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THE ISSUES Budget NO Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion NO Guns YES Gays NO Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare YES National Service YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "The answer [to the crime problem] lies in economic opportunity through pro-active education, stronger families, and moral leadership."
STEVE SCHIFF (R) District 1 (Central--Albuquerque)
BORN: March 18, 1947, Chicago EDUCATION: U of Illinois, Chicago Circle, B.A., 1968; U of New Mexico, J.D., 1972 FAMILY: Wife, Marcia; two children RELIGION: Jewish MILITARY: Air National Guard, 1969-91; Air Force Reserve, 1991- OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Bernalillo County district attorney, 1980-88; U.S. House, 1988- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 25185, Albuquerque 87125. Tel.: 505-255-9600
A law-and-order Republican, Schiff sponsored the Sexual Crimes Against Children Prevention Act, which increased sentences for those convicted of child pornography, and supports a "two-strikes" policy: those convicted of two violent crimes would be sentenced to life. That, along with his protection of the Sandia National Laboratories for nuclear and solar research, has earned him solid victories in the past three elections.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "If we are addressing violent crime, then two separate violent crimes should be enough to warrant getting someone off the street."
JOHN WERTHEIM (D) District 1
BORN: Feb. 12, 1968, Santa Fe EDUCATION: Yale U, B.A., 1990; U of New Mexico, J.D., 1995 FAMILY: Wife, Bianca Ortiz Wertheim RELIGION: Jewish MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Business consultant; financial analyst POLITICAL CAREER: New Mexico Democratic Party central committee, 1993-95 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 8998, Albuquerque 87198. Tel.: 505-878-9696
Wertheim believes in gun control and giving poor children better educational opportunities. He must be hitting some sort of nerve in the First, because even with a heavily favored incumbent, Congressional Quarterly calls this race the "only semblance of congressional competition" in the state. Wertheim, who directed Clinton's 1992 victory in New Mexico, hopes to do for himself what he did for the President.
THE ISSUES:
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "I believe I am both on the right side morally, and in finding a solution to our nation's crime problem, by supporting the Brady Bill and the assault-weapons ban."
E. SHIRLEY BACA (D) District 2 (South--Little Texas; Las Cruces; Roswell)
BORN: May 3, 1951, Albuquerque EDUCATION: New Mexico State U, B.F.A., 1974, M.S., 1975; Antioch U, J.D., 1985 FAMILY: Divorced RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Public-policy consultant; state legislative analyst; community director POLITICAL CAREER: New Mexico House, 1990- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 8348, Las Cruces 88006. Tel.: 505-647-0001