Mayoral primary results may bode well for U.

The University may face a peculiar 'win-win' situation after Tuesday's Democratic and Republican primaries. While the elections required that a majority of the city's mayoral hopefuls face defeat in their quest for party bids, the two victors may also be winners for the University. Only two candidates could hope to emerge from the shakeout at the polls, and it was Republican candidate Frank Rizzo and Democratic hopeful Ed Rendell who walked away with the nominations from their respective parties. This may be good news for the University since both candidates have pledged that their fiscal plans for Philadelphia will not require difficult tax hikes, and both have promised to take a tough stance on city crime. In addition, Rendell is a 1965 University graduate who has worked his way from vice-president of the undergraduate student government to the post of District Attorney for Philadelphia. Many think the winner of this year's mayor's race will become responsible for rescuing the city from its financial crisis. The University stands to lose much in this process if the wrong candidate is elected. Possible bail-out plans involving revenue raising and belt tightning might be problematic for the University. Measures might include increases in real estate taxes, the introduction of user fees for city services the University currently receives for free, or decreases in Philadelphia police protection of surrounding area. Any of these could impact heavily on both the University's fiscal and living environments. Administrators seem to realize the importance of this mayor's race. President Sheldon Hackney even took time out of his commencement greeting Tuesday to urge Philadelphia residents in attendance to vote in the primaries. But administrators are quick to stress that they are more interested in what a mayor might offer the city than what a mayor would offer campus. "I think of all the qualities we need is one which will bring constituencies in the city to work together," Senior Vice President Marna Whittington said yesterday evening. Whittington said, as a spectator, she was surprised by Rizzo's late victory over Republican frontrunner Ron Castille. "We're not looking for a mayor who will just help us," she added. Staff writer Christine Lutton and the Associated Press contibuted to this story.

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