Page 8 THE BATTALION
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1977
Builder
new mayor
of Houston
United Press International
HOUSTON — Homebuilder Jim
McConn, capitalizing on a strong
coalition of liberal, black and Mexi
can American voters, Tuesday was
elected mayor of the nation’s fifth
largest city by a 2-to-l margin over
former prosecutor Frank Briscoe.
McConn took a runaway lead at
the very beginning and with 311 of
323 precincts reporting, he showed
125,922 votes or 65.7 percent to
Briscoe’s 65,693 or 34.2 percent.
Accountant Kathy Whitmire be
came the first woman to be elected
comptroller — the second most
powerful political job in the munici
pal government — over accountant
Steve Jones. She polled 105,172
votes or 57.9 percent to Jones’
76,465 or 42 percent.
A pleased McConn said he was
not surprised by the light turnout or
by his victory over the cousin of
Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe.
“Our polls have shown the last 10
days this would be the result. I must
admit I was doubtful about the polls
but we worked very hard and were
thrilled to death to see it come out
this way,” he said.
“Despite the low vote, I will be
able to work with the citizens of this
city. This victory belongs to them.”
McConn said he considered the
issue of mass transportation and im
provement of the inner city the
major thrust of his fourthcoming ad
ministration. Briscoe was laconic in
his defeat.
“I’m going to take a couple of days
rest and then resume my law prac
tice,” Briscoe said.
Briscoe, 51, led in the Nov. 8
election, but- McConn, 49, a former
two-term city councilman, had been
expected to pickup minority votes
divided among several candidates in
the earlier race. That election had a
field of 12 mayoral hopefuls.
Briscoe, a former Harris County
district attorney, maintained a low-
profile campaign throughout the
race, seldom making public appear
ances. During the runoff, both can
didates avoided public exposure.
The race had no outstanding is
sues and was built around per
sonalities of the conservative Bris
coe as opposed to the moderate
McConn.
Briscoe depicted McConn as a
bankrupt businessman who might
lead the city into financial ruin.
McConn charged that Briscoe as se
cretive and would conduct city
business behind closed doors.
In a joint televised news confer
ence on election eve, each accused
the other of distortion.
“I have been unfairly and unjustly
labeled a racist by the McConn
people,” Biscoe said.
McConn charged Briscoe had
misrepresented his business record,
said he would solve personal finan
cial problems resulting from a hous
ing slump and added, “I have not
set one foot in bankruptcy court.”
The two also clashed over porno
graphy and federal aid to cities.
“I know what pornography is and I
intend to stop it,” said Briscoe who
Saturday attended a rally in opposi
tion to the National Women’s Con
ference.
McConn said he doubted Brisce
could define pornography any bet
ter than the U.S. Supreme Court
and said if Briscoe had the answer,
“he should run for a higher office
than mayor.”
Both candidates criticized Mayor
Fred Hoffieinz who decided not to
seek re-election to the two-year
term, $20,000-a-year job.
Air traffic
controllers
picket in state
United Press International
Air traffic controllers at three of
the state’s major airports Tuesday
joined controllers at 150 aiports
across the nation in passing out leaf
lets as part of the three-day “infor
mational picketing” to press their
demands for a new contract.
“Our picketing will not disrupt or
interrupt airport operations,” said
George Brandon, the southwest re
gional vice president of Professional
Air Traffic Controllers Organization.
“We had about 23 pickets at
Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Air
port, the maximum they would
allow out there,” he said. “And we
had some at San Antonio and also El
Paso.
“At Houston, they would only
allow pickets at the base of the
tower and obviously no one would
see us there so we didn’t bother.”
The picketing began nationwide
Monday and was due to end this
evening.
“We want the public to under
stand that we are not slowing down
airplanes in any way,” Brandon said.
“We also want the public to know
the picketing concerns working
condition, not wage complaints.”
Negotiations between PATCO
and the FAA have been sporatic
since their contract expired July 8.
The controllers decided to conduct
the picketing after the latest round
with a federal mediator broke off last
week.
Controllers are federal employees
and by law are barred from striking.
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