IA change of course?
Photos, counterclockwise from top An upbeat Margie Hendriksen talks to
reporters about her upset victory. Supporters envelop Congressman Jim
Weaver at the Democratic celebration at the Eugene Hilton Hotel University
job counselor Emmett Williams soothes OOP supporters with a touch of the
blues as Congressional challenger Ross Anthony chats with reporters after
losing to incumbent Weaver ASUO Pres C J. Balfe joins the Democrats'
local victory celebration at the Hilton by congratulating Weaver
Photos by Mark Pynas
By Harry Esteve
Of the Emerald
Tuesday night belonged to
the Democrats, and nowhere
was it more evident than in
Eugene
Celebrating victories in
nearly every race, local
Democrats partied noisily in
front of TV screens and hors
d’oeuvres at their temporary
headquarters, the swank bot
tom floor of the Hilton Ho
tel.
Across the hall, Republican
supporters of congressional
contender Ross Anthony
somberly acknowledged the
defeat of their candidate and
the unseating of several
Republican representatives
nationwide
GOP party members drank
stiff cocktails, listened to
University job counselor
Emmett Williams play soft
blues and jazz on a piano, and
watched election results from
one of three TV monitors.
"What about this feeling that
it's liberal against liberal?” one
reporter asked an ebullient
Margie Hendriksen following
incumbent George Wingard's
concession speech
"It's Democrat versus
Republican," Hendriksen
returned, followed by a loud
chorus of cheers from
Democrats at the Hilton.
It was a night of revelry for
Democrats, muted only by
Gov. Vic Atiyeh's weighty vic
tory over challenger Ted
Kulongoski. Local Kulongoski
supporters sat quietly in a
room adjoining the Dem
ocrats’ party, their mood
enhanced by low candlelight
and murmured converstaion
It was a night for political
junkies, who glued themselves
to one of a dozen wide
screened color televisions
provided by the Hilton to
watch the action, yelling
encouragement as the returns
rolled in
Some worried as much
about bets they had made as
they did about candidates they
were supporting "I'm up
about 40 bucks,” said one
ardent member of the
Democratic camp He held up
a sheet of paper resembling a
horse-racing form. "If all goes
well in California, I may win a
hundred bucks tonight.”
It was also a night of
contrast
By 8:30 p.m , 4th District
Congressional incumbent Jim
Weaver had made his victory
speech. Anthony had already
answered questions on
whether he would run again.
Wingard appeared shaken
when the first results came off
the computer Dressed in a
subdued suit and speaking
softly, Wingard said he had
"no idea it was going to be so
close."
Hendriksen was dressed in a
brilliant turquoise cocktail
dress and gold metallic belt.
"This is only the beginning,"
she told cheering supporters.
"People are on the march "
Meanwhile, supporters of
the nuclear freeze ballot
measure enjoyed their victory
over pitchers of beer at the
Brass Rail Restaurant Beards,
bicycle pumps and Bell bic
yling helmets were common
attire
At the New Asia Gardens
Restaurant, local Atiyeh sup
porters watched with satisfac
tion as the governor widened
his lead over the challenger
But some of their enjoyment
waned as reports of Repub
lican losses filled the TV
screens