Pepper camp plays waiting game

The party at the 20th Century Theater got quiet when Channel 9's Clyde Gray came on the big screen and said Pepper was losing 56 percent to 44 percent with 16 percent of the precincts reporting.

Pepper's father, John, and Mayor Charlie Luken's father, Tom, wondered which precincts the totals included, trying to deduce which parts of the city had been counted yet.

The elder Pepper, who hadn't had any dinner, ate about half of his Subway sandwich and skipped the Sun Chips someone brought him.

The place filled up by about 8:30 p.m., with supporters waiting for their candidate. Campaign spokeswoman Anne Sesler said not to expect Pepper until more results are in.

-- Jane Prendergast