(5 of 6)
In a rematch that is being watched almost as closely as the Second District race, Maloney will try again to unseat three-term Republican Gary Franks, who beat him in 1994 by only 6%. He has had help from the AFL-CIO, which, in its crusade against anti-labor Republicans, sent an organizer to the Fifth to head a media blitz against the incumbent. In his working-class district, Maloney will concentrate on labor issues: he opposes limiting overtime, and champions quality health insurance and public education.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NR Guns YES 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: "Educational excellence is both an economic imperative and an entitlement for our children."
NANCY JOHNSON (R) District 6 (Northwest--New Britain)
BORN: Jan. 5, 1935, Chicago EDUCATION: Radcliffe College, B.A., 1957 FAMILY: Husband, Theodore; three children RELIGION: Unitarian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Civic leader POLITICAL CAREER: Connecticut Senate, 1977-82; U.S. House, 1982- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1986, New Britain 06050. Tel.: 860-225-2107
Johnson entered politics in 1976 via the state legislature. Only six years later she found herself in the U.S. House. The Republican takeover in 1994 let her play a leading role in health care and welfare reform. She's also worked for expanded access to community health centers. Though she gained recognition for being the first G.O.P. woman on the Ways and Means Committee, more recently Johnson has drawn fire as chair of the Ethics Committee, where she's investigating Newt Gingrich's alleged improper use of tax-free funds for a political course.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion NO Guns YES Gays NO Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "When you're in the majority, you control the agenda and [that]...took more time and was a bigger job than I anticipated."
CHARLOTTE KOSKOFF (D) District 6
BORN: Jan. 14, 1942, Hartford EDUCATION: Hartford College for Women, A.A., 1962; Barnard College, B.A., 1964; Central Connecticut State U, M.S., 1970; U of Connecticut, Ph.D., 1973, J.D., 1989 FAMILY: Husband, David RELIGION: Jewish MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer; professor POLITICAL CAREER: Democratic nominee for U.S. House, 1994 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 7094, Plainville 06062. Tel.: 860-747-4077
Losing to Republican incumbent Nancy Johnson in 1994 didn't discourage Koskoff; in fact, she says the defeat taught her what she needs to know to win this time. But that strategy seems to have centered on scrutinizing Johnson's role in the Ethics Committee's investigation of Newt Gingrich. In response to accusations that she's waging a single-issue campaign, Koskoff says she supports increased funding for Head Start and ensuring a community-college education for everyone.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)