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BORN: Nov. 15, 1964, Gainesville EDUCATION: St. John's River Community College, A.A., 1984; U of North Florida, B.B.A., 1986; Nova U, J.D., 1990 FAMILY: Engaged RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: P.O. Box 2181, Palatka 32178. Tel.: 904-312-0811
Planning a wedding and an election victory at the same time, Fields is confident that the House will be his first home as a newlywed. A native north Floridian, he believes Corrine Brown's narrow 1994 victory won't sustain her in the newly drawn Third--the district is 11.5% less black and as much as 20% more Republican than in 1994. Fields supports the line-item veto, reforms to cut taxes and make the tax code simpler and more equitable, and a balanced budget.
THE ISSUES Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES Abortion YES Guns YES Gays NR Bosnia YES NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "I believe we should exert continued economic pressure on Castro's Cuba so that the last Soviet-style communistic state in the world will soon fall under the weight of economic bankruptcy."
TILLIE FOWLER (R) District 4 (Northeast--part of Jacksonville and Daytona Beach; northern Volusia County)
BORN: Dec. 23, 1942, Milledgeville, Ga. EDUCATION: Emory U, A.B., 1964, J.D., 1967 FAMILY: Husband, L. Buck; two children RELIGION: Episcopalian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Jacksonville city council, 1985-92; U.S. House 1992- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 380087, Jacksonville 32205. Tel.: 904-388-2961
As in 1994, no one is up to the challenge of opposing Fowler, and, according to Florida law, she doesn't even need to be on the ballot: she is already "elected." A social moderate, Fowler fought mandatory parental notification of minors' abortions in 1993, and is the only Republican woman on the National Security Committee.
THE ISSUES Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "Our immigration system should reward those who bring skills and initiative into this country, but it is not right to penalize our citizens by forcing them to pay benefits to people who have never contributed to the system."
DAVE GENTRY (R) District 5 (Northern west coast--Gainesville, parts of Lake City and Pasco County)
BORN: April 19, 1959, Arlington, Va. EDUCATION: Liberty U, B.S., 1984; U of Florida, M.Ed., 1993 FAMILY: Wife, Ann; one child RELIGION: Baptist MILITARY: Marine Corps Reserve, 1979-83 OCCUPATION: Publishing-company owner; teacher; marketing and sales consultant POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: P.O. Box 90092, Gainesville 32607. Tel.: 352-371-7880
Unseating a two-term Democratic incumbent in a mostly Democratic district is a formidable task, but Gentry doesn't think it's a mission impossible. He refuses to take PAC donations for his campaign, saying he wants to reduce the corrupting influence of special-interest groups. Cutting taxes and balancing the budget top his agenda.