(2 of 6)
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NR Abortion NR Guns YES Gays NR Bosnia NO NAFTA NR Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "I have a deep concern over the survival of this system of democracy as tax is piled on tax and we plunge deeper into debt."
SAM GEJDENSON (D) District 2 (East--New London)
BORN: May 20, 1948, Eschwege, Germany EDUCATION: Mitchell College, A.S., 1968; U of Connecticut, B.A., 1970 FAMILY: Wife, Betsy Henley-Cohn; two children RELIGION: Jewish MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Dairy farmer POLITICAL CAREER: Connecticut House, 1975-79; U.S. House, 1980- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1818, Bozrah 06334. Tel.: 860-886-0581
Gejdenson faces a rematch with Edward Munster, who almost won in 1994. He represents a district that has grown from quaint Yankee workshops to high-tech industry: the Electric Boat Co., maker of the Sea Wolf nuclear submarine, provides many of its jobs. Gejdenson is against the recently proposed Medicare reform, saying it cuts spending to pay for G.O.P. tax cuts for the wealthy. He also supports mandatory life sentences for third-time violent felons.
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: "Newt Gingrich and his special-interest allies aren't just out of touch. They're out of step. They're out of synch. They're out of bounds."
EDWARD MUNSTER (R) District 2
BORN: May 2, 1941, New Orleans EDUCATION: U of Southwestern Louisiana, B.S., 1962; U of Kansas, M.A., 1964; U of Connecticut, M.S., 1969 FAMILY: Wife, Judith; three children RELIGION: Congregationalist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Medical researcher; biostatistician; professor POLITICAL CAREER: Connecticut Senate, 1991-93; Republican nominee for U.S. House, 1992, 1994 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 696, Higganum 06441. Tel.: 860-347-0454
Munster lost the 1994 election by an agonizing 21 votes and spent five months appealing--all the way to the state's highest court--for a new election. He lost. This time he criticizes incumbent Sam Gejdenson for opposing NAFTA, and has spoken out against land annexation by Native Americans in the Second District--home to the mammoth Foxwoods gambling casino.
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 favor limits on Federal Government spending until Congress learns to control its wasteful habits. As the deficit grows, our job insecurity grows as well."
JOHN COPPOLA (R) District 3 (South--New Haven)
BORN: April 11, 1962, New Haven EDUCATION: Southern Connecticut U, 1980-83; Yale U, 1995-96 FAMILY: Divorced; one child RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: Air National Guard, 1982-83 OCCUPATION: Fire fighter; realtor POLITICAL CAREER: Republican nominee for Connecticut Senate, 1992 ADDRESS: 667 Campbell Avenue, West Haven 06516. Tel.: 203-932-8467