End to race brings relief to some, but not all

Paul Clinton

SOUTH COAST PLAZA -- Wednesday’s end to the five-week presidential

election didn’t give Marta Dangerfield any solace.

The 66-year-old Irvine resident wandered down the labyrinthine

corridors of the South Coast Plaza on Wednesday trying to forget the

morning’s headlines.

Texas Gov. George W. Bush was headed to the White House, following

Tuesday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that denied Vice President Al Gore’s

bid for further ballot recounts in Florida.

“I got up just sick to my stomach when I heard [about the court’s

decision] this morning,” she said angrily. “I’m just passing the time

right now because I’m frustrated.”

But many others were thankful the election -- the closest since the

1876 face-off between Samuel J. Tilden and Rutherford B. Hayes -- was

over.

Victor Bianchi, 75, spent Wednesday at the shopping plaza with his

wife. Bianchi, who said he was happy with the result, added that the

brewing election crisis had diverted his attention from the Christmas

shopping rush.

“I’ve done a lot of thinking about it,” the Fountain Valley resident

said. “I think everything will work out fine.”

Still others were less interested in history and more in the

country’s, and their own, financial future.

“I’m just happy it’s over,” said Mark Papac, 33, of Long Beach. “I

just want it to end so the stock market could go back to normal.”