COSTELLO GETS NEW TERM IN CONGRESS

BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- Democrat Rep. Jerry Costello was never seriously threatened in his bid for re-election to a fourth term in Congress Tuesday.

Costello, of Belleville, easily defeated Republican university professor Mike Starr in the Illinois 12th District race, grabbing a 70 to 30 percent lead in early returns in his district. The district includes all or parts of nine Southern Illinois counties, including Union and Alexander, to defeat Starr.

Costello was declared a winner by the Associated Press at 10:15 p.m. A few minutes later he delivered his acceptance speech.

Costello, who will be serving his third term in Congress, did not have any opposition in the primary earlier this year. He also had no competition in the general election until two days before the filing deadline, when Starr, an associate professor of radio-television at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, entered the race.

Starr was no stranger to politics. He entered the congressional race in Louisiana in 1976, but eventually dropped out. He also had a unsuccessful run for the Louisiana State Senate in 1974.

Costello, who previously served as director of court services and probation for the 20th Judicial District and a former chief investigator for St. Clair County State's Attorney's office, was first elected to Congress in 1988. He was re-elected in 1990.