A GUIDE TO THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES: OHIO

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BORN: Aug. 4, 1941, Lucasville, Ohio EDUCATION: Asbury College, B.A., 1963; U of Kentucky, M.A., 1966; Asbury Theological Seminary, M.A., 1967; U of Kentucky, Ph.D., 1980 FAMILY: Wife, Frances RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Professor POLITICAL CAREER: Democratic nominee for U.S. House, 1976, 1978, 1980; U.S. House, 1992-94 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1492, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662. Tel.: 614-354-7885

After three unsuccessful runs at the House, Strickland finally won in 1992--only to be unseated by Frank Cremeans in 1994. An unabashed liberal, Strickland advocates more spending on highways, education and programs for preventing drug and alcohol abuse, school dropouts and teenage pregnancy. Because his Sixth District is both working-class and poor, he may benefit by this year's apparent anti-Republican mood.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: "I believe that people can do things through government which they cannot do as individuals, and I don't back away at all."

RICHARD BLAIN (D) District 7 (West central--Springfield; Lancaster)

BORN: March 1, 1948, Springfield EDUCATION: Springfield North High, 1966 FAMILY: Wife, Gloria; three children RELIGION: Lutheran MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Trucking company laborer POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: 563 East Cassilly Street, Springfield, Ohio. Tel.: 513-324-1924

Blain has been a truck builder and union member for 30 years (he retired this year), and his political credentials are pure working-class. So are his positions: He opposes free-trade agreements like NAFTA and gatt (the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) because he believes they expose the American laborer to harsher competition from abroad. He also supports family medical leave and regular, predictable increases in the minimum wage.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: "The government should protect the people, equalize the playing field. The gap between rich and middle is too wide."

DAVID HOBSON (R) District 7

BORN: Oct. 17, 1936, Cincinnati EDUCATION: Ohio Wesleyan U, B.A., 1958; Ohio State U, J.D., 1963 FAMILY: Wife, Carolyn; three children RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: Air National Guard, 1958-63 OCCUPATION: Entrepreneur POLITICAL CAREER: Ohio Senate, 1982-90; U.S. House, 1990- ADDRESS: 82 West Columbia, Springfield, Ohio 45502. Tel.: 513-322-0045

A no-nonsense Republican, Hobson has used his business experience to negotiate things like NAFTA protections for flat grass and broomcorn--farmed in his district--and lobby against the American Automobile Labeling Act for constituents who work at the local Honda factory.

THE ISSUES

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