(3 of 5)
Covington grew up poor in rural Mississippi, raised by a mother who refused to take welfare. He believes in personal responsibility and the potential of even the poorest parts of the district and accuses incumbent Bennie Thompson of being "invisible" in Congress on important issues. But Covington will need to convince some 15% of the district's black voters--not of his authentic roots but of the efficacy of his ideology--to have a shot at victory.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays NO Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "If being a Republican means cutting out school lunches, cutting off food stamps or cutting nutrition for women, infants and children, I'm not for that...I'm looking to take care of people who can't take care of themselves."
BENNIE THOMPSON (D) District 2
BORN: Jan. 28, 1948, Bolton EDUCATION: Tougaloo College, B.A., 1968; Jackson State U, M.S., 1972 FAMILY: Wife, London; one child RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Teacher POLITICAL CAREER: Bolton board of aldermen, 1969-73, mayor, 1973-79; Hinds County board of supervisors, 1980-93; U.S. House, 1993- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 100, Bolton 39041. Tel.: 601-866-9100
That Thompson, first sent to Capitol Hill after a 1993 special election, won re-election in 1994--the year of the congressional Republican--is a sign of the power of his message. He has been fighting for the poor and disenfranchised since age 20, when he needed a court order to take his seat as a Bolton alderman. Thompson believes in Medicare, Medicaid and welfare--the only Mississippian to vote against this year's welfare-reform bill.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense NO Abortion NO Guns YES Gays NO Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare NO Medical Leave no (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "For any self-respecting African American to run on an anti-affirmative action plank, wanting to cut Medicare and Medicaid, reduce educational funding, is suicide."
JOHN EAVES JR. (D) District 3 (East central--Meridian)
BORN: Sept. 6, 1966, Jackson EDUCATION: U of Mississippi, B.A., 1988, J.D., 1990 FAMILY: Karen; two children RELIGION: Southern Baptist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: P.O. Box 2817, Madison 39130. Tel.: 800-829-4696
Conservative Democrat Sonny Montgomery is retiring this year, and Eaves sees himself as his natural political heir. Eaves opposes NAFTA, which he believes hurt the local textile industry, and was also against the g.o.p. deficit-reduction plan, which he saw as the slashing of Medicaid, Social Security and student-loan programs.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "We have a responsibility to make good on our commitments to our seniors. We must protect the benefits our parents and grandparents have worked so long for...benefits they've paid for with their hard-earned tax dollars."
CHIP PICKERING (R) District 3