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BORN: Dec. 20, 1931, Lexington EDUCATION: Wentworth Military Academy, A.A., 1951; U of Missouri, A.B., 1953, LL.B., 1956 FAMILY: Wife, Susan Anding; three children RELIGION: Christian Church MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Lafayette County prosecuting attorney, 1957-60; Missouri special assistant attorney general, 1961-63; Missouri Senate, 1970-76; U.S. House, 1976- ADDRESS: P.O. Box A, Harrisonville 64701. Tel.: 816-380-3455
The last time Skelton lost even one county in his district was during the Reagan landslide of 1984. But Skelton won that race, and has won every one since with at least 62% of the vote. A deficit hawk with a knack for winning defense dollars, he successfully fought to bring the Army Engineer Center to Fort Leonard Wood.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare YES* Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "Voters in the district know me...I've been here. Where's [Bill Phelps] been? He's a certified Texan."
PENNY BENNETT (R) District 5 (Kansas City and eastern suburbs; Independence)
BORN: Jan. 17, 1949, Coffeyville, Kans. EDUCATION: Emporia State U, B.S., 1971 FAMILY: Widowed; two children RELIGION: Baptist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Teacher, sales manager POLITICAL CAREER: Independence city council, 1991-95 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 22410, Kansas City 64113. Tel.: 816-921-4940.
When Allen Hutchinson dropped out of this race days before the filing deadline, the Missouri G.O.P. appointed Bennett to run. A mother of two, she lost both her father and husband within 10 days during her 1990 city-council campaign: she survived the trauma and won the election. Bennett says her 18 years as a teacher, her time as a single mother and her experience in local government have prepared her for the U.S. House.
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: "What people earn belongs to them first. Families can use their income with better discretion than can the government."
KAREN MCCARTHY (D) District 5
BORN: March 18, 1947, Haverhill, Mass. EDUCATION: U of Kansas, B.S., 1969, M.B.A., 1986; U of Missouri, Kansas City, M.A., 1976 FAMILY: Divorced RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Teacher POLITICAL CAREER: Missouri House, 1977-95; U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: 9237 Ward Parkway, Suite 204, Kansas City 64111. Tel.: 816-842-4545
A frugal Democrat from a working-class district, McCarthy wants a balanced budget and no deficit. Spending $179,332 less than the average member of Congress, she was ranked one of the House's most frugal members this year by the National Taxpayers Union. McCarthy's Republican challenger dropped out of the race in August, but the G.O.P. lost no time in appointing another.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns NR Gays NR Bosnia NO NAFTA NR Welfare NO* Medical Leave NR (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)