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BORN: May 6, 1946, Jamestown, N. Dak. EDUCATION: U of Minnesota, B.A., 1968; George Washington U, J.D., 1973 FAMILY: Single RELIGION: Protestant MILITARY: Army Reserve, 1968-74 OCCUPATION: Lawyer; legislative aide POLITICAL CAREER: Minnesota Senate, 1981-90; U.S. House, 1990- ADDRESS: 8100 Penn Avenue South, Suite 104, Bloomington 55431. Tel.: 612-884-0266
Ramstad is looking for a fourth term to continue tackling the deficit: in 1996 he was rated the No. 1 deficit hawk in the House by the National Taxpayers' Union. A recovering alcoholic, he sponsored a bill in August to fund a $3 million study on alcoholism, and often speaks on the subject. A long-time politico, he met President John F. Kennedy in 1963 at the same, now famous Rose Garden ceremony attended by a young Bill Clinton.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES 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: "[The G.O.P. freshmen] made some mistakes. We tried to do too much too fast, exerting too much influence, and we were being perceived as extreme."
DENNIS NEWINSKI (R) District 4 (St. Paul and suburbs)
BORN: Aug. 21, 1944, Minneapolis EDUCATION: De LaSalle High School, diploma, 1963 FAMILY: Wife, Sharon; four children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Machinist POLITICAL CAREER: Republican nominee for Minnesota House, 1988; Minnesota House, 1991-93; Republican nominee for U.S. House, 1994 ADDRESS: 480 Cedar Street, Suite 580, St. Paul 55101. Tel.: 612-222-6918
After a brief stint in the state legislature, Newinski is using some innovative methods to run for Congress. His lawn signs, for instance, are decorated with opponent Bruce Vento's name and a red slash, with the caption 20 years is too much. For his part, Newinski says he will fight tax hikes, work to get more prisons built and institute inmate work programs where wages earned go toward restitution for victims.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare NR Defense YES Abortion YES Guns NO Gays NO Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "The true poverty in the United States is a poverty of moral values. The greatness of America starts at home."
BRUCE VENTO (D) District 4
BORN: Oct. 7, 1940, St. Paul EDUCATION: U of Minnesota, A.A., 1961; Wisconsin State U, B.S., 1965 FAMILY: Divorced; three children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Science teacher POLITICAL CAREER: Minnesota House, 1971-76; U.S. House, 1976- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 65254, St. Paul 55165. Tel.: 612-298-1412
Vento hopes the Fourth District, which hasn't elected a G.O.P. Congressman since 1948, will stick with tradition and give him an 11th term this fall. The former science teacher has been at the forefront of environmental issues, favoring taxes on high-level energy users, stronger clean-water and clean-air laws and increasing fees charged to companies that mine on public lands. Vento got a scare in 1994, when Dennis Newinski made a strong showing for the seat.
THE ISSUES