European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 7, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and Stripe thursday november 7,1991 elections �?T9 1officeholders take it on the Chin by the associated press Republican businessman Kirk Fordice ousted gov. Ray Mabus in Mississippi in tuesdays Odif year elections that raised storm warnings for incumbents now and in 1992. Democrat Brereton Jones was elected governor of Kentucky easily defeating a Veteran gop congressman caught up in the House Check bouncing episode. In new Jersey voters angered by hefty tax increases ended democratic control of their legislature and elected Republican majorities in both the Senate and Assembly a turnaround so total that the gop will have majority margins wide enough to override vetoes. In Mississippi Mabus lost a state that has been electing democratic governors for 107 years. Fordice campaigned against racial quotas criticized welfare and said recipients should work. Those Are similar to themes David Duke is using in his Campaign for governor next door in Louisiana. With 99 percent of the votes counted Fordice had 357,083 votes or 51 percent to Mabuse 334,208 or 48 percent. An Independent candidate had the rest. A what happened was that a Large number of people who  make up their mind at the last minute voted against the incumbent a said John Quincy Adams a pollster and political science professor at Millsaps College in Jackson. A with a Low turnout the Type of person Mabus was hoping to get to beef up his support May not have voted mainly Blacks in Rural counties a he said. About 40 percent of the states 1.6 million registered voters cast ballots. Blacks make up about a third of the states registered  won 48 of Mississippi a 82 counties. The Mississippi Constitution requires a statewide candidate to have a majority of the popular vote and to win a majority of the states 122 electoral districts. The vote will be certified nov. 19. If Fordice did not win 62 of the districts the overwhelmingly democratic House would pick the new governor in january. A with or. Fordice winning 51 percent of the popular vote and carrying some 48 new Jersey state Senate minority Leader John Dorsey left and Assembly minority Leader Chuck Haytaian raise their arms in Triumph after the republicans won a controlling majority in both state houses tuesday. Counties the chances of him not having enough electoral votes is Remote a said Secretary of state Dick Molpus. Fordice called the Harvard educated Mabus a Liberal who had bloated the states payroll and  work with the legislature. Mabus depicted Fordice As an outsider and former lobbyist who did no to understand the states needs. In Kentucky with All 3,237 precincts reporting Jones had 539,802 votes or 64.7 percent to 293,972 votes for rep. Larry Hopkins or 35.3 percent. Jones Victory speech followed the theme of his Campaign pledging a positive Effort while throwing backhanded criticism at his opponents. He said his win was a Victory for education Reform and for people who believe that we need to have Good jobs with Good health care benefits for All  Hopkins a seven term member of the . House said he would seek re election to Congress next year. A the ran i think a smart race and a very Good race a Hopkins said. A i want All of you to know that we stand behind that governor. We re not Here to second guess at any time in any  Jones the states lieutenant governor spent $4 million to win a hotly contested democratic primary and a similar amount in the general election a record total. Hopkins Only raised and spent about $1.5 million in the primary and slightly More in the general election. Jones said he was almost embarrassed by the sum and pledged to Lead the fight for Campaign finance Reform. In contests elsewhere a Democrat Lucien Blackwell was elected to Congress in Philadelphia to succeed the retired rep. William Gray Iii who had been House whip and the top Black congressional Leader. A George f. Allen a Republican state Delegate and the son of the late football coach won a House seat in Virginia. He succeeds rep. D. French Slaughter jr., who resigned because of ill health. Slaughters Cousin a Democrat ran and lost. A in new Jersey republicans captured both branches of the legislature for the first time in 20 years. Gov. Jim Florio had asked the voters to Send Bush a message they sent Florio one instead ousting democrats in a backlash against a $2.8 billion state tax increase. Joseph Doria the Democrat who has been speaker of the Assembly blamed it on the recession saying people Are unhappy a and they Are taking it out on their elected  a mayors Ray Flynn of Boston and Kurt Schmoke of Baltimore easily won new terms. A Houston voters retired four term major Kathy Whitmire. Attorney Bob Lanier and state rep. Sylvester Turner who could be the City a first Black mayor won spots in a Runoff. A Steve Bartlett a Republican who resigned from Congress to run was elected mayor of Dallas. A mayor John Rousakis of Savannah ga., was Defeated after 21 years in office. Bush incumbents get warning by John King the associated press Washington a president Bush cast a wary Eye on Pennsylvania and got election Day 1991 is dramatic message even before the polls closed. He a staying closer to Home where the voters Are anxious about a sour Economy and restless with their government. For democrats Harris Wofford a upset Victory in Pennsylvania a Senate race was an encouraging sign in a contest that was a Laboratory for the Campaign style and themes they Hope to carry against Bush in 1992. Democrats were ecstatic Over the Victory but the party lost ground in some key legislative races and there was an anti incumbent Strain through the election that will raise anxieties across party lines. Wofford campaigned with a message that Dick Thornburgh and the Bush administration had abandoned the Middle class and was insensitive to the recessions toll. A a it a clearly the kind of Campaign we re looking at against George Bush in the 1992 general election and that a Why its a special sign a democratic National committee chairman Ronald h. Brown said. Gop pollster Bill Mcinturff said the Economy was the reason for the volatile electorate and called the off year balloting a a needed Wake up Call for the White  Public anxiety Over the Economy is allowing democrats their first real Hope for upsetting Bush a year from now a and As the Pennsylvania polls were closing the president signalled he was taking the threat so analysis piously. Bush cancelled a trip to Asia and Australia planned for later this month to stay in Washington to Monitor the Economy a and the democratic Congress. Larry Hugick political director of the Gallup poll said the presidents heavy foreign travel schedule also had influenced voters. A right now that is playing very Well with the voters a Hugick said. A with so Many people at risk in this Economy or with family members or friends at risk the Tyr re not Happy when they see a president continue to travel abroad and focus on foreign  when tuesdays election results were in it was Clear Bush a worries were justified. Wofford started a 40-Point underdog to the better known and better financed Thornburgh. Wofford promoted himself As the Champion of the Middle class and health care for All. Democrats claimed Victory even in Wofford a making a race of it never mind his convincing Victory. A the Clear loser was president Bush a said Senate majority Leader George j. Mitchell a Maine. But there were reasons for democrats to worry too. They hold the majority of the congressional seats governorships and local offices. A restive electorate could cause trouble for the democratic base. A any incumbent these Days is in for a close race a said Mark be ran executive director of the democratic governors association. A a there a a lot of cynicism and anger out  winning hug Democrat Brereton Jones embraces his Mother in his Louisville hotel room after winning the be gubernatorial race tuesday. Jones soundly beat 1 lican Larry Hopkins