COLORADO
COLORADO
Population (1994): 3,656,000 (up 0.1% from 1990), 1.4% of U.S. total
Voting-age population: 2,713,000; 1994 turnout, 41% Median age: 32.5 years
Median household income: $37,833 ($5,569 below U.S. median)
Unemployment: 3.8% (1.8% below U.S. average, March 1996)
Last presidential election: Clinton (D): 40% Bush (R): 36% Perot (I): 23%
Congressional delegation: Two Democrats, six Republicans
Though the Centennial State is known for its spectacular natural beauty, more than half of Coloradans live in the Denver metropolitan area. Politically, the state seems marked by equally sharp peaks and valleys: the first state to enact term limits for state representatives in 1990, in 1992 it approved Measure 2, which rescinded state and local laws banning discrimination against gays. In this election, two House races will fill seats left vacant by long-time Representatives--Patricia Schroeder in the First and the Fourth's Wayne Allard, who is leaving to run for the Senate. That Senate seat is vacant as well, and both Allard and Democrat Tom Strickland have legitimate hopes of filling it.
WAYNE ALLARD (R) SENATE (OPEN SEAT)
BORN: Dec. 2, 1943, Fort Collins EDUCATION: Colorado State U, D.V.M., 1968 FAMILY: Wife, Joan; two children RELIGION: Protestant MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Veterinarian POLITICAL CAREER: Colorado Senate, 1983-90; U.S. House 1990- ADDRESS: 5555 DTC Park Way, Suite B-2006, Englewood 80111. Tel.: 303-771-5360
After six years in the U.S. House, Allard wants to move to the other side of the Capitol and keep retiring Senator Hank Brown's seat in the party. Allard supports a balanced-budget amendment and a controversial proposal to turn federally owned Colorado ski areas over to resort operators. A social conservative, Allard is against gay rights and favors the death penalty for first-degree murder and certain drug offenses; in the House, he supported a law limiting death-row inmates to one federal appeal.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare NO* National Service NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "The radical environmentalists want decision making to stay in Washington. They don't want decisions to be made by Coloradans."
TOM STRICKLAND (D) SENATE (OPEN SEAT)
BORN: May 16, 1952, Houston EDUCATION: Louisiana State U, B.A., 1974; U of Texas, J.D., 1977 FAMILY: Wife, Beth; three children RELIGION: Presbyterian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer; gubernatorial aide POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: P.O. Box 300279, Denver 80203. Tel.: 303-863-1996
A former L.S.U. defensive lineman who competed in the 1974 Orange Bowl, Strickland is playing in a new arena: national politics. He differs sharply with Wayne Allard's antiabortion views and, though he agrees with Allard on a balanced-budget amendment, Strickland doesn't think a simultaneous tax cut is possible without sacrificing vital social programs.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns YES Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare YES National Service YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "I will give every ounce of my energy trying to stop [Republicans] from undoing years of progress in one area where federal laws have worked: protecting our public lands, cleaning up the water we drink and the air we breathe."
DIANA DEGETTE (D) District 1 (Denver)
BORN: July 29, 1957, Tachikawa, Japan EDUCATION: Colorado College, B.A., 1979; New York U, J.D., 1982 FAMILY: Husband, Lino Lipinsky; two children RELIGION: Presbyterian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Colorado House, 1993- ADDRESS: 770 Grant Street, Suite 218, Denver 80203. Tel.: 303-832-1925
DeGette vows to fight cuts in Medicare and Social Security, which she calls "contracts with our seniors," and received the Outstanding Legislator Award from the Colorado Senior Lobby for her work on their behalf in the Colorado House. She supports the minimum-wage increase, gun control and a single-payer health-care system. Ardently pro-choice, DeGette sponsored the "bubble bill" during her first term in the Colorado House to help protect access to abortion clinics.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO 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: "We can't let a small core of extremists determine our social policy. The social right-wing agenda is not acceptable to voters."
JOE ROGERS (R) District 1
BORN: July 8, 1964, Omaha, Neb. EDUCATION: Colorado State U, B.S., 1986; Arizona State U, J.D., 1989 FAMILY: Wife, Juanita; two children RELIGION: NR MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer; congressional aide POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: P.O. Box 17287, Denver 80217. Tel.: 303-393-9312
An award-winning law student and former Democrat, Rogers is now a rising star for the G.O.P.--he addressed the party's national convention this summer. And he may be moderate enough to have a chance in this heavily Democratic district, currently represented by Patricia Schroeder. He calls himself a fiscal conservative and supported the recent welfare-reform bill, but says he'd vote for Democratic initiatives like the Family and Medical Leave Act.
THE ISSUES Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave yes (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "The welfare state as we know it is a bankrupt institution. The future is not about the next government program from Washington. It's about how to expand jobs and create businesses."
PAT MILLER (R) District 2 (Northwest Denver suburbs, Boulder)
BORN: March 20, 1947, Peoria, Ill. EDUCATION: Washburn High School, 1965 FAMILY: Husband, Richard; one child RELIGION: Christian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Small-business owner; public official POLITICAL CAREER: Colorado House, 1991-92; Republican nominee for U.S. House, 1994 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 746525, Arvada 80006. Tel.: 303-421-7929
Miller returned to the House race this year with the same conservative politics as in 1994, but with more money. She supports House majority leader Dick Armey's flat-tax plan or "virtually any other tax cut." A mom who schooled her daughter at home, she favors tuition tax credits that give parents the choice between public, private and home schooling. Miller opposed both the Brady Bill and the assault-weapons ban.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia YES NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is just as important as our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech."
DAVID SKAGGS (D) District 2
BORN: Feb. 22, 1943, Cincinnati, Ohio EDUCATION: Wesleyan U, B.A., 1964; Yale U, LL.B., 1967 FAMILY: Wife, Laura; one child, two stepchildren RELIGION: Congregationalist MILITARY: Marines, 1968-71; Marine Corps Reserve, 1971-77 OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Colorado House, 1981-86; U.S. House, 1986- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 652, Westminster 80030. Tel.: 303-427-6995
In five runs for the House, Skaggs has never won with less than 57% of the vote. The Ohio native voted for the Brady Bill and the assault-weapons ban, and sponsored a bill this year to protect 240,700 acres of state land. He also used his seat on the Appropriations Committee to win funds for the Denver airport.
THE ISSUES Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO 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: "What in the world is a weapon like [an AK-47] doing on the streets of Chicago? It was not there because any hunter needed it. It was there because the gangs and criminals and the psychos want to use it to kill as many people as they can and to outgun the police."
AL GURULE (D) District 3 (Western Slope--Pueblo)
BORN: June 19, 1943, Trinidad EDUCATION: Southern Colorado State College, B.S., 1966; U of Denver, M.S.W., 1968 FAMILY: Widowed; two children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Correctional-facility owner POLITICAL CAREER: Pueblo city council, 1995- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 4485, Pueblo 81003. Tel.: 719-584-3550
Gurule is certainly a unique candidate: born into poverty in Trinidad, he had his first job at age nine, herding goats. After moving to the U.S., he became a vocal political activist, arrested for--and acquitted of--carrying a concealed weapon at a 1970 antiwar rally. Now a city councilman, Gurule also owns the Community Corrections Service of Pueblo, where he's known for his no-nonsense approach to inmates.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO 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: "I herded goats as a kid--that was fun, I didn't mind that. What was hard was digging potatoes 10 hours a day in the hot sun."
SCOTT MCINNIS (R) District 3
BORN: May 9, 1953, Glenwood Springs EDUCATION: Fort Lewis College, B.A., 1975; St. Mary's U of San Antonio, J.D., 1980 FAMILY: Wife, Lori; three children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Colorado House, 1983-92, majority leader, 1991-92; U.S. House, 1992- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 3157, Grand Junction 81502. Tel.: 970-257-0272
McInnis broke into this previously Democratic district in 1992 and was re-elected by a landslide. The former police officer now sits on the prestigious Rules Committee, the watchdog for all House members. A deficit hawk, he made headlines as a freshman for sleeping on a sofa in his office to save taxpayers' money. He also supports the line-item veto and term limits and sponsored a 1995 program to provide lab and computer equipment to schools.
THE ISSUES Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia NR NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "We're asking to keep growth [of federal spending] to 3.9%...A lot of federal departments are used to growing at 10%."
GUY KELLEY (D) District 4 (North and east--Fort Collins; Greeley)
BORN: May 1, 1953, Price, Utah EDUCATION: U of Colorado, B.A., 1977; U of Denver, J.D., 1988 FAMILY: Wife, Jean Macheledt-Kelley; two children RELIGION: Unitarian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer; engineer POLITICAL CAREER: U of Colorado board of regents, 1992- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 270611, Fort Collins 80527. Tel.: 970-484-6525
On the University of Colorado board of regents, Kelley stresses his commitment to education, opposes cuts in Head Start and student loans and says defense spending can be reduced to pay for it. Better than a balanced-budget amendment, he says, is the line-item veto, which will let the President cut pork from spending bills. A welfare recipient as a child, Kelley opposed the welfare-reform bill passed this summer.
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: "It costs less to raise a child than...to reform an adult...As a child on public assistance, I had the opportunity to go to a good public school in Denver...and work my way through a public university."
BOB SCHAFFER (R) District 4
BORN: July 24, 1962, Cincinnati, Ohio EDUCATION: U of Dayton, B.A., 1984 FAMILY: Wife, Maureen; three children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Marketing executive; legislative aide POLITICAL CAREER: Colorado Senate, 1987- ADDRESS: 2211 South College Avenue, Suite 13B, Fort Collins 80525. Tel.: 970-407-1060
When Schaffer was appointed to the state legislature in 1987 at age 25, he was the youngest person ever to serve in the state Senate. During his nine years in office, he has sponsored welfare reform for minors receiving Aid for Families with Dependent Children and called for merit pay for teachers. Schaffer advocates lower taxes and a balanced-budget amendment, aiming to capitalize on the district's conservatism and continue the G.O.P.'s reign in a seat his party has held since 1970.
THE ISSUES Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES Abortion YES Guns NO Gays NO Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "Tax issues are what I know best, and I want to continue to focus on that."
JOEL HEFLEY (R) District 5 (South central--Colorado Springs)
BORN: April 18, 1935, Ardmore, Okla. EDUCATION: Oklahoma Baptist U, B.A., 1957; Oklahoma State U, M.S., 1962 FAMILY: Wife, Lynn; three children RELIGION: Presbyterian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Community planner; management consultant POLITICAL CAREER: Colorado House, 1977-79, Senate, 1979-86; U.S. House, 1986- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 62268, Colorado Springs 80962. Tel.: 719-522-1011
Like many of his conservative colleagues, Hefley wants to cut federal spending but increase defense expenditures. As chair of the Military Installations Committee, he protects the district's large military presence, including the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
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: "As an incumbent, you become the symbol of government. If you look at Washington and want someone to blame, the only one you know is your local Congressman. And that's a handicap for me."
MIKE ROBINSON (D) District 5
BORN: Oct. 5, 1947, New York City EDUCATION: Albany State College, B.A., 1972; U of Denver, J.D., 1989 FAMILY: Wife, Jane Fox-Robinson RELIGION: NR MILITARY: Navy, 1966-70 OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Democratic nominee for Colorado Senate, 1990; Colorado Democratic state central committee, 1991-93 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 51474, Colorado Springs 80949. Tel.: 303-688-0944
Robinson, a native New Yorker and decorated Vietnam veteran, promises to use the Internet to keep in touch with constituents. He also says he has a detailed plan to save Medicare, including a proposal to give cash rewards for reports of fraud. But this G.O.P.-dominated district may not reward the Democratic Robinson, especially against five-term incumbent Joel Hefley.
THE ISSUES
Budget YES 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: "I am only one citizen among the 650,000 who live in our Fifth Congressional District of Colorado. My personal beliefs and thoughts are not superior to my neighbors'."
JOAN FITZ-GERALD (D) District 6 (Denver suburbs--Aurora; Lakewood)
BORN: June 2, 1948, Brooklyn, N.Y. EDUCATION: Marymount Manhattan College, B.A., 1970 FAMILY: Husband, John; two children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Public official; customer-service representative POLITICAL CAREER: Jefferson County clerk and recorder, 1991- ADDRESS: 16399 South Golden Road, Golden 80401. Tel.: 303-215-1776
Fitz-Gerald hopes her position as Jefferson County clerk will give her enough leverage to unseat a six-term incumbent. She says her tenure was marked by strict fiscal responsibility, and she cites her refusal to honor a $37,000 contract two outgoing commissioners had awarded to a lobbyist friend. In Washington she says she will fight for student loans, "vital social programs" and Medicare.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense NO 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'm running for Congress because my mother told me to...I want to make sure that older people have the security and dignity they deserve."
DAN SCHAEFER (R) District 6
BORN: Jan. 25, 1936, Guttenberg, Iowa EDUCATION: Niagara U, B.A., 1961 FAMILY: Wife, Mary; four children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: Marines, 1955-57 OCCUPATION: Public relations consultant POLITICAL CAREER: Colorado House, 1977-79, Senate, 1979-84; U.S. House, 1984- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1654, Englewood 80150. Tel.: 303-738-1961
In 1982 astronaut Dick Swigert won the first election in the brand-new Sixth District, but died before taking office. Schaefer was appointed to finish the term and has never looked back. Denver is home to cable giants like TCI, and he has worked to protect their interests. He's also committed to reduced federal spending--in 1994 he proposed freezing cost-of-living adjustments every other year to help cut costs--and is favored to return to Washington.
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: "Shouldn't we demand that Washington spend less so that we can keep more in our own pockets?"