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QUOTE OF NOTE: "We don't have this deficit because we tax too little, we have it because we spend too much."
DENNIS L. NULL (D) District 1 (West--Paducah)
BORN: Oct. 5, 1945, Covington, Va. EDUCATION: Bluefield Junior College, A.B., 1965; U of Richmond, B.A., 1967; Mercer U, J.D., 1970 FAMILY: Wife, Karen; four children RELIGION: Presbyterian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Mayfield city prosecutor, 1974-78; Graves County district judge, 1984-85 ADDRESS: 223 North Seventh Street, P.O. Box 886, Mayfield 42066. Tel.: 502-247-3774
A former prosecutor, judge and Little League coach, Null is new to politics. He won the primary by focusing on Medicare, Social Security, education and jobs, but he also promised to be tough on crime. If he wins, says Null, he wants to have a mobile field office and teleconferenced town meetings to let constituents voice their concerns.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare NR Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "The Republican tax cut will give the average Kentuckian enough money to buy one hamburger a week; it will give the rich enough money to buy a new car every year."
EDWARD WHITFIELD (R) District 1
BORN: May 25, 1943, Hopkinsville EDUCATION: U of Kentucky, B.S., 1965, J.D., 1969 FAMILY: Wife, Constance; one child RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: Army Reserve, 1967-73 OCCUPATION: Lawyer; oil distributor; railroad executive POLITICAL CAREER: Kentucky House, 1973-75; U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 391, Hopkinsville 42241. Tel.: 502-886-9116
Whitfield, a former state Representative, switched parties in 1994 to run against incumbent Tom Barlow--and won. He became the first Republican to represent the district, whose 31 counties are almost all Democratic. In the House, Whitfield supported a balanced-budget amendment and a line-item veto. He denies that the Republicans want to cut Medicare and that he is a clone of Newt Gingrich.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NR Gays NR Bosnia YES NAFTA NR Welfare YES Medical NR (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "We have had a lot of young people testifying before Congress saying they don't think Social Security is going to be here in 2050 or 2040."
RON LEWIS (R) District 2 (West central--Owensboro)
BORN: Sept. 14, 1946, Greenup County EDUCATION: U of Kentucky, B.A, 1969; Moorhead State U, M.A., 1980 FAMILY: Wife, Kayi; two children RELIGION: Baptist MILITARY: Navy, 1972 OCCUPATION: Bookstore owner; minister; public official POLITICAL CAREER: Sought Republican nomination for Kentucky House, 1971; U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: P.O Box 307, Elizabethtown 42701. Tel.: 502-769-2760
Lewis came to the House in a special election--after William Natcher died--and became the first Republican to represent the Second District since the Civil War. An ordained minister, Lewis wants less government, opposes a national health-care system and did object to cuts in tobacco subsidies.
THE ISSUES