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Torres is a phantom candidate, unknown to the New York Republican Committee, the Federal Election Commission and the New York Board of Elections. Despite having obtained the 1,250 signatures needed to get on the ballot, he lists no phone number for his campaign headquarters or residence on the ballot-registration form; mail sent to the listed address (above) was returned. In fact, according to voter-registration records, the Rodney Torres at that address is a Democrat. Neighbors had not heard of him, and local civic groups were also unaware of Torres' campaign or how to reach the candidate. According to the Board of Elections, there is no penalty for not campaigning, and Torres remains the G.O.P.'s man in the 16th.
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: NR
ELIOT ENGEL (D) District 17 (North Bronx; parts of southern Westchester)
BORN: Feb. 18, 1947, The Bronx EDUCATION: Hunter-Lehman College, B.A., 1969; Lehman College, M.A., 1973; New York Law School, J.D., 1987 FAMILY: Wife, Patricia; three children RELIGION: Jewish MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Teacher; guidance counselor POLITICAL CAREER: New York Assembly, 1977-88; U.S. House, 1988- ADDRESS: 304 West 231 Street, The Bronx 10463. Tel.: 718-601-8768
Every year Engel goes to the State of the Union address hours early to get an aisle seat--happily positioning himself for a few seconds on TV and a presidential handshake. A tireless campaigner, he has been labeled the "nerdiest Congressman" by the New York Observer. But his idiosyncrasies don't put off the 17th, which has elected him three times for his liberal record and attention to local problems.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays NO Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: [On this summer's Welfare Act] "I don't regard this as a welfare-reform bill. I regard this as a throw-children-out-on-the-street bill."
DENIS MCCARTHY (R) District 17
BORN: Dec. 12, 1968, The Bronx EDUCATION: State U of New York at Farmingdale, A.A.S., 1993 FAMILY: Single RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Property manager POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: 4330 Katonah Avenue, Suite 150, The Bronx 10470. Tel.: 718-733-7916
McCarthy, 27, has aligned himself with most of the G.O.P. platform, promoting Bob Dole's 15% tax-cut proposal as the best way to spur economic growth, create jobs and eliminate welfare dependency. In an attempt to expand educational opportunity, McCarthy favors giving low-income Bronx families a $2,000-per-child voucher each year to let parents send their children to the school of their choice. McCarthy also supports a bill to require minors to get parental consent before having an abortion.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare NR Defense NO Abortion YES Guns YES Gays NO Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)