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Kilpatrick made Barbara-Rose Collins the first Democratic House member in the nation to lose a primary, convincingly beating the troubled incumbent 51% to 31%. In the Michigan House, Kilpatrick sponsored a bill to allow Detroit riverfront development and helped prevent the re-routing of federal highway funds from the local to the state level. Her liberal platform gives her an advantage over Stephen Hume in this Democratic district.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays NR Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "We've got to keep nonviolent offenders out of prisons--where they learn how to become better criminals--and put them to work in our communities so they can learn to become productive citizens."
JAMES DESANA (R) District 16 (Southeast Wayne County; Monroe County)
BORN: Oct, 6, 1930, Wyandotte EDUCATION: St. Patrick's High School, diploma, 1948 FAMILY: Divorced; five children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: Navy, 1951-54 OCCUPATION: Industrial-supply-company owner POLITICAL CAREER: Wyandotte city council, 1957-61, mayor, 1961-68, 1987-; Wayne County commissioner, 1969-75; Michigan Senate, 1975-87 ADDRESS: 3359 Third Street, Wyandotte 48192. Tel.: 313-285-4433
In January DeSana changed parties, letting him challenge one of Congress' longest tenured members. But veteran pol DeSana may pose a challenge, partly because the 16th has become more conservative. He opposes affirmative action and abortion and wants to curb the growth of Medicare and Medicaid to balance the budget.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare NR Defense NR Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "I am not leaving the Democratic Party. The national Democratic Party long ago left me, just as it left millions of working families and small-business owners."
JOHN DINGELL (D) District 16
BORN: July 8, 1926, Colorado Springs, Colo. EDUCATION: Georgetown U, B.S., 1949, J.D., 1952 FAMILY: Wife, Deborah Insley; four children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: Army, 1944-46 OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Wayne County assistant prosecutor, 1953-55; U.S. House, 1955- ADDRESS: 9216 Pelham Road, Suite 101, Taylor 48180. Tel.: 313-291-2900
Dingell has served 41 continuous years in the House, more than any other member. The 6 ft., 3 in. lawyer, called "Big John" and "the Grand Inquisitor," is the ranking Democrat on the Commerce Committee. Dingell is basically liberal but favors aggressive foreign policy, a weaker Clean Air Act--to protect his district's automakers--and a reduction in trial lawyers' leverage in product-liability suits.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion YES 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: [On his fight against auto-industry regulation] "I am totally unapologetic about that. I represent half a million people whose lives are controlled by...the auto industry."