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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 19, 1983)
state Battalion/Pagjf: January 19, ] Expensive elections questioned by profs - Clarifying the issue staff photo by Diana Sultenfuss An interpreter for the hearing impaired translates newly sworn in governor emphasized problems Gov. Mark White’s inauguration address during facing Texas and established education as a ceremonies held at the Capitol Tuesday. The priority of his administration. United Press International AUSTIN, — University of Texas political scientists say there is no easy answer to the question of whether the cost of winning an election to public office undermines basic demo cratic principles. Dr. John A. Gronouski, a professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, says the candidates who usually win are those with the most money. Another professor, Dr. Janice C. May, of the same school, spending money is one way to increase the voter turnout. “If you want accountability, if you want representative govern ment, you’re going to have to be concerned about people coming to the polls, people being aware of the issues,” she says. “Spend ing money is one way of hand ling these actual mechanisms of getting accountable govern ment.” Gronouski says one of the concerns about campaign ex penditures centers around the vast amounts of money raised through political action commit tees, commonly called FACS. “What we’re talking about is outfits like NCPAC (National Conservative Political Action Committee), which raise $5 mil lion, $6 million and use it as a negative campaign tool,” he says. Gronouski says PACs have grown in power and influence since the early 1970s when they were first authorized. May says the accountability of PACs con cerns her, and that a distinction should lie made between those committees sponsored by cor porations, unions and trade associations, and the issue- United F JAUSTIN, oriented groups. "There’s a muck] accountability here y; sav t hey wi have a sponsor," she sM an ds of a s then you have the unc(B e congres PACs, and here wepti. ^ Phil C negative campaigning: College Si Gronouski agreestr, J m brella of distorts the politicalpti i With nin lessening the impactol of ch tical party itself, whick , Republican amend conflictingopiil,;,, t he Feb. look at the whole candJpai iv leader ^Mate Den PAC’s are limited to iiGimmittee direct contributions t j-du potentia date, but if they want! jisu and spend $10 milk®. But Hoc negative advertising ol-jim Wright, they could do it, hesaj tal in Gramii House Budg May notes that Pit the Democr contribute more monn arttee he b< didates than do politid not splinter competing with thepohB' “The uni ties for money and ui is not a unit) Chagra plea bargain told United Press International JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Lawyers for Jamiel “Jimmy” Chagra and federal officials plea bargained on narcotics charges against Chagra just before the 1979 murder of U.S. District Judge John H. Wood, a former assistant U.S. attorney testified Tuesday. The offer from The U.S. Attorney’s Office remained in effect even after the indictment was returned on May' 21, Ronald Guyer, who is now in private practice, told a federal court jury. Chagra is on trial here for arranging the May 29, 1979 murder of Wood. Guyer said attorneys for Chagra and U.S. attorneys met twice in El Paso and San Antonio in April and May 1979. After Chagra was indicted in February 1979 on five counts of importing narcotics. The attorneys discuss the possibility of Chagra plead ing guilty to one or more of the charges. “We would be willing to accept a plea of guilty to one of the cocaine counts carrying a maximum of 15 years,” Guyer told Chagra’s brother, Joe Chag ra, who served as one of his attorneys. Guyer said Chagra’s attor neys said their client would be willing to plead guilty to two marijuana counts carrying a maximum 10-year prison sent ence. Chagra, 39, a licensed profes sional gambler from Las Vegas, is accused of paying convicted hitman Charles V. Harrelson $250,000 to kill Wood who was scheduled to hear a narcotics case in which Chagra was the de fendant. Wood, known as “Maximum John” for the stiff penalties he dealt drug offenders, was fatally shot in the back as he left his San Antonio home to go to court in 1979. Harrelson was convicted of the murder by a federal court jury in San Antonio last month after a 12-week trial. Chagra’s trial was moved to Jacksonville because of exten sive pre-trial publicity in Texas. On Monday, Ronald Collier, a confidant and bodyguard for Chagra, said Harrelson first met Chagra in the casino at Binion’s Horseshoe Club during a poker tournament in early May 1979. Welcome Back JAN. 20 THURSDAY (I® 7:30 pm Jewish student center 11a Sau S r 11 a IFratrrnita Spring Annourpa ?8 u a b at Minded 48 58 1903 8 &>ai( .dan 49 jY0 sr.de a •9an 24 .9>.jdSdST 6 d FM 2818 779-7550 . A l»OST OTFICI ST. lameisi Cenle/i mis tixas Aim. COLLSttS STATION Specials effective at Kroger Wed., Jan. 19 thru Tues.. Jan. 25. 19S3. Right to limit reservad. None sold to dealors. (Copyright) THE KROGER CO. 19*1. CENTENmci WASHINGTON STATE/EXTRA •NOW WHIT! r / COUNTRY STAND v, RED OR GOLDEN MUSHROOMS 4 DEUCieusJi $158 $ Colby Cheese . • • Pound Cake . . kSS jdsnta Rib OSCAR MAI | Be* LETTUCE |i hormelbT: - ears H POTATOES U.S. CHOIC WASHINGTON STATE EXTRA FANCY WASHINGTON STATE EXTRA FANCY Granny Smith Apples 79 a P Apples'^# S&lM© Cider ^3 Bushes <) SHELL FIRE & ICE MOTOR OIL QT. JOW40 89 • • alkaline] ALKALINE BATTERY D SIZE 2 PK. C SIZE 2 PK. AA' SIZE 2 PK. 9 VOLT 1 PK. YOUR CHOICE $R29 ELECTRIC RADIANT HEATER •U.L. APPROVED *800 WATTS -SAFE & ECONOMICAL *14“ v-cUAR angler 9et. the dirt other broom. widemou' VAC BOTTU Perfect for from home, ea* 9 bottle. — — FANCO kerosene heater •9*00 BTU'S •Lll APPROVED t t -• & -f I-l $ 84 % "Mini-drip" coHee ■" d H..t up to • cup* In ,T,, crafe with cup ma«l n 9