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Uherbelau in front of big-spender Hunts Photo by Jim Craven Legislative candidate Lon Holston watches for results of his race against Republican Jason Atkinson on the Internet at Jackson County Democratic Headquarters. His friend, Arianna Fleetwood, 10, watches. Patridge leads Kolb in District 50, while Atkinson edges Holston in 51 By PETER WONG Democratic Rep. Judy Uherbelau of Ashland was turning back a tough Republican challenger with apparent ease in early returns Tuesday, but Republicans were leading Democrats for Southern Oregon's other state House seats. Uherbelau would not claim victory for a third term and Republican Jane Hunts of Trail would not concede defeat. Uherbelau was leading Hunts, 3,352 to 2,341 (59 to 41 percent). "A lot of ballots remain to be counted," Uherbelau said. "But it's always better to be ahead." Counts of absentee ballots were required to confirm the District 52 winner in three of the past four elections. But the leader going into each count emerged as the winner. Fueled by contributions of $11,750 from the Oregon Restaurant Association and $10,000 each from business and the timber industry, Hunts raised and spent nearly $100,000 in her fall bid to unseat Uherbelau, who raised and spent half as much. "We have a lot of absentee ballots that have not been counted and a lot of precincts that have not been reported," said Hunts, a businesswoman making her first bid for public office. The Uherbelau-Hunts campaign drew the most attention not only because Republicans targeted it in their drive to increase their majority in the House but also because it was the only competitive race in the region. Uherbelau was the only one of five Southern Oregon representatives eligible for re-election under Oregon's term-limits law. Republicans, who appeared to be picking up a couple of seats to solidify their majority in the House, led handily for the region's other seats in early returns that exclude absentee ballots: Republican Rob Patridge was winning easily over Democrat Melody Kolb for the seat being vacated by Republican John Watt in District 50, which covers Medford. Patridge led Kolb, 4,825 to 2,963 (62 percent to 38 percent). "I'm very excited about the opportunities for Southern Oregon in going the state Legislature," Patridge said. "There are some big issues, such as transportation and economic development, that we need to concentrate on for Southern Oregon." Republican Jason Atkinson of Jacksonville was leading Democrat Lon Holston of Central Point for the seat being vacated by Republican Eldon Johnson of Central Point in District 51, which covers southwest Jackson County and part of Josephine County. Atkinson led Holston, 4,243 to 3,273 (56 percent to 44 percent). Republican Susan Morgan of Myrtle Creek was winning easily over Democrat Vic Corchero of Shady Cove for the seat being vacated by Bill Markham of Riddle in District 46, which covers northwest Jackson County, northern Josephine County and part of Douglas County. Morgan led Corchero, 4,292 to 1,891 (69 percent to 31 percent). Republican appointee Carl Wilson of Grants Pass was leading Democrat Candace Bartow of Grants Pass and two others for the seat that Bob Repine of Grants Pass vacated in District 49. Wilson had 7,040 votes; Bartow, 3,166; Thomas Heck, 572, and Jack Alan Brown Jr., 533. District 52 is the only one in Jackson and Josephine counties with a Democratic registration edge over Republicans, 40.3 percent to 33.8 percent. The other House districts have Republican registration edges ranging from 5.6 percentage points in District 46 to 14.7 percentage points in District 50. Though a Democrat has held the District 52 seat 12 of the past 14 years, only twice has the winner amassed a majority of 55 percent or better. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA