ARKANSAS

Population (1994): 2,453,000 (up 4.3% from 1990), 1% of U.S. total

Voting-age population: 1,729,594

Median age: 33.8 years

Median household income: $25,565 ($6,699 below U.S. median)

Unemployment: 4.9% (0.7% below U.S. average, March 1996)

Last presidential election: Clinton (D): 53% Bush (R): 35% Perot (I): 10%

Congressional delegation: Six Democrats, two Republicans

Arkansas made civil rights history in 1957 when Governor Orval Faubus resisted integration, using the National Guard to defend segregation, at Little Rock's Central High School. A poor state, with the third-lowest median income in the U.S., the "Land of Opportunity" has nevertheless produced its share of big-money entrepreneurs--like Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton and chicken magnate Don Tyson--and President Bill Clinton. Despite the stature of a Democratic native son in the White House, the past two elections have seen a rise in Republican turnout here, and the G.O.P. is pulling out all the stops this year, especially with two formerly Democratic congressional seats now open.

WINSTON BRYANT (D) SENATE (OPEN SEAT) BORN: Oct. 3, 1938, Donaldson EDUCATION: Ouachita Baptist U, B.A., 1960; U of Arkansas, L.L.B., 1963; George Washington U, L.L.M., 1970 FAMILY: Wife, Susan; one child RELIGION: Baptist MILITARY: Army, 1963-65 OCCUPATION: Lawyer; congressional aide POLITICAL CAREER: Arkansas House, 1973-77, Secretary of State, 1977-81, lieutenant governor, 1981-91, attorney general, 1991- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 34083, Little Rock 72203. Tel.: 501-374-1200

Arkansas has not had a Republican Senator since Reconstruction, and it was assumed Bryant would have an easy time of it, especially after lieutenant governor Mike Huckabee quit the race. When Tim Hutchinson joined the chase, the odds changed. Still, Bryant follows a Democratic agenda, wanting to protect Medicare benefits, preserve the Clean Air Act and make college tuition tax deductible.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: "[E]asy access to cigarettes and other tobacco products encourages children to use these products and risk becoming addicted."

TIM HUTCHINSON (R) SENATE (OPEN SEAT)

BORN: Aug. 11, 1949, Bentonville EDUCATION: Bob Jones U, B.A., 1971; U of Arkansas, M.A., 1990 FAMILY: Wife, Donna Jean; three children RELIGION: Baptist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Minister; college instructor; radio-station executive POLITICAL CAREER: Arkansas House, 1985-92; U.S. House, 1992- ADDRESS: 1415 West 7th Street, Little Rock 72202. Tel.: 501-372-0055

The G.O.P. would dearly like to win the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democrat David Pryor and persuaded Hutchinson, who was considered a shoo-in for re-election in the traditionally Republican Third District, to take a chance. Hutchinson, a balanced-budget hawk who proposed tough welfare restrictions for unwed mothers, is now declaring his respect for Pryor, vowing to protect Medicare and pledging to give workers a bigger take-home check.

THE ISSUES

Budget NR Medicare NR Defense NR Abortion NR Guns NR Gays NR Bosnia NR NAFTA NR Welfare NR Medical Leave NR (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "The people of Arkansas deserve a Senator who will continue to uphold the great legacy of David Pryor...I want...this race to focus on the issues that affect everyday Arkansas."

MARION BERRY (D) District 1 (Northeast--Jonesboro; West Memphis)

BORN: Aug. 27, 1942, Stuttgart EDUCATION: U of Arkansas, B.S., 1965 FAMILY: Wife, Carolyn; two children RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Farmer; White House aide POLITICAL CAREER: Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation commissioner, 1992-94 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 8084, Jonesboro 72403. Tel.: 501-972-6595

The President appointed Berry special assistant for agricultural trade and food assistance, and Berry may be counting on that coattail to win a district that gave Clinton 69% of its vote in 1992. He has made Medicare a pillar of his campaign, attacking his opponent strongly and saying a raise in premiums would force Arkansans to choose between food and medicine. He would hold off on tax cuts until the budget is balanced, but supports a college-tuition tax credit of $1,500 a year.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: "Increasing Medicare premiums to our senior citizens is just plain wrong. It's the wrong thing to do."

WARREN DUPWE (R) District 1 BORN: Sept. 11, 1942, Jonesboro EDUCATION: Arkansas State U, B.S., 1964; U of Arkansas, J.D., 1969 FAMILY: Wife, Mila; two children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: Army, 1964-66; Army Reserve, 1966-69 OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Republican nominee for U.S. House, 1994 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 9364, Jonesboro 72403. Tel.: 501-972-9696

In a close race for the First's open seat, Dupwe is aiming straight at the pocketbook as he tries to close the 6% gap by which he lost the last election to retiring Democrat Blanche Lambert. Like other Arkansas Republicans, he supports a program of individual tax cuts to stimulate the economy, and a $500-per-child tax credit for those who make less than $75,000 a year. He's taken some shots for his stand on Medicare cuts, but he's counting on his G.O.P. connections, including a visit by actor Charlton Heston, to put him over.

THE ISSUES

Budget NR Medicare NR Defense NR Abortion NR Guns NR Gays NR Bosnia NR NAFTA NR Welfare NR Medical Leave NR (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "We did it in the '20s, we did it in the '60s and we did it in the '80s. We cut taxes, and it stimulated the economy."

BUD CUMMINS (R) District 2 (Central--Little Rock)

BORN: Aug. 6, 1959, Enid, Okla. EDUCATION: U of Arkansas, B.S, 1981, J.D., 1989 FAMILY: Single RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Businessman; real estate developer; attorney POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1719, Little Rock 72203. Tel.: 501-374-4283

Cummins has brought a conservative bent to the race to fill the seat of Ray Thornton, who's leaving for the state Supreme Court. Denouncing Vic Snyder's attempts to abolish the state's anti-sodomy law, Cummins praises the recently passed Defense of Marriage Act and expresses outrage that Snyder may have gays campaigning for him. Cummins once said he and Snyder weren't far apart on issues like Medicare, the environment and Social Security, but later declared he knows of no race "with a bigger difference between a liberal and a conservative."

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: "Here in Arkansas, men marry women. If other states want to do something different, that's not our concern."

VIC SNYDER (D) District 2

BORN: Sept. 27, 1947, Medford, Ore. EDUCATION: Willamette U, B.A., 1975; U of Oregon, M.D., 1979; U of Arkansas at Little Rock, J.D., 1988 FAMILY: Single RELIGION: Presbyterian MILITARY: Marines, 1967-69 OCCUPATION: Physician; lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Arkansas Senate, 1991- ADDRESS: 1020 West Third Street, Little Rock 72201. Tel.: 501-375-7116

In the race to fill the seat of fellow Democrat Ray Thornton, Snyder has been called to question on his attempts to repeal Arkansas's anti-sodomy law. Countering that this is just his conservative opponent's attempt to derail his campaign, he contends that gay rights are not a major plank in his platform, instead emphasizing a balanced budget, campaign-finance reform and environmental protection. In a Little Rock district with a substantial working-class and African-American constituency, he also vows to protect education and Medicare.

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: "Privacy is very important to Arkansans, and the issue of changing the sodomy law is an issue of privacy, not gay rights."

ANN HENRY (D) District 3 (Northwest--Fort Smith; Fayetteville)

BORN: Nov. 2, 1939, Fairfax, Okla. EDUCATION: U of Arkansas, B.A., 1961, M.A., 1964, J.D., 1971 FAMILY: Husband, Morriss; three children RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Professor; campaign aide POLITICAL CAREER: Fayetteville city board of directors, 1977-82, 1990-92 ADDRESS: 2179 West 6th Street, Fayetteville 72701. Tel.: 501-973-9600

Henry jumped into the race Sept. 12, after candidate Boyce Davis dropped out, and within two days had cranked out her first campaign pins. Flying a family-values banner, Henry, a professor of law, embarked on a four-day, 16-town campaign tour with dozens of her current and former students working for her election. Despite the enthusiasm, in this Republican district she is an underdog.

THE ISSUES Budget NR Medicare NR Defense NR Abortion NR Guns NR Gays NR Bosnia NR NAFTA NR Welfare NR Medical Leave NR (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "I'm opposed to vouchers because they take money out of the public-education system. You can't improve public schools by taking money out of them."

ASA HUTCHINSON (R) District 3

BORN: Dec. 3, 1950, Bentonville EDUCATION: Bob Jones U, B.A., 1972; U of Arkansas, J.D., 1974 FAMILY: Wife, Susan; four children RELIGION: Baptist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: City attorney of Bentonville, 1977-78; U.S. Attorney, 1982-85; Arkansas Republican Party chairman, 1990-95 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 2222, Fort Smith 72902. Tel.: 501-785-0333

Hutchinson hopes to keep the Third in the family by winning the seat being vacated by his brother Tim, who's running for the Senate. He has constructed his platform along conservative business lines. To stimulate the economy, he would impose a modified flat tax, cut the capital-gains tax at least 50% and judge the worth of federal departments like the FDA and EPA by subjecting them to cost-benefit and risk-benefit analyses. A former U.S. Attorney, he's tough on crime and supports "three-strikes" sentencing, but opposes gun control.

THE ISSUES Budget YES Medicare NR Defense NR Abortion YES 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 do need to cut welfare. Thirty years and $3.5 trillion have done nothing to reduce poverty rates."

JAY DICKEY (R) District 4 (South--Pine Bluff; Hot Springs)

BORN: Dec. 14, 1939, Pine Bluff EDUCATION: U of Arkansas, B.A., 1961, J.D., 1963 FAMILY: Divorced; four children RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer; restaurateur POLITICAL CAREER: Pine Bluff city attorney, 1968-70; U.S. House, 1992- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 8766, Pine Bluff 71611. Tel.: 501-536-1221 Dickey, who has won two narrow victories here, takes care not to attack favorite son Bill Clinton on his home turf. The exception to this rule is abortion: Dickey co-sponsored the bill to ban partial-birth abortions, which Clinton vetoed. On local issues, he agrees with Vincent Tolliver in supporting proposed Interstate 69, which would run from Indiana through Arkansas to Texas and be a path of economic growth.

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: "We don't want [illegal aliens] to just come in to the hospitals and receive the best of everything, just because it's free...We can't afford it..."

VINCENT TOLLIVER (D) District 4

BORN: June 11, 1967, Lake Village EDUCATION: Hendrix College, 1985-86, U of Southern California 1987-89 FAMILY: Single RELIGION: Southern Baptist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Writer POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: 313 Main Street, Lake Village 71653. Tel.: 501-265-2314 Tolliver's candidacy is somewhat quixotic. A young African-American writer, he is running against a two-term incumbent in a 72% white district that includes Bill Clinton's hometown. With a "black agenda" that criticizes "white men who don't know anything" for writing laws that unjustly send black men to prison, Tolliver might not have a prayer. Nevertheless, he's running to make a better life for the "common folk" and believes a balanced-budget amendment is a fine idea once all Americans have adequate food and shelter.

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: "My campaign gets back to the basics. When you talk about the House of Representatives, it should represent the common folk...It's now made up of the rich, elite white folk, which is not representative of America."