A GUIDE TO THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES: OHIO

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QUOTE OF NOTE: "The Federal Government has not run up a $4.7 trillion debt because the American people pay too little in taxes. The huge debt and deficits have exploded because the Federal Government is too big, spends too much of your money and tells too many people what to do."

JOHN BOEHNER (R) District 8 (Southwest--Hamilton; Middletown)

BORN: Nov. 17, 1949, Cincinnati EDUCATION: Xavier U, B.S., 1977 FAMILY: Wife, Debbie; two children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: Navy, 1969 OCCUPATION: Plastics and packaging executive POLITICAL CAREER: Ohio House 1985-90; U.S. House, 1990- ADDRESS: 7908 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, West Chester, Ohio 45069. Tel.: 513-779-8435

Three-term incumbent Boehner has been called anti-Congress, but the Republican revolution made him a congressional power broker. He is now preoccupied with defending the status quo--as well as his recent generosity in handing out political-action-committee checks on the floor of the House. As the fourth-ranking Republican in the House, Boehner is not likely to be threatened by Jeffrey Kitchen.

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.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "We should balance the budget by downsizing government, not by raising taxes."

JEFFREY KITCHEN (D) District 8

BORN: July 28, 1960, Ashland, Ky. EDUCATION: Miami U (Ohio), B.A., 1983; Southern Illinois U, B.S., 1986; U of Alabama, Birmingham, M.S., 1990 FAMILY: Wife, Beth Ann; two children RELIGION: Protestant MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Electrical engineer POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: 222 High Street, Suite 207, Hamilton, Ohio 45011. Tel.: 513-737-0384

An electrical engineer with no political experience, Kitchen is a populist looking for organized solutions to social problems. A higher minimum wage, stronger unions and higher import taxes will boost the economic well-being of the middle class in what he calls the "Trickle-Up Economic Theory" of governance.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: "We must enforce the social contract on those who have broken it. In order to take our government back, we must become our government."

MARCY KAPTUR (D) District 9 (Northwest--Toledo)

BORN: June 17, 1946, Toledo EDUCATION: U of Wisconsin, B.A., 1968; U of Michigan, 1974 FAMILY: Single RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Urban planner POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1982- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 899, Toledo 43691. Tel.: 419-693-0078

An aggressive legislator and campaigner, Kaptur won her past two elections by impressive margins--74% and 75%. She is known as a defender of the blue-collar worker for her opposition to NAFTA and GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade). In her Rust Belt state--she says 100,000 Ohio jobs have moved to Mexico since NAFTA was enacted--protectionism is not an idle issue.

THE ISSUES