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QUOTE OF NOTE: "The overriding issues [in this election] are taxes and jobs. I want to cut taxes, make a more positive business environment and create more opportunity locally."
FLOYD FLAKE (D) District 6 (Southeast Queens--Jamaica; St. Albans)
BORN: Jan. 30, 1945, Los Angeles EDUCATION: Wilberforce U, B.A., 1967; United Theological Seminary, D.Min., 1994 FAMILY: Wife, Elaine; four children RELIGION: African Methodist Episcopal MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Minister POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1986- ADDRESS: 114-16A Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica 11434. Tel.: 718-262-9700 As pastor of the Allen A.M.E. Church, Flake has easily retained his seat in Congress while building a major community center--including a senior-citizen housing complex and a private Christian school--that employs 800 people. In Congress he champions minority concerns and economic development, and his parishioner-constituents will probably return him to Capitol Hill.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion YES Guns YES Gays NO Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "Frankly, I find it frustrating sometimes that our African-American leadership does not seem to accept the notion that economics and business development will determine the survival of our people."
JOE MISIR (R) District 6
BORN: Aug. 31, 1942, Corentyne, Guyana EDUCATION: Inns of Court School of Law (England), J.D., 1973 FAMILY: Wife, Sandra; two children RELIGION: Hindu MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: 111-21 Jamaica Avenue, Queens 11418. Tel.: 718-850-3715
Guyana-born and running in a district with a significant Guyanese population, Misir has a potential base of support, despite his political inexperience. He also has an endorsement from the local Conservative Party and supports lower taxes, harsher penalties for crime, and continued welfare reform. On immigration, Misir advocates a skills standard for entry and supports denying health and education benefits to illegal immigrants (except children).
THE ISSUES Budget NO Medicare NO Defense NO Abortion YES Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "Why do we live in the constant shadow of victimization at the hands of vicious criminals? Why are so many of our neighborhoods decaying and dirty?"
ROSE BIRTLEY (R) District 7 (Parts of Queens and The Bronx--Long Island City)
BORN: May 26, 1940, Havana, Cuba EDUCATION: Academia Comercial Madres Escolapias (Cuba), 1958, B.B.A., 1958 FAMILY: Husband, Albert; one child RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Airline sales manager POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: P.O. Box 710557, La Guardia Station, Flushing 11371. Tel.: 718-575-1143
Cuban-born Birtley, who immigrated to the U.S. at age 20, wants to unseat six-term incumbent Thomas Manton to "improve the quality of life" in the Seventh. She signed a "taxpayer-protection" pledge to fight income tax increases, and supports increased choice in education. Birtley is pro-choice, but says she would have supported the ban on partial-birth abortion if it had included a provision for women whose lives were at stake.