European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 21, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Monday october 21, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 7ex-Kkk Leader in Louisiana Runoff David Duke with daughter Kristin by his Side answers questions at a news conference. From wire reports new Orleans former Kun flux klan grand wizard David Duke and sex gov. Edwin Edwards were thrust sunday into a Runoff election for the Louisiana governorship after both out polled incumbent gov. Buddy Roemer who conceded defeat. With 92 percent of the vote counted Edwards led with 480,229 votes a slim 34 percent. Duke had 452,827 votes or 32 percent. Rocker had 387,778 votes a Distant 27 percent to Lead the 10 other candidates which included Republican . Rep. Clyde c. Holloway. Under state election Law there Are no party primaries in Louisiana. All candidates run in one election regardless of political affiliation. The candidate who gets the most votes wins provided that candidates share exceeds 50 percent. If no one garners More than 50 percent a Runoff is scheduled pitting the two top vote getters. Roemer a Democrat turned Republican conceded defeat at 12 35 . Sunday. He said he would not take sides in the Runoff Between his two challengers. A tonight the people spoke and they said a buddy thanks but you did no to do enough a and i think that s fair. My prayer is the next person will take it the state to a higher level a Roemer said from Bis Campaign Headquarters in Shreveport. A crowd of More than 800 Sang Dixie and the Battle hymn of the Republic Between chants of a Duke Duke Duke As Duke claimed his Runoff berth. The candidate made his appearance at a a Victory party about 90 minutes after the polls closed. He was mobbed by Campaign workers and Well wishers. He made a circuit of the packed ballroom assisted in pushing through the crowd by a half dozen Security workers. He made stops for live appearances on television As a five piece band played the traditional Dixieland jazz tune when the saints go marching in. When Duke finally spoke to his adherents he promised a equal rights for every Louisiana Quot if he wins the Runoff. Duke a Republican who has been repudiated by the Republican party for his anti Lack pro nazi anti semitic views tried to downplay the rift As he spoke to supporters. A i think we be got to realize something very clearly that the Republican party in this state and soon to be in this country is becoming the voice of the working people of Louisiana a Duke said. Duke also predicted backers of Roemer will support him in the Runoff nov. 16. Edwards thanked supporters for placing him in a Runoff Slot and a giving me another a the reason that in a running and i think the reason 1 am going to win 1 think the people Are beginning to realize that hey this is not a boys Job. This is a Tough serious business a Edwards said. Duke 41, As a former Kkt official fond of celebrating Adolf hitlers birthdays is a charismatic politician who won his first elective office in 1987, a suburban new Orleans seat in the Louisiana legislature. Duke polled More than 40 percent of the vote statewide in an unsuccessful fight in 1989 to topple incumbent . Sen. Bennett Johnston a Democrat. During the Campaign Duke recanted his earlier klan and pro nazi stances and spoke frequently of his Christian Faith and love of his family. Some louisianans however arc not convinced. Rocker 48, elected four years ago As a Democrat changed his party affiliation to Republican and picked up endorsements Ana fund raising visits to Louisiana by president Bush and vice president Dan Quayle. Edwards 64, a Southern populist Democrat who forged an Alliance of Ca 1 Blacks and organized labor to win tis first term As governor in 1971, was bidding for his fourth term As Louisiana a chief executive. A Duke is very articulate very much a crowd pc scr a Edwards said. A but he has a hollow message. He does no to apply any solutions. Duke appeals to the dark s thrills attract doers viewers Fayetteville . A More than 300 daredevils parachuted off the nations second highest Bridge in an annual ritual that attracts thousands of spectators. A everybody out Here is an adrenaline Junkie a said parachutist Mike Cleary 27, of Milwaukee. Authorities opened two of four lanes of . 19 across new River Gorge Bridge to pedestrians and thrill seekers in an annual Bridge Day ritual. The 1,700-foot Bridge is the longest steel Arch Bridge in the United states. The 876-foot-High Bridge is Well below Normal parachuting height so jumpers have Little margin for error As they plunge into the craggy tree covered Gorge. One Side of the Gorge is covered with a Sandbar while a River flows through the other Side. It was the Only time the Bridge was legally opened to such leaps. Three jumpers have died since Bridge Day began in 1980, the last in 1987. High winds halted jumping for about an hour and several people suffered minor injuries. One person landed in a tree alongside the River and was stuck 60 feet up before rescuers retrieved him. Another scattered a crowd of spectators at the Bottom of the Gorge. One parachutist landed safely on the Sandbar but was blown into a parked truck by High winds. In All seven people were taken to area hospitals and four were admitted with fractures Hospital officials said. Charlie Urban 37, of Shreveport la., made his 19th jump from the Bridge saturday. Jean Bornish executive director of the . Base association said 60 percent of the jumpers had taken the plunge from the Bridge before. Base stands for the buildings antennae spans and Earth forms from which jumpers leap. Bob Blanchard 31, of Milwaukee made his first base jump saturday. He said it was very different from sky diving. A in sky diving you re already moving at 100 Miles per hour a Blanchard said. A there you re standing finishes Odyssey in county no. 3,7 42 Nantucket mass. A Allen Zondlak went to look for America a county by county Over 36 years. On Friday the 57-year-old Detroit educator visited the last county on his list of the 3,142 making up the United states. His report even with crime pollution and unemployment the land Columbus saw almost 500 years ago still looks pretty Good. A i love the Beauty of this country a Zondlak said. A i just wanted to see every Section of this great land. I really believe Zondlak family in Tow came to this Island off Massachusetts on a ferry from Hyannis on Cape cod. A i was wondering which place would be last a Zondlak said. A but i thought my whole family could enjoy Zondlak began his Odyssey in 1955, when a geography professor at Wayne state University had a map of . Counties and suggested his students color in each new county they visited. His classmates shrugged it off but the idea stuck with Zondlak. One by one he started visiting counties and colouring them on his map. Zondlak an administrator with the Detroit Public schools has 25 vacation Days a year. In addition there arc holidays conferences and meetings a plenty of chances to travel. A i done to just drive through a Zondlak said. A if there Are things to do we spend time there. I count a county As Long As in be physically been on it. Flying Over it does no to Zondlak has been to the largest county san Bernardino in California As Well As the smallest Kalawao on the hawaiian Island of Molokai. He a seen the most populous los Angeles county with 8.3 million people not to mention the least Loving county Texas with a population of 100. He estimates he has covered 400,000 Miles on the ground and 300,000 in the air. In a 17-Day whirlwind trek through Alaska he took three ferry boats and 23 flights. He once drove 50 Miles out of his Way through a blinding snowstorm to visit one county in Ohio. He said he booked discount air fares and stayed at budget motels but lost track of How much he has spent. Zondlak said he never really planned to reach every county. But when he had hit half of them by 1979, he decided to go for broke. He said he a constantly impressed by the Beauty of the land and the warmth of its people. A one of the most impressive things has been finding the hospitality wherever in be been a Zondlak said. A i found a different America a much better America than the one you read about in the papers. This is a great country a Beautiful what will he do next a now that we be seen America there a a whole wide world out
