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BORN: May 7, 1952, Queens, N.Y. EDUCATION: State U of New York at Binghamton, B.A., 1973 FAMILY: Wife, Cindy; two children RELIGION: Jewish MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Entertainer POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: P.O. Box 540316, Orlando 32854. Tel.: 407-426-2877
Tagging Bill McCollum a Washington insider, Krulick makes a charge from which he is certainly safe: when he's not campaigning in order to make the point that democracy is alive and well, Krulick is dazzling youngsters at Walt Disney World's stage adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, in which he plays evil archbishop Claudo Frollo.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays NO 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 was told I had no chance against Bill McCollum's money. I already knew that. I was told the polls indicated he had the numbers to win. No big news there. If I had followed the conventional all my life, or even my mother's advice, I'd be a rich man today...but I wouldn't be who I am."
BILL MCCOLLUM (R) District 8
BORN: July 12, 1944, Brooksville EDUCATION: U of Florida, B.A., 1965, J.D., 1968 FAMILY: Wife, Ingrid; three children RELIGION: Episcopalian MILITARY: Navy, 1969-72; Naval Reserve, 1972-92 OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Seminole County Republican executive committee chair, 1976-80; U.S. House, 1980- ADDRESS: 1850 Lee Road, Suite 236, Winter Park 32789. Tel.: 407-647-8683
McCollum is a tough-on-crime Republican in a district that contains the nation's family-values Mecca: Disney World. He has also backed a bill to apply the death penalty to drug kingpins and supported efforts to double U.S. border patrols--potent issues in Florida, and the eight-term incumbent apparently knows it.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO 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: "[T]he flat tax and/or a compensation tax would greatly simplify the process. Both would encourage increased savings and investment, and reduce confusion and the need for extensive IRS involvement."
MICHAEL BILIRAKIS (R) District 9 (West--Northern Pinellas and Hillsborough counties; central Pasco County; Clearwater)
BORN: July 16, 1930, Tarpon Springs EDUCATION: U of Pittsburgh, B.S., 1959; U of Florida, J.D., 1963 FAMILY: Wife, Evelyn; two children RELIGION: Greek Orthodox MILITARY: Air Force, 1951-55 OCCUPATION: Lawyer; restaurateur POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1982- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1077, Tarpon Springs 34688. Tel.: 813-942-0943
Bilirakis grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he passed up college scholarships to support his family by working in a steel mill. He attended college under the G.I. Bill, and went on to earn a law degree from the University of Florida. The mixed themes of his biography seem to explain his moderate politics, and like many Florida Republicans, he will break with his party when it comes to the concerns of his elderly constituency.
THE ISSUES