Georgia primary has historic result

First-term Rep. Denise Majette easily defeated a millionaire businessman Tuesday to capture the Democratic nomination for an open Senate seat, becoming the first black candidate in Georgia ever nominated to the Senate.

Majette likely will be a heavy underdog in November against Rep. Johnny Isakson in a state that has trended Republican in recent years. She would make history again if she prevails in the fall: There have only been two black senators since Reconstruction.

Majette trounced the well-heeled Cliff Oxford, a 40-year-old technology company founder who was recruited by former President Jimmy Carter to run for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Zell Miller.

In Colorado's primaries, with nearly half of precincts reporting, brewery heir Peter Coors had 60 percent, or 125,412 votes, to Bob Schaffer's 40 percent, or 83,194 votes to be Republican nominee, and Attorney General Ken Salazar had 74 percent, or 105,973 votes, while educator Mike Miles had 26 percent, or 37,422 votes.

BOSTON - A federal appeals court upheld the corruption conviction of former Providence, R.I., Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci, one of New England's most popular politicians who oversaw a renaissance in his city as corruption ran rampant in City Hall.

The 2-1 decision by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came 20 months into Cianci's five-year, four-month prison sentence for a count of racketeering conspiracy.

He was acquitted of more than a dozen other corruption charges, including bribery and extortion, after a federal trial in 2002.

Cianci's attorneys said the government presented no direct evidence he took bribes. Prosecutors countered that the 63-year-old mayor insulated himself by using subordinates as his "bag men."

The appeals court acknowledged that investigators never caught Cianci in the act of bribery or extortion, but said there was ample evidence he was an active participant in the conspiracy.

The appeals court also upheld convictions of Cianci's top aide, Frank Corrente, and that of politically connected tow-truck operator Richard Autiello.

Cianci's lawyer did not immediately return a message.

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Colin Powell, a Republican centrist who is popular with moderate voters, will not attend the GOP convention in New York that will nominate President Bush for a second term.

"On White House instruction, Secretary Powell as well as others among the Cabinet, will not attend," State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said. "This is in keeping with past practice."

Ereli drew attention to Powell's remarks last week at a convention of minority journalists that he was obliged as secretary not to take part in "parochial debate."

STRIKE A POSSIBILITY: New York police officers and firefighters announced an impasse in contract negotiations with the city and refused to rule out an illegal strike or sickouts during the Republican National Convention.

Off-duty police officers have recently been showing up at Mayor Michael Bloomberg's daily public appearances and picketing outside Madison Square Garden, the site of the Republican National Convention beginning Aug. 30.

A spokesman said the city's last offer to the police and fire unions was a $1,000 lump sum payment plus an 8 percent pay increase, though unions would have to agree to accept other contract changes such as lower pay for new workers.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The treasurer of the national Reform Party, which backs Ralph Nader for president, has told federal election officials that the party has only $18.18 in the bank and should be terminated.

William D. Chapman Sr. said he sent the Federal Election Commission a "request for termination based on guidelines the FEC had established for the Reform Party." The FEC oversees fundraising and spending in national elections.

Reform Party national chairman Shawn O'Hara accused Chapman of leading a "minor coup" and said the national party is rebuilding and raising money.

BATON ROUGE, La. - A party-switching Louisiana congressman said he's surprised and "hurt" by Democrats' reactions to his defection to the Republicans and vowed to return nearly $90,000 given by members of his old party.

"I'm somewhat puzzled as to how much hoopla this has created," Rep. Rodney Alexander said.

TUSCALOOSA - Charles Steele, newly elected vice president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, has resigned from the state Senate to devote full time to the civil rights organization. Steele, 58, a Tuscaloosa Democrat, wants to refocus the agenda of the organization.

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