University Daily Kansan, April 15, 1982
Local campaigns begin GOP predicts close House race
By KEVIN HELLIKER Staff Reporter
Political campaign signs are yet to riddle the laws of Lawrence. And commercials about candidates have not been heard on Lawrence radio. But the political machinery in Lawrence has begun to rumble toward November, when elections will be held for the city's three seats in the Kansas House of Representatives.
the three Democratic incumbents—State Reps. John Solbach, Betty Jo Charlton and Jessie Branson—have unofficially announced their intentions to run again.
sut Hank Booth, Douglas County's Republican chairman, said yesterday that the election of 1982 could turn out better for his party's candidates than did the election of 1980.
"The votes that the incumbents have recorded definitely will give Republicans the chance to take over seats in November," Booth said.
However, Booth predicted the campaign would be a clean one.
"Rather than a personality campaign, I think the election will be decided on issues," he said. "The reason is that philosophy will provide the issues."
On the Republican side, only one person has surfaced as a candidate. Doug Lamborn, 27, a Lawrence painter, and 1978 graduate of the University of Kansas, announced last January that he would run in the 46th District, represented now by Charlton.
But several other Lawrence residents are toying with the idea of running for a legislative seat, Booth said.
Lamborn said the thrust of his campaign would be selling himself
as a candidate who would make accomplishments in Topeka.
When asked what he would accomplish that Charlton hasn't, Lamborn said, "You can look at her record and let it speak for itself."
Lamborn said he would be helped in his campaign by his recent association with the University, from which he has a journalism degree. He will attend the campus as well as residential areas where mainly students live.
"On the local level, people have a better perception of individuals," he said. "I think students view elections on an individual basis."
LAMBORN DECLINED as yet to discuss legislative issues, but said he would wait until the present session ended later this month.
"I'm very sensitive to the tax burdens that the government puts on young people," said Lamborn, who is married and the father of three children. "There just has to be some respect and thriftiness in the Legislature."
Although Lamborn never has been involved in politics, his inexperience does not intimidate him. he said.
When asked whether he knew much about the legislative process, he said, "I feel comfortable with it."
But the incumbents said their experience gives them a deserved edge.
"I would not want to see these four years of experience I've gained go to waste," said Solbach, who first won a legislative seat in 1789.
Although Solbach said yesterday that he had not officially decided to run again; he "fully expected to."
"Right now the important thing is the legislative session. That's what I'll be concentrating on until the session is over," Solbach said.
In the 1890 election, Solbach defeated Republican Kent Snyder by a 3-2 margin in the 45th District. Snider has not announced any plans
to run again, and neither has Wint Winter, who lost to Branson in 1980.
BUT BRANSON said she definitely would be a candidate again.
"I've just plain enjoyed working with my constituents," she said. "I've invested a lot of effort in a lot of different issues, and I have developed a rapport within the Legislature."
Charlion also said she had enjoyed her term in the Legislature, although the job brought "no instant gratification."
"I suppose I'll run again for the same reason I studied political science—because the answers are all political," said Charlton, who received a graduate degree from KU.
"The social and economic problems all have political solutions, but they're slow in coming. In the long run, though, you feel that you're doing something beneficial for society."
Although Charlton is yet to officially announce her bid for reelection, she has read in other newspapers that she will run again,
"I really haven't taught very much about the campaign," she said. "Except for a treasurer, I haven't gotten anything together for it."
Beside Lamborn, only Art Wolf, a Lawrence businessman, has made public statements about his intentions to run. But according to Lamborn and other Lawrence Republicans, Wolf has decided against those plans because of an illness in his family.
Because the deadline for filing an application for the campaign is not until June, the full picture of this available for another month. Booth said.
TODAY
The Students Concerned with Disabilities will sponsor a BARRIERS AWARENESS ACTIVITY program at 10-30 a.m. east of Wesco Hall.
THE STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION will sponsor Attorney General Robert Stephan speaking at the NOON
on campus
FORUM SERIES at 12:30 in 107 Green Hall.
THE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION STUDENT ORGANIZATION will meet at 3:30 p.m. in 183 Balley Hall.
THE STUDENT SENATE STUDENT SERVICES COMMITTEE will meet at 4 p.m. in the Regional Hotel of theKansas Union.
THE GAY AND LESBIAN SERVICES OF KANSAS will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the International Room of the Union.
THE STUDENTS CONCERNED WITH DISABILITYS will sponsor a panel discussion on Adaptations at 8 p.m. in Parlor A & O the Union.
"The United States would not just be content with stopping Russia—they want to crush them."
Power balance needed, speaker says
Rusinow said that Europe was becoming more neurotic because the United States is becoming alarmingly complacent about beginning a war with Russia.
By JIM LEHNER Staff Reporter
With defence being a thing of the past in U.S. U.S.S.R. relations, Europe must devise a way to keep the two superpowers from clashing, Dennison Rusinow, a specialist in European affairs, said yesterday.
"Because Europe feels that the United States has become more cavalier about war than Russia has, they think it's their duty to find out how the United States stands on important issues and crises happening throughout
Angola was one example of this, he said.
He said that Yugoslavia President Tito, in 1978, was the first to adopt the United States' version that detente must be multilateral and indisplible.
It fears that any confrontation between the two countries would find them in the middle of it.
The present cold war that exists between the two countries could turn into a hot war much faster than anyone would like to believe, Rusinow said.
Rusinow, a University Staff international correspondent, told a University Forum audience of 40 people that the reason the two countries failed in their defence talks was because they lacked different perception of what it meant.
"In the Helinski Accords, the United States regarded detente as a world process, whereas the Soviet Union regarded detente as including Europe as fair game," he said.
The Soviet Union's intervention into
"The misunderstandings between the two countries lead to the demise of a company."
Europe is the key. he said.
"They are more concerned with the United States entering a major war with Russia than the opposite. It's not that Russia is less threatening, it's just that America has been more involved. States has more influence in determining if a war will happen or not."
HE SAID THAT Europe feared the intentions of the United States much more at this time than those of Russia and hawkish Reagan administration.
Anonymous calls harass city leaders
"I had a guy drive in my driveway and honk until I got up at 3:02 in the morning."
"I got a lot of phone calls," said Fred Pence, a member of the Lawrence Committee which is trying to recall Gleason. "People have said terrible, horrible things," he added, but he got my 17-year-old daughter out to answer the phone late at night.
By STEPHEN BLAIR Staff Reporter
The most recent calls were about two weeks ago, said Pence, who is also a former mayor.
Pence said that the harassing calls and letters were determined in his effort to recall Glasser.
"It sets my feet in concrete that we've really got a problem if people are going to carry on like this," he said, "and kinds of tactics are for the Mafia."
But Gleason said that the recall campaign was hostile and may have brought out hostilities in other people.
Gleason said he also was against such tactics.
Committee member Marnie Argersinger said that she had been similarly harassed.
signatures on a petition to force a May 11 election to recall Gleason.
"I think it's terrible," he said. "I did a particularly welcome support of the union."
Gleason said he also had received some anonymous calls.
However, during the commission's evaluation of Watson's job performance, no commissioner moved to fire Watson.
"I guess it works both ways," he said.
"I've received some of that myself. I've had some obscure and some threatening calls.
"Most of them were veiled threats, like. 'You'd better get out of town.'"
The recall effort began in February in response to Gleason's letter to City Manager Brian Blank, whom, which was appointed Watson resign or face the possibility of being fired.
The Lawrence Committee collected
"When you present yourself in a hostile and angry manner, it's not surprising when people who disagree respond in kind," he said.
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ATTENTION ARTISTS
SHOW OFF YOUR TALENT AND HELP THE LAWRENCE ARTS COMMISSION
Come Design A Piece Of Our Car
Finished Car Will Be Auctioned Off at Art In The Park Sunday, May 2nd
DALE WILLEY
PONTIAC CADILLAC
Proceeds from the sale of the car will be donated to the Lawrence Arts Commission.