A Primary Night of Surprises

As the votes came in the big surprise was on the
Republican side, as party designee Otis Jennings lost decisively to
business executive and political newcomer Steve Kimatian. For the
second time in two major elections, Republican leaders were unable to
persuade their voters to support the candidate endorsed by the party
committee. In the County Executive’s race two years ago the party
endorsed Dale Sweetland but voters chose Joanie Mahoney by the slimmest
of margins. Kimatian’s quiet insurgency within the GOP was even more
successful; he beat Jennings by more than 12 percent. 

Jennings, never at a loss for words, remained composed as
he gathered with followers and party leaders on the second floor of
Asti Caffe, but was hard pressed to come up with good answers as he
absorbed the reality of his defeat. Was it the issue of the youth
curfew, which Kimatian endorsed and Jennings rejected? Party Vice Chair
Joe Tangredi thought the curfew was a deal breaker for many voters.
“Could be a possibility,” was all Jennings would say. Was race a
factor? Jennings is the first African-American endorsed by a major
party in city history. “I’m not sure,” was all he would say.

One thing Jennings was sure of was his determination to
continue the campaign through the general election. He holds the
Conservative nomination, and told The New Times that he intends
to campaign actively. “I made that commitment when the Conservative
Party gave me their endorsement,” he said. “And when you make that
commitment, that is your word.”

Which means that this time around the Republicans may be
acting more like the Democrats in years past. Division among the Dems
in 1993 led to the election of the first Republican mayor in decades,
Roy Bernardi. This time both Stephanie Miner and Joe Nicoletti, the
leading contenders, agreed in advance to support the primary winner as
did the third and fourth place finishers, Alfonso Davis and Carmen
Harlow. Yet by the end of the day, there had been no conversation
between Nicoletti and Miner, and no traditional concession speeches. 

Miner rallied her supporters at Nibsy’s Pub on Tipperary
Hill, while Nicoletti’s troops gathered at the Palace Theatre, operated
by his political ally, Michael Heagerty. The 1^st District Common Councilor told The New Times
that Nicoletti had placed a call to Miner, but as of midnight it had
not been returned. Still, Heagerty said in a phone interview, “Democrats
will remain Democrats, and everyone will play nice. I’m absolutely
prepared to work for Stephanie Miner. She’s a bright lady with good
ideas. There’s no room for being vindictive.”

For his part, Davis waged the ultimate outsider’s
campaign. At the end of the night he sat in his campaign headquarters,
strewn with pizza boxes and wings. He had amassed 12 percent of the
Democratic votes, more than last place finisher Harlow. Good race for a
first timer? Somberly, Davis rejected the idea. “I was in this to win.”
He said that he had not spoken to any of the other candidates, and made
no commitment to support the party’s standard bearer.

Meanwhile Kimatian said that Republicans have to do some
serious thinking about who’s in charge. “The party leadership is out of
synch,” said Kimatian. “They have to look at whether they want to win
elections. Do they want to win elections or just give the designation
to the person who’s been around the most?” Do they need new leadership
in the party? “In business we look at performance,” he added. “If
someone doesn’t perform, they don’t have a job.”

Republican state Sen. John DeFrancisco was at the
Republican gathering. As he headed for the door, he was asked what he
attributed Jennings’ defeat to. “I don’t know,” said the
Senator. “What do you think? You analyze it.”

PHOTOS BY DANIEL R. MENNUTO