A GUIDE TO THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES: UTAH

(2 of 3)

QUOTE OF NOTE: [On his not taking PAC money] "There's been a mixed reaction from party leaders. Some are telling me to my face that I'm crazy. The old game didn't work, did it? So why should I play it?"

ROSS ANDERSON (D) District 2 (Central--parts of Salt Lake City)

BORN: Sept. 9, 1951, Logan EDUCATION: U of Utah, B.S., 1973; George Washington U, J.D., 1978 FAMILY: Divorced; one child RELIGION: NR MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: 2797 South Main Street, Suite A, Salt Lake City 84115. Tel.: 801-466-1996

In the race for this open seat, being vacated by scandalized Enid Green [Waldholtz], Anderson intensified an already raging debate this fall by opposing the Defense of Marriage Act, which passed the House and Senate in September and gives states power to deny the legality of same-sex unions. On fiscal issues, he is not a traditional Democrat: he supports a balanced-budget amendment and wants to reduce Medicare and Social Security payments to wealthy Americans.

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: "Issues like [same-sex marriage] shouldn't be decided in Congress anyway; they should be decided by the states and in the courts."

MERRILL COOK (R) District 2

BORN: May 6, 1946, Philadelphia EDUCATION: U of Utah, B.A., 1969; Harvard U, M.B.A., 1971 FAMILY: Wife, Camille; five children RELIGION: Mormon MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Explosives-company executive; radio-talk-show host POLITICAL CAREER: Candidate for mayor of Salt Lake City, 1985; Independent candidate for Governor, 1988, 1992; Independent candidate for U.S. House, 1994 ADDRESS: 8 East Broadway, Suite 614, Salt Lake City 84111. Tel.: 801-359-9971

This is Cook's seventh try for public office in 12 years. When he ran for the U.S. House as an Independent in 1994, he was quoted as saying, "I wouldn't go back to the Republicans for $10 million." Two years later, he has the g.o.p. nomination--but he has had to convince the party of his dedication, vowing to help cut the deficit and advocating a flat 17% federal income tax.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: "I felt the Independent Party had put up a good fight, but we lost. It is time now to go back and work to change the [Republican] party."

CHRISTOPHER CANNON (R) District 3 (East--Provo, Orem)

BORN: Oct. 20, 1950, Salt Lake City EDUCATION: Brigham Young U, B.S., 1974, J.D., 1980 FAMILY: Wife, Claudia; seven children RELIGION: Mormon MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Venture-capital executive; steel-company executive; lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Utah Republican Party finance chair, 1992-94 ADDRESS: 123 West Center, Provo 84601. Tel.: 801-374-8880