A GUIDE TO THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES: MICHIGAN

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BORN: May 10, 1947, Muskegon EDUCATION: Holton High School, diploma, 1965 FAMILY: Wife, Jennifer; three children RELIGION: United Methodist MILITARY: Air Force, 1965-70 OCCUPATION: Business-services-facility technician POLITICAL CAREER: Constable of Holton Township, 1970-78 ADDRESS: 4638 Truman Road, Ravenna 49451. Tel.: 616-853-2925

In many ways, Kruszynski is a traditional liberal: he wants to preserve Medicare and Social Security, protect the environment and support education. In others he's more like a New Democrat: he supports welfare reform and balancing the budget by fighting abuses of the system. But while the Muskegon native, campaigning in his father's 1950 Ford pickup, has several key endorsements, including one from the uaw, the Second District usually votes Republican.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns NO 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: "I want welfare reform for the poor as well as for the rich. I am, like you, the middle-class worker who is funding both."

VERNON EHLERS (R) District 3 (West central--Grand Rapids)

BORN: Feb. 6, 1934, Pipestone, Minn. EDUCATION: U of California, Berkeley, A.B., 1956, Ph.D., 1960 FAMILY: Wife, Johanna; four children RELIGION: Christian Reformed MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Professor; physicist political career: Kent County commissioner, 1975-83; Michigan House, 1983-85, Senate, 1985-93; U.S. House, 1993- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 3340, Grand Rapids 49506. Tel.: 616-956-0550

Ehlers is seeking his second full term in the House after taking over Paul Henry's seat in 1993 and winning in 1994 by a landslide. Home schooled as a child because he had severe asthma, he holds a doctorate in nuclear physics from Berkeley, and in his first term worked to update the House's computers and Internet access. Ehlers has also written two books on the environment and served on the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: "When I first took this job, some offices were still using typewriters."

BETSY FLORY (D) District 3

BORN: Oct. 16, 1936, Grand Rapids EDUCATION: Grand Rapids Community College, A.A., 1955; Calvin College, A.B., 1956; U of Michigan, M.A., 1977; U of Michigan, Ed. Spec., 1987; Western Michigan U, spada, 1992 FAMILY: Divorced; two children RELIGION: Congregationalist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Teacher POLITICAL CAREER: Democratic nominee for Michigan Senate, 1978; Democratic nominee for U.S. House, 1994 ADDRESS: 2759 West Leonard Street, Grand Rapids 49504. Tel.: 616-453-7599

Flory hopes for better results this year than when she lost by 50 points to Vernon Ehlers in 1994. An elementary school teacher for 38 years, she wants full funding for Head Start and a community-college tax credit. And she says Ehlers "caved in" to the N.R.A. by voting to repeal the assault-weapons ban. In this Republican district, Flory has her work cut out for her.

THE ISSUES

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