Published on Wednesday, October 6, 1993
© 1993 The Arizona Republic

Byline: By Abraham Kwok and David Schwartz, The Arizona Republic

Newcomer Sal DiCiccio upset Councilwoman Kathy Dubs to win the east-central Phoenix district seat Tuesday, while political protege Cody Williams and local school-board chief Bill Scheel will battle in a runoff to represent south Phoenix.

DiCiccio, who was one of the earliest candidates to wage a campaign in the Phoenix election, barely escaped a District 6 runoff election with Dubs, who had been plagued by recent publicity over a traffic stop by police.

Two other incumbents, Craig Tribken in central Phoenix's District 4 and Frances Emma Barwood in northeast Phoenix's District 2, easily beat back challengers.

''We ran a really strong campaign, and we ran on the issues,'' said DiCiccio, surrounded by more than 100 supporters at an Ahwatukee restaurant.

''That's what the people wanted, and that's why we won.''

DiCiccio received 51.7 percent of the vote. To avoid a runoff, he had to receive at least 50 percent of the ballots cast, plus one vote.

Dubs refused to talk to reporters late Tuesday, but her husband, Stu, referred to heavy-hitting endorsements of DiCiccio, including one by Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona.

''Anytime you go up against a good ol' boy network, it's hard,'' Stu Dubs said.

Scheel and Williams, the top vote-getters among seven candidates, will face one another in a Nov. 23 runoff in District 8. A city statute requires a special election featuring the top two finishers if none of the candidates garners a majority of the votes in the regular election.

Williams, who was anointed by longtime Councilman Calvin Goode as his preferred successor, got twice as many votes as Scheel.

''People are worried that crime will creep not only into their neighborhoods but into their houses,'' Williams said. ''They want to participate in economic development and in the growth of the community. Everybody has these same goals.''

He said he was successful in part because of the big-name endorsements he received, including that of Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox.

Scheel said he will push his record of neighborhood advocacy, which he believes is an advantage over Williams.

''Obviously, it's going to take a lot of work ahead, but what I bring to the race is a record of accomplishments that stand on their own,'' Scheel said.

He said he will continue with his platform of talking about the ''real issues:'' hiring more police, neighborhood preservation and his opposition to a sales tax on food.

DiCiccio advocated several plans to improve government, including a tougher policy on collecting overdue traffic fines and a four-day, 10-hour work week for city employees.

Dubs, meanwhile, found herself on the defense in the past several weeks.

Another District 6 candidate, John ''Drew'' Eubanks, accused her and a supporter of masterminding a hit piece against DiCiccio. Dubs also is the subject of a Phoenix police investigation after she was stopped last week on alleged traffic violations and was let go without any citations.

Dubs maintained her innocence in both instances and said she was being targeted because of her public opposition to a proposition to raise taxes for more police and fire protection.

In the city's central-north District 4, Tribken survived last-minute mudslinging by challenger Ron Gawlitta's camp.

Tribken said the vote was a confirmation of his work.

''I'm on the job and I'm working,'' he said. ''People see that. I'm not just talking. Things are getting done.''

Gawlitta's supporters, including several conservative groups that fight pornography and gay rights, hurled allegations at Tribken, including accusations that he has ''anti-family values.''

Barwood said her ''strong constituent relations'' helped her sail past four challengers.

''I may not make big spectacular headlines, but I'm out there all the time,'' she said.

Chart
Photos (2)
Photo by Michael Meister/The Arizona Republic
Color photo by Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic

VOTE RESULTS
With 364 of 364 precincts reporting.
PROPOSITION 100
Would permit a City Council member to become interim mayor without having to resign his or her seat.
Yes 54,928
No 22,063
PROPOSITION 300
Would issue a 25-year franchise license to Southwest Gas to provide services throughout city.
Yes 55,337
No 20,937
COUNCIL RACES
(i) denotes incumbent
District 2
With 48 of 48 precincts reporting.
Frances Emma Barwood (i) 5,598
Michael Bradford 467
Tina Geiser 1,060
Paul Hendricks 2,015
Art Moyer 627
District 4
With 53 of 53 precincts reporting.
Ronald Gawlitta 5,810
Craig Tribken (i) 9,976
District 6
With 53 of 53 precincts reporting.
Sal DiCiccio 8,445
Kathy Dubs (i) 5,895
John ''Drew'' Eubanks 1,182
Chris Wallace 808
District 8
With 41 of 41 precincts reporting.
Anthony Abril 309
Richard Bistany 1,092
Greg Campbell 151
Marvin Perry 245
Bill Scheel 1,475
Kay Shepard 1,177
Cody Williams 2,848
1) Cody Williams; 2) William Scheel
Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson hugs Richard Fox, president of the Block Watch Advisory Board and a supporter of Proposition 301, which will raise the city's sales tax by 0.1 percent to add about 200 more police officers.
Sal DiCiccio, (right) the eventual winner of District 6's City Council seat, and campaign aide Lynn Harry-Berndt (left) listen to radio reports on race results.