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Stearns recently held the 300th town meeting in his district since his election in 1988. He has battled President Clinton's social policy, advocating cuts in the National Endowment for the Arts and led the 1994 campaign to remove Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders from office. But for all his social conservatism, he was one of the first in Congress to push for the recognition of Gulf War syndrome and has been a strong Medicare advocate, both issues having almost universal appeal in this popular retirement area.
THE ISSUES Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "I was elected to put the Federal Government on a diet."
JOHN MICA (R) District 7 (Central--southern Seminole and Volusia counties; Deltona; Port Orange)
BORN: Jan. 27, 1943, Binghamton, N.Y. EDUCATION: Miami-Dade Community College, A.A., 1965; U of Florida, B.A., 1967 FAMILY: Wife, Pat; two children RELIGION: Episcopalian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Government consultant, entrepreneur POLITICAL CAREER: Florida House, 1977-81; U.S. House, 1992- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 181546, Casselberry 32718. Tel.: 407-644-6422
Though a 10% Republican registration edge in the district gives Mica a head start in the polls, incumbency also helps. As does his business approach to government--learned during ventures in real estate and international trade before arriving on Capitol Hill--which he has used in his fight against waste as a member of the Government Reform and Oversight Committee.
THE ISSUES Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "As a former businessman, my service in Congress has attempted to bring a common-sense approach to government, working toward less litigation, less taxation and less regulation."
GEORGE STUART JR. (D) District 7
BORN: Jan. 13, 1946, Orlando EDUCATION: U of Florida, B.A., 1968; Harvard U, M.B.A., 1970 FAMILY: Wife, Elisabeth; four children RELIGION: Baptist MILITARY: Army Reserve, 1968-76 OCCUPATION: Government relations consultant; marketing consultant POLITICAL CAREER: Orlando city council, 1972-78; Florida Senate, 1978-90 ADDRESS: 833 Deltona Boulevard, P.O. Box 5429, Deltona 32728. Tel.: 407-574-0700
From this District's mix of farmers, young professionals and old-style Southern Democrats comes Stuart, who says he wants to restore "common sense and goodwill" to Washington.
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: "Extremism is the classic enemy of a free society. I am particularly opposed to those who claim they want government off our backs, but so readily want...government to tell us what movies can be made or seen, what books we should read and whether a woman is entitled to make her own choices...when it comes to the difficult issue of abortion."
AL KRULICK (D) District 8 (Central--Orange County; part of Orlando)