first term Republican gov. Mike Hayden in Kansas. The Republican incumbent also trailed in Maine. Finney was an abortion opponent and Hayden seeking a second term advocated abortion rights. Republican George Voinovich won in Ohio a state where the democratic governor is retiring. An Independent former gop sen. Lowell Weicker won a three Way race in Connecticut another state where the democratic incumbent is retiring. Conservative Democrat John Silber held a thin Lead Over Republican William Weld in their race to succeed former democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis who is retiring from the Massachusetts statehouse in the Depths of recession inspired unpopularity. Martinez who failed in his bid to become Florida a first two term Republican governor called Chiles to concede defeat As Chiles a substantial Lead held up in incomplete returns. A the was very very gracious and said he wanted to help us with the transition a said Chiles who called the Campaign a the most glorious glorious time of my  Chiles support for abortion rights was a significant Factor in the race according to network television voter interviews. The sex senator also had refused to accept contributions Over $200. Martinez a loss was a setback for president Bush who made three Campaign visits to Florida to try to help the states first hispanic governor. Chiles and Weicker Are former senators. Weicker who previously was a Republican became the first Independent governor elected since Maine a James Longley in 1974. Michigan democratic gov. James Blanchard faced a stiff Challenge from Republican John Engler who held a Lead in incomplete returns. Maine a gop gov. John Mckernan trailed former democratic gov. Joseph Brennan who capitalized on new eng lands economic downturn which Hurt Many of the regions incumbents. With returns far from Complete democrats had captured five governorships previously held by republicans Florida Oklahoma Rhode Island new Mexico and Kansas. And they led in several More including Illinois Maine Nebraska and Texas. Republicans won in Ohio and were leading in two states now held by democrats Michigan and Vermont. Gov. Guy Hunt Alabama a first Republican governor in this Century held a Small Lead Over Democrat Paul Hubbert in Early returns. Democrat David Walters won in Oklahoma where the Republican incumbent was retiring. Georgia Democrat Zell Miller Defeated Republican Johnny Isakson. Several governors easily won re election republicans Carroll Campbell in South Carolina Judd Gregg in new Hampshire and Tommy Thompson in Wisconsin and democrats Ned Ray Mcwherter in Tennessee William Donald Schaefer in Maryland Robert p. Casey in Pennsylvania and Colorado gov. Roy Romer. Voinovich won Over Ohio Democrat Anthony Celebrezze in a race where abortion rights forces strongly backed the a governors a Democrat. In Minnesota two term gov. Rudy Perpich was locked in a close race despite turmoil and scandal that engulfed the gop. Republican Arne Carlson got on the ballot Only last week after Jon Grun Seth stepped aside amid charges of sexual impropriety. California was the big prize and re publican sen. Pete Wilson was trying to keep it in gop hands against Democrat Dianne Feinstein the former mayor of san Francisco. Wilson would give up his Senate seat to become governor and his election would give him the Chance to appoint his own Senate successor. Among the other races new York gov. Mario Cuomo won re election easily in a race that keeps him on the list of potential 1992 democratic presidential candidates. Another potential democratic presidential candidate Arkansas gov. Bill Clinton led his gop challenger. Texas governor s race marked by big spending mudslinging Austin Texas apr Democrat Ann Richards squelched millionaire Republican oilman Clayton Williams tuesday in a gubernatorial race that set records for spending and mudslinging. With 67 percent of precincts reporting Richards had 1,286,455 votes or 52 percent to 1,1176,405 votes or 48 percent for Williams. According to the final pre election Campaign finance report filed on oct. 29, Williams had spent $20.4 million including about $8 million in personal funds since june 1989. Richards a two term state treasurer who gained wide attention when she gave a Plain speaking keynote address at the 1988 democratic National convention had spent about $11.7 million. With total spending from other candidates in the March primary the 1990 governors race easily outpaced the $33-million record set in 1986. The race also gained National notoriety from its mudslinging. J Richards a recovering alcoholic found herself dogged by questions about drug use after refusing in the primary to say a Hether she had Ever used illegal drugs. That Issue resurfaced less than three weeks before the election when the Republican sheriff of san Antonio said his investigator had obtained a statement from a new Mexico Man who claimed to have seen Richards use cocaine at a party in the 1970s. Richards denied the charge and accused republicans of planting it. Williams had his own problems due in Large measure to a series of verbal gaffes. He was sharply criticized after likening bad weather to rape and joking that if it were inevitable a just relax and enjoy  he admitted visiting prostitutes As a youth saying that show Young men got  he threatened to a head and Hoof Richards like a calf and a drag her through the  when told that Richards had said she was catching up Williams cracked Williams is had said she was catching up Willia 1 a i Hope she did no to go Back to drinking again. Ann Richards talks granddaughter Lily Adams  elected to replace Barry in . Washington up Democrat Sharon Pratt Dixon Riding a populist pledge to a clean House a was elected District of Columbia mayor tuesday to succeed mayor Marion Barry who lost a City Council bid after his conviction on a cocaine charge. In a landslide Dixon 46, a lawyer who has never held elective office beat Republican Maurice Turner 55, a 32-year Veteran police officer who retired after eight years As chief in 1989 and then switched to the gop to run for mayor Barry opted not to seek election to a fourth term after his arrest in january on cocaine Possession. He ran instead for one of two at Large seats on the . City Council but finished third in a Field of eight. In late october Barry was sentenced to six months in prison. He is appealing the sentence. Dixon who will take office Jan. 2, becomes the first native washingtonian and Only the third person to be elected mayor since the District of Columbia got Home Rule in 1968. A the people of the District of Columbia have spoken and they be sent a message clearly unequivocally and almost universally a Dixon said in claiming Victory before cheering supporters. A and the message is Clear. They have said that it is time to clean  election officials said at 11 15 . That Dixon had 99,025 votes or 86 percent compared with 13,535 votes for Turner or 12 percent. Nine other minor party or Independent candidates split the rest. A life has peaks and life has valleys a Turner said in conceding defeat. In a not ashamed of the race we run. In a disappointed with the  Dixon a former vice president of Potomac electric Power co. And former treasurer of the democratic National committee pledged throughout her underdog Campaign to a clean House after 12 years of the scandal plagued Bariy administration. The message often symbolized by supporters who carried brooms to rallies apparently caught on. Expected to finish far Back in the crowded sept. 11 democratic primary Dixon scored a solid Victory Over several better known and better funded opponents. Turner promoted himself As a a Street dude More in touch with average . Voters and accused Dixon of having led a More privileged a Silver spoon life and of being a soft on  Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton a former Carter administration official easily won election As the districts nonvoting Delegate to Congress replacing Democrat Walter Fauntroy who held the seat for 20 years. He had run unsuccessfully for mayor