FLORIDA
Population (1994): 13,953,000 (up 7.8% from 1990), 5.4% of U.S. total
Voting-age population: 10,856,000; 1994 turnout, 38%
Median age: 36.4 years
Median household income: $29,294 ($2,970 below U.S. median)
Unemployment: 5.3% (0.3% below U.S. average, March 1996)
Last presidential election: Clinton (D): 39% Bush (R): 41% Perot (I): 20%
Congressional delegation: Nine Democrats, 16 Republicans
Known for its hurricanes, theme parks, crime and sandy beaches, immigrants and senior citizens, Florida was also the first state to allow concealed weapons--they are all part of the Sunshine State, now the fourth most heavily populated state in the union, and one of the most diverse and dynamic as well.
KEVIN BECK (D) District 1 (Panhandle--Pensacola; Fort Walton Beach)
BORN: Sept. 1, 1958, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada EDUCATION: Concordia U, B.A., 1980; Florida State U, J.D., 1988 FAMILY: Divorced; two children RELIGION: Lutheran MILITARY: Marines, 1982-86 OCCUPATION: Teacher; lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: 902 East Gadsden Street, Pensacola 32501. Tel.: 904-470-9050
Beck suffered third-degree burns after a fiery 1985 crash landing during Marine pilot training, spent 1 1/2 years in physical therapy and then went to law school. He says his military service and experience as a prosecutor, public defender and elementary school teacher give him ample qualifications for Congress.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense NR 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: "I have been a teacher, I have managed classrooms of 30 students or more, and I have been on the firing line in education."
JOE SCARBOROUGH (R) District 1
BORN: April 9, 1963, Doraville, Ga. EDUCATION: U of Alabama, B.A., 1985; U of Florida, J.D., 1990 FAMILY: Wife, Melanie; two children RELIGION: Baptist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: 3695 Wimbledon Drive, Pensacola 32504. Tel.: 904-469-9500
Scarborough, once a member of a band called The Establishment, came to Congress in 1994 humming the G.O.P. tune "Retaking America." Though he now performs with The Amendments, a group of G.O.P. House members, legislatively, he sings a New Federalist song, pushing states'-rights bills such as his proposal to eliminate the Department of Education.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays NO Bosnia YES NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "Our goal is to reform the nation's educational system. This is not a budget-cutting exercise."
ALLEN BOYD (D) District 2 (Panhandle--Tallahassee; part of Panama City)
BORN: June 6, 1945, Valdosta, Ga. EDUCATION: North Florida Junior College, A.A., 1966; Florida State U, B.S., 1969 FAMILY: Wife, Cissy; three children RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: U.S. Army, 1969-70 OCCUPATION: Farmer POLITICAL CAREER: Florida House, 1989- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 15703, Tallahassee 32317. Tel.: 904-224-9922