
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 12, 1990                   TAG: 9004120006
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: AUSTIN, TEXAS                                LENGTH: Medium

TEXAS CANDIDATES VOW TO CLEAN UP CAMPAIGNS

Ann Richards, who won the Democratic nomination in a "mudslide," and Republican Clayton Williams, still stinging from criticism after a joke about rape, promised to stick to issues as they vied for governor.

"Both Clayton Williams and I will work very hard to keep this an ideological campaign where we really do focus on the issues because we do have disagreements on the issues," Richards said after defeating state Attorney General Jim Mattox in Tuesday's down-and-dirty primary runoff.

Williams, who earlier voiced reluctance about running against a woman, said: "The rehash of the Democratic campaign is of no interest to me. Read my lips: No more mud."

There was little discussion of the issues in the runoff, in which Mattox alleged that Richards, a recovering alcoholic, used illegal drugs, including cocaine, 10 years ago when she was a Travis County commissioner.

Richards, 56, now state treasurer, accused the 46-year-old Mattox of profiting from public service and challenged him to release his income tax returns.

Richards handed Mattox his first major political defeat in 18 years, rolling up a margin of 639,126, or 57 percent, to Mattox's 479,384, or 43 percent, in unofficial returns.

Mattox and his supporters say they will forget the runoff mud-bath and rally behind Richards.

"I will be ready to help her up and down the state against the common enemy, and the common enemy is Clayton Williams," said Mattox, who has won every political race he has entered since 1972, including the state House, Congress and attorney general.

Incumbent Republican Bill Clements, 72, is not seeking re-election.

Voters' attention was taken off the runoff briefly when Williams, a rancher and oil-man in Midland, told reporters during his spring cattle roundup that bad weather was like rape - if it's inevitable, "relax and enjoy it."

Williams, 58, who has never run for political office, apologized for the comment.

Aside from promising not to raise taxes, both candidates are at opposite ends on most issues, including abortion rights. Richards is pro-choice. Williams opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest and endangerment of the mother.

by CNB