Comeback bid of ex-governor is up to voters

Associated Press

Former Oregon Gov. Tom McCall takes his comeback bid to the voters Tuesday, and residents of Eugene become the latest to consider repealing a homosexual rights ordinance. In Kentucky, a lackluster primary is highlighted by a challenge to Rep. John Breckinridge.

McCall, who describes himself as a maverick Republican and has urged people to visit Oregon but not to stay tries to become the first person ever to serve three terms as governor of the state. He served two four-year terms before leaving office in 1975 because of a constitutional prohibition against serving more than two consecutive terms.

McCall's principal opponent for the Republican nomination is state Sen. Victor Atiyeh, the unsuccessful GOP candidate four years ago against Democratic Gov. Bob Straub.

Straub, running for a second term, leads six candidates by a wide margin, according to many polls. If he and McCall both win Tuesday, the battle for governor will be their third. McCall defeated Straub in 1966 and 1970.

In Eugene, voters will decide whether to become the fourth city to reject an ordinance forbidding discrimination in housing or employment against homosexuals. Although the west-central Oregon university city of 100,000 persons is regarded as tolerant of different life-styles, opponents of the ordinance passed last October had little trouble gathering signatures to put the issue to voters.

In other Oregon races, Sen. Mark O. Hatfield, seeking a third term, has three opponents in the Republican primary, but none is regarded as a serious threat.

Kentucky voters have shown little interest in any of that state's primary races except in the 6th District, where State Sen. Tom Easterly of Frankfort is vying for the Democratic nomination for Congress against three-term incumbent Breckinridge. The other six congressional incumbents either have no opposition, only token foes or are decisive favorites to survive until November.

Sen. Walter (Dee) Huddleston faces little opposition in his Democratic primary. On the Republican side, state Rep. Louie Guenthner of Louisville and Oline Carmical of Williamsburg are competing to emerge as Huddleston's opponent.

Breckinridge, 64, would appear to have the edge in his race. He is much better known in the Bluegrass area than Easterly, a 38-year-old Frankfort lawyer.