(23 of 24)
FRANCIS PORDUM (D) District 30 (West--Buffalo)
BORN: Dec. 4, 1945, Lackawanna EDUCATION: Colgate U, B.A., 1968; State U of New York at Buffalo, M.S., 1972, C.A.S., 1978 FAMILY: Divorced; one child RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Teacher POLITICAL CAREER: Erie County legislature, 1980-83; New York Assembly, 1983- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 2056, Blasdell 14219. Tel.: 716-675-2234
Pordum scored a coup in May when he won the endorsement of the AFL-CIO, which supported opponent Jack Quinn in 1994. This endorsement has meant funding and volunteers in what is always a daunting process: unseating an incumbent. Democratic big guns like Dick Gephardt and party celebrities like Patrick Kennedy have made appearances on Pordum's behalf. In this heavily Democratic district, the former teacher gives the party a real opportunity.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "My candidacy is about protecting the working families of western New York from the misguided and mean-spirited policies supported by ... the Republican Congress."
JACK QUINN (R) District 30 BORN: April 13, 1951, Buffalo EDUCATION: Siena College, B.A., 1973; State U of New York, Buffalo, M.A., 1983 FAMILY: Wife, Mary Beth; two children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Teacher POLITICAL CAREEr: Hamburg town supervisor, 1985-92; U.S. House, 1992- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 2012, Buffalo 14219. Tel.: 716-648-6055
It was a surprise when Quinn won a House seat in this Democratic district in 1992 and when, in 1994, he got an endorsement from the normally Democratic AFL-CIO. But this year, despite his support for the minimum-wage hike and opposition to NAFTA, labor is backing opponent Francis Pordum. Still, Quinn won $40 million for the Buffalo waterfront this year, a surefire election plum, and has sponsored legislation to create a clear federal snow-emergency plan, a hot issue in the land of the "lake effect."
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES Abortion YES Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "We've worked hard to vote independently of the party...People aren't as angry, because we're getting things done."
AMO HOUGHTON (R) District 31 (Southern tier--Jamestown; Elmira; Corning)
BORN: Aug. 7, 1926, Corning EDUCATION: Harvard U, A.B., 1950, M.B.A., 1952 FAMILY: Wife, Priscilla Dewey; four children, three stepchildren RELIGION: Episcopalian MILITARY: Marines, 1945-46 OCCUPATION: Glassworks company executive POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1986- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1107, Corning 14830. Tel.: 607-936-4481
As scion of Corning Glass and one of the wealthiest members of Congress, Houghton brings a decidedly businesslike mien--and a moderate Republican voice--to Capitol Hill. As a member of the influential Ways and Means Committee, he helped craft a six-year balanced-budget plan. But he's not an advocate of wholesale cuts, and fought to save the National Endowment for the Arts and funding for public television.
THE ISSUES