Republican Fife Symington, a land developer making his first run for office, won Arizona's marathon governor's race Wednes

day, surging past Democrat Terry Goddard for the second time in four months.In Chicago, Mayor Richard M. Daley hailed his victory in a Democratic primary Tuesday as proof that the city had overcome the political and racial divisions of the past decade.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting in the Arizona runoff, Symington had 483,677 votes or 52 percent, and Goddard, an ex-mayor of Phoenix, had 438,656 votes or 48 percent.

The Republican newcomer also led the November balloting, but write-in votes kept him from gaining a majority and forced the runoff. Both times, he trailed in early returns until votes came in from conservative Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix and its suburbs.

"This has been a hard-fought race," Symington said. "We all need to pull together now and make this a better state."

Goddard urged his supporters to press for their political agenda. He wouldn't say if he would run for office again, but said, "The battle continues long after tonight."

Symington, 45, takes over a state facing layoffs because of a projected deficit of more than $200 million. The state also stands to lose the 1993 Super Bowl because voters rejected a paid Martin Luther King holiday.

Arizona has had more than its share of political problems in recent years, including the impeachment of Gov. Evan Mecham, Senate Ethics Committee investigation of both U.S. senators over contributions from S&L financier Charles Keating, and a Phoenix police sting that recently produced indictments against eight current or former lawmakers.

In Chicago, with 96 percent of precincts reporting, Daley had 398,408 votes or 64 percent, followed by Cook County Commissioner Danny K. Davis with 189,346 votes or 30 percent. Former Mayor Jane M. Byrne had 36,825 votes or 6 percent and Sheila Jones, a supporter of political extremist Lyndon LaRouche, had 2,075 votes, less than 1 percent.

View Comments

Daley, 48-year-old son of the late Mayor Richard J. Daley, first was elected two years ago to complete the term of Harold Washington, the city's first black mayor. Washington died in office.

In his victory speech, Daley pointed with pride to the relative absence of racial bitterness in the campaign against Davis, who is black.

"We have proven we can have an election in Chicago without tearing the city apart," he said.

Davis had questioned whether Daley adequately represented minorities in the city of 2.8 million. He, too, claimed a kind of victory in his second-place showing, saying he had helped to heal divisions in the city's black political leadership, which was splintered after Washington's death.

Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.