Harshbarger and Malone Win Statewide Contests

BOSTON--L. Scott Harshbarger '64, the Cambridge prosecutor who unseated the incumbent Massachusetts attorney general in the primary, easily captured the seat in the general election yesterday over a little-known opponent.

Meanwhile, Republican Joseph D. Malone '78 lived up to his billing and defeated Democrat William F. Galvin in the face for state treasurer, putting the office in Republican hands after 26 years under the control of Robert Q. Crane.

Harshbarger, who passed up a chance four years ago to run for the office, had 18,745 votes, or 59 percent, with 78 of 2138 precincts reporting, or 4 percent, according to unofficial returns. Republican William C. Sawyer '51 had 13,034 votes, or 41 percent.

Harshbarger, the Middlexex County district attorney, told supporters he was proud to have run a "positive, substantive campaign."

Harshbarger earned a spot in the November election by ousting incumbent Attorney General James Shannon in the September 18 Democratic primary.

Shannon fell victim to a wave of anti-establishment vote, and Sawyer tried to capitalize on that sentiment in the general election. But Harshbarger said despite his long political ties, he did not carry the aura of an incumbent.

"By having defeated the incumbent attorney general in the primary, I demonstrated to many people in this state that that was not the case," Harshbarger said

Harshbarger, 48, has acknowledged he made a political mistake by not running for attorney general when Francis X. Bellotti vacated the post in 1986. But he said he did not regret his experience as a district attorney.

Before winning the district attorney post in 1982. Harshbarger served as chief of the public protection bureau in the attorney general's office from 1975 to 1978.

Like his opponent, Harshbarger said he supports abortion rights, but the two split on other criminal justice issues. Harshbarger opposed the death penalty, citing his upbringing as the son of a minister. Sawyer favored capital punishment for those who commit first-degree murder. He also said he would support the death penalty for "major drug kingpins."

Harshbarger presented an "action plan" for the attorney general's office, proposing special initiatives to combat urban crime, domestic violence and improve training for local law enforcement officers. Also, he proposed establishing a criminal justice secretariat to oversee all aspects of the correctional system.

Galvin Cites Voter Anger

In the race for the treasurer's post, Galvin conceded defeat less than two hours after the polls closed, acknowledging he was hurt by voter anger toward the ruling Democratic establishment.

"The people of Massachusetts voted for change," Malone said. "They don't want business as usual conducted on Beacon Hill."

With 19 of 2138 precincts reporting, or 1 percent, Malone had 12,600 votes, or 66 percent, according to unofficial returns. Galvin had 5483 votes, or 29 percent.

"There was a sentiment that anyone in public office was suspect and certainly that was not a help to me," Galvin said.

Malone, 35, was labeled the GOP's best shot to win a statewide office early on in the campaign--in part because of his reputation as likeable person. A longtime Republican insider, Malone boosted his name recognition significantly in his relatively polite campaign against Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56 in 1988.