A GUIDE TO THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES: OHIO

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BORN: Nov. 9, 1952, Mansfield, Ohio EDUCATION: Yale U, B.A., 1974; Ohio State U, M.A., 1979, M.A., 1981 FAMILY: Divorced; two children RELIGION: Lutheran MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Teacher POLITICAL CAREER: Ohio House, 1975-83; Ohio Secretary of State, 1983-91; U.S. House, 1992- ADDRESS: 111 Edgefield Drive, Elyria, Ohio 44035. Tel.: 216-365-5580

First elected to the Ohio House when he was 21, Brown has already been in politics half his life. Though he is running for a third House term this year, Republicans believe that his "liberal" voting record--Brown has received fairly moderate ratings of 75 and 74 from the Americans for Democratic Action and the A.C.L.U.--make him vulnerable.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays NO Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "Every time we pass a trade bill in this body, every time we worship at the altar of free trade...our nation falls deeper and deeper into job-killing trade deficit."

JOYCE GEORGE (R) District 14 (Northeast--Akron)

BORN: May 14, 1936, Akron EDUCATION: U of Akron, B.A., 1962, J.D., 1966; U of Virginia, M.A., 1986 FAMILY: Divorced; two children RELIGION: Christian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Attorney, judge POLITICAL CAREER: Candidate for Ohio Supreme Court, 1978, 1986, 1988; Summit County Republican Party Executive Committee, 1994-96 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 5479, Akron 44334. Tel.: 216-666-2226

Running against a former Akron mayor, George is considered an underdog in the race for this industrial-district seat. A moderate Republican, she wants less government, fewer taxes and harsher penalties for juvenile criminals: the bad kids should be going to boot camp, not summer camp.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES Abortion NR Guns NO Gays NO Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "We need to get government to a common-sense point of view. Government should do for people what people can't do for themselves."

TOM SAWYER (D) District 14

BORN: Aug. 15, 1945, Akron EDUCATION: U of Akron, B.A., 1968, M.A., 1970 FAMILY: Wife, Joyce; one child RELIGION: Presbyterian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Teacher POLITICAL CAREER: Ohio House, 1977-83; mayor of Akron, 1984-86; U.S. House, 1986- ADDRESS: 1540 West Market Street, Suite 201, Akron 44313. Tel.: 330-869-9300

Despite five terms in the House, Sawyer's narrow victory two years ago has given Republicans renewed hope of winning the 14th. Sawyer voted for NAFTA, risky in this heartland of American industry, but supported the conservative blue-dog Democrats' proposal to balance the budget in seven years (without tax cuts). Sawyer has also pushed for a census adjustment--he claims an undercount in his district means far fewer federal dollars--and for more money for adult-literacy programs.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare NO* Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "There is nothing more important than making sure that children are in safe and healthy settings while their parents work."