Election

Mayor J. Edward Kline resigned last night, one month after residents of this island town north of Atlantic City voted to change the form of city government in what Kline acknowledged was a referendum on his leadership. Kline - a contractor who also last month lost a bid for a third Assembly term - did not appear at the City Commission meeting at which his resignation was announced. Thomas R. Burns, a recently retired state police lieutenant, was sworn in to complete Kline's term as a commissioner.

This has not been a particularly elevating or inspiring election campaign. This may be why voters have responded so far with uncommon apathy. However, there has seldom been an election in which the choices have been as good. In some races, at least, even if your candidate loses, you can rest assured the winner will also do a pretty good job. Take the two statewide races. Either Lt. Gov. William W. Scranton, the Republican candidate, or former Auditor General Robert P. Casey, the Democrat, should make a good governor.

Claude Andrews said he just plain forgot. Kay Fritzinger said she's stepping aside to make room for her son. Charles Wehr said he's too busy. And so, finally, we have the answer to the political question: What if they held an election and nobody ran? It's about to happen in this tiny Carbon County community of 486 people, where the three aforementioned Borough Council members aren't running for re- election to the seven-member panel next month. There are no challengers, either.

Zinzi Mandela (left), daughter of jailed black nationalist leader Nelson Mandela, joined an anti-apartheid demonstration by students at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg on Monday, two days before the whites-only parliamentary election in South Africa. In the election, the ruling National Party was victorious, while major gains were made by the right-wing Conservative Party at the expense of the liberal Progressive Federal Party, which had campaigned for an end to apartheid.

A local grand jury report on the May 1985 MOVE confrontation likely will not be public until after the November election, officials in the District Attorney's Office said yesterday. Terry Williamson, a spokesman for District Attorney Ronald D. Castille, said the grand jury probably would take additional testimony on certain aspects of the incident, in which 11 people were killed and 61 houses were destroyed by fire. Williamson said there was a "good possibility" that the report would not be complete and made public until after the election.

PEOPLE ARE so excited about this election with a woman and a black man. You know what I would like to see in my lifetime - when the candidate from each other party goes up against each other, the person who wins is president and the loser is vice president. Now that's something to get excited about. Both parties would have to work together then. The political science students and the think tanks need to work on that. Food for thought. Linda J. Turner, Philadelphia

FOR PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, our endorsement for president, has made this election about the biggest thing of all: America's future. STATE HOUSE RACES In the 140th District: The Northeast seat being vacated by George Kenney. Vote: BRENDAN BOYLE In the 172nd District: For the seat long held by John Perzel. Vote: RICH COSTELLO BALLOT QUESTIONS On whether to establish a city Department of Parks and Recreation. Vote: YES On whether city residents whose civil-service test scores are identical to those of out-of-town test-takers should get priority for jobs.

Just because both candidates for mayor are running unopposed in their party primaries, that doesn't mean tomorrow's election isn't important. Besides mayor, Philadelphians will be nominating their party's candidates for City Council, sheriff, city commissioners, register of wills, clerk of courts and Common Pleas, Municipal and Traffic Courts. All Pennsylvanians will be nominating candidates for Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth courts. Some of these jobs are arguably as vital as mayor - if lower-profile and perhaps less glamorous.

Five candidates raised and spent more than $4,500 in last month's Pennsbury school board primary election, according to campaign reports filed last week with the Bucks County Board of Election. The five candidates - Gene Dolnick, Marilee Gillespie, Arlene Gordon, Alan Horowitz and Hoyt Phillips - reported spending a total of $4,869.80 in their campaigns. Gillespie, a Falls resident seeking to unseat incumbent Phillips in Region 3, spent the most - $1,777.11. Five individuals contributed $100 or more to Gillespie's campaign, and two of them contributed $250 or more.

IT WAS OLD versus young in the election for president of the city firefighters union yesterday - and the kids came out on top. Battalion Chief Joseph Schulle defeated incumbent President Bill Gault in a 1,736-1,209 vote by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 22. About half the votes were cast by retired firefighters, who broke heavily for Gault. Schulle won an overwhelming majority of current firefighters, many of whom have been working without a contract for most of their careers.

Haddonfield Deputy Mayor Jeff Kasko was reelected a borough commissioner, former Commissioner Neal Rochford regained the post he lost four years ago, and political newcomer John Moscatelli swept into his first term, according to unofficial returns from Tuesday's municipal election. Kasko, the top vote-getter with provisional ballots not yet counted, could become the borough's first new mayor in 12 years. Mayor Letitia "Tish" Colombi chose not to seek reelection. The commissioners will decide who will be mayor, but the honor traditionally goes to the highest vote-getter.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Despite a bloody campaign marred by Taliban attacks, Pakistan holds historic elections Saturday pitting a former cricket star against a two-time prime minister once exiled by the army and an incumbent blamed for power blackouts and inflation. The vote marks the first time in Pakistan's 65-year history that a civilian government has completed its full term and handed over power in democratic elections. Previous governments have been toppled by military coups or sacked by presidents allied with the powerful army.

Two incumbents, three new office-seekers, and one former officeholder will vie for three seats on Haddonfield's board of commissioners Tuesday. Taxes, infrastructure, and accountability have all been topics in the borough race. The contest will also produce Haddonfield's first new mayor in 12 years, following Mayor and Commissioner Letitia "Tish" Colombi's decision to not seek reelection. Jeff Kasko, the deputy mayor, and Ed Borden, an attorney and former Camden County prosecutor, hope to retain their seats.

PENNSYLVANIA Latinos are drawing the line on state redistricting processes. The organizations LatinoLines and LatinoJustice say they'll appeal a decision last month by a U.S. district judge denying a special statewide election that had been requested after last November's election used decades-old district lines. "Pennsylvania is still operating under 2001 redistricting lines," said Nancy Trasande, senior legal counsel for LatinoJustice. "The 2012 election occurred under old lines [which is]

By Rashid Khattak For Pakistanis in Philadelphia and abroad, Saturday's election is seen as a significant step for the future of democracy there. This is the first time in Pakistan's 66-year history that a democratically elected government is completing its five-year term and has scheduled elections. Mohammad Tariq, a 40-year-old Philly cabdriver from Pakistan, says the continuity that results from the democratic process is a must for honest politicians to emerge and for the country to develop.

KARACHI, Pakistan - Two blasts in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi killed three people near the office of a political party critical of the Taliban, a police officer said, heightening tensions ahead of the country's historic election next Saturday. Police officer Aamir Farooqi said the explosions late Saturday wounded 22 people. A spokesman for the Taliban, Ahsanullah Ahsan, claimed responsibility. Pakistan has been experiencing a wave of violence connected to the elections, mostly at the hands of Taliban extremists targeting various political parties and their candidates.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Three candidates endorsed by an alumni group supportive of the late Joe Paterno overwhelmingly swept the election for three open seats on Pennsylvania State University's board of trustees, dumping the incumbents and sending a strong message that the university's alumni are dissatisfied with the leadership. But just how much power the three, supported by Penn Staters for Responsible Stewardship, will have on the 32-member board remains to be seen. For sure, it means those angry with the board for its handling of the child sex-abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky - and the subsequent firing of Paterno as head coach - will have a stronger voice in the university's governance.

Fox-hunting steeplechase champion McDynamo , owned by Michael Moran of Applestone Farm in Unionville, Chester County, can add the Hall of Fame to his five Breeders' Cup championships and three Eclipse awards. On Friday, he was elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, joining three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel and horses Housebuster , Invasor , Lure and Tuscalee . GOLF: Temple senior Devin Bibeau carded a 2-under 70 to lead the Owls to third place after the first round of the Atlantic Ten Championship in Coral Springs, Fla. Lucas Glover birdied his final hole to take a 1-stroke lead over Boo Weekley after the second round of the Zurich Classic in Avondale, La. Caroline Masson bogeyed three of her last four holes for a par 71, leaving her with a 1-stroke lead after the second round of the North Texas LPGA Shootout in Irving.