(8 of 17)
BORN: Dec. 16, 1930, Harmarville, Pa. EDUCATION: St. Petersburg High School FAMILY: Wife, Beverly; three children RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: National Guard, 1948-57 OCCUPATION: Insurance executive; public official POLITICAL CAREER: Florida Senate, 1961-71, minority leader, 1967-70; U.S. House, 1970- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1996, St. Petersburg 33731. Tel.: 813-547-8644 From his humble beginnings as a high school dropout in a Pennsylvania mining town, Young has worked his way to a position of power and influence in the House. As chair of the National Security Subcommittee, he has fought cuts in defense and intelligence funding, and has used his influence to funnel military spending to the 10th, the home of numerous defense interests.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "[T]he best thing the Federal Government can do is to try to assist state and local crime fighters without getting in their way."
MARK SHARPE (R) District 11 (West--southern Hillsborough County; Tampa)
BORN: Jan. 26, 1960, Tampa EDUCATION: Florida State U, B.A., 1982; U of South Florida M.A., 1987 FAMILY: Divorced RELIGION: Presbyterian MILITARY: Navy, 1984-91 OCCUPATION: Teacher POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: 5011-H Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa 33634. Tel.: 813-248-1996
Sharpe, a Navy lieutenant in the Gulf War and the son of a 28-year Air Force veteran, appeals to Florida's veterans. But the district's blue-collar population and ethnic mix create a constituency that lacks the political cohesiveness of other Florida districts. But with the endorsement of former G.O.P. presidential hopeful Steve Forbes, Sharpe has created an "eight-point tax-simplification plan" that may win supporters from all sides.
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: "Enter any school in America today, and it becomes painfully obvious that the educational system is in the need of a top-to-bottom overhaul. I will work to eliminate the Department of Education, which will save $17 billion from the federal budget."
JIM DAVIS (D) District 11
BORN: Oct. 11, 1957, Tampa EDUCATION: Washington and Lee U, B.A., 1979 FAMILY: Peggy Bessent; two CHILDREN RELIGION: Episcopalian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Florida House, 1983- ADDRESS: 3716 West Swann Avenue, Tampa 33609. Tel.: 813-354-9217
State House majority leader Davis won a difficult primary runoff. And having spent nearly all his campaign war chest, he welcomed the support he got from Democratic heavies like House minority leader Dick Gephardt and retiring Representative Sam Gibbon, who held this seat for 34 years. Davis opposes school vouchers, saying public education will suffer if money is given to private schools.
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.)