KENTUCKY

KENTUCKY

Population (1994): 3,627,000 (up 3.8% from 1990), 1.5% of U.S. total

Voting-age population: 2,857,000; 1994 turnout, 27%

Median age: 33.0 years

Median household Income: $26,595 ($5,669 below the U.S. median)

Unemployment: 5.1% (0.5% below U.S. average, March 1996)

Last presidential election: Clinton (D): 45% Bush (R): 41% Perot (I): 14%

Congressional delegation: Three Democrats, five Republicans The Bluegrass State still tends to vote geographically, as it has for more than a century. Western Kentucky is Democratic, but the eastern mountains, which were pro-Union during the Civil War, vote Republican, as does Louisville, which was an antislavery town. The population has grown only 30% in the past 50 years, and many residents are descendants of settlers and still make their living in the tobacco, coal, whiskey and auto industries. But Kentucky is best known for its Derby, and this year the hottest political horse race is the one for Mitch McConnell's Senate seat. His past two victories were both close.

STEVEN BESHEAR (D) SENATE CHALLENGER

BORN: Sept. 21, 1944, Dawson Springs EDUCATION: U of Kentucky, B.A., 1966, J.D.,1968 FAMILY: Wife, Jane; two children RELIGION: Christian MILITARY: Army Reserve, 1969-75 OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Kentucky House, 1973-79; state Attorney General, 1979-83, Lieutenant Governor, 1983-87 ADDRESS: 1833 Alexandria Drive, Lexington 40504. Tel.: 502-695-5696

Beshear's campaign focuses a great deal of attention on "A Commitment to Women and Families," and he calls for a national notification system to alert victims when their abusers are released from jail. The former state Attorney General also wants more police on the streets and pledges to assist women who own small businesses and to save funding for college loans.

THE ISSUES

Budget NR Medicare NR Defense NR Abortion NR Guns NR Gays NR Bosnia NR NAFTA NR Welfare NR National Service NR (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "Crippling the nation with exploding deficits isn't the way to create opportunity and jobs, no matter what Bob Dole, Newt Gingrich or Mitch McConnell promises in the guise of a tax cut."

MITCH MCCONNELL (R) JUNIOR SENATOR

BORN: Feb. 20, 1942, Sheffield, Ala. EDUCATION: U of Louisville, B.A., 1964; U of Kentucky, J.D., 1967 FAMILY: Wife, Elaine; three children RELIGION: Baptist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Jefferson County judge/executive, 1978-84; U.S. Senate, 1984- ADDRESS: Watterson Towers East, 1930 Bishop Lane, Suite 1018, Louisville 40218. Tel.: 502-473-1888

McConnell, who overcame polio as a child, is a self-disciplined, serious defender of the G.O.P. The only Republican to win a statewide race in Kentucky since 1968, he says balancing the budget is the most important issue facing the U.S. He also supports capital-gains-tax cuts, opposes congressional term limits and denies opponent Steven Beshear's assertion that Republicans would cut programs like Medicare, Medicaid and college loans.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO Guns NO Gays NO Bosnia NO NAFTA YES Welfare NO National Service NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "We don't have this deficit because we tax too little, we have it because we spend too much."

DENNIS L. NULL (D) District 1 (West--Paducah)

BORN: Oct. 5, 1945, Covington, Va. EDUCATION: Bluefield Junior College, A.B., 1965; U of Richmond, B.A., 1967; Mercer U, J.D., 1970 FAMILY: Wife, Karen; four children RELIGION: Presbyterian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Mayfield city prosecutor, 1974-78; Graves County district judge, 1984-85 ADDRESS: 223 North Seventh Street, P.O. Box 886, Mayfield 42066. Tel.: 502-247-3774

A former prosecutor, judge and Little League coach, Null is new to politics. He won the primary by focusing on Medicare, Social Security, education and jobs, but he also promised to be tough on crime. If he wins, says Null, he wants to have a mobile field office and teleconferenced town meetings to let constituents voice their concerns.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare NR Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "The Republican tax cut will give the average Kentuckian enough money to buy one hamburger a week; it will give the rich enough money to buy a new car every year."

EDWARD WHITFIELD (R) District 1

BORN: May 25, 1943, Hopkinsville EDUCATION: U of Kentucky, B.S., 1965, J.D., 1969 FAMILY: Wife, Constance; one child RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: Army Reserve, 1967-73 OCCUPATION: Lawyer; oil distributor; railroad executive POLITICAL CAREER: Kentucky House, 1973-75; U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 391, Hopkinsville 42241. Tel.: 502-886-9116

Whitfield, a former state Representative, switched parties in 1994 to run against incumbent Tom Barlow--and won. He became the first Republican to represent the district, whose 31 counties are almost all Democratic. In the House, Whitfield supported a balanced-budget amendment and a line-item veto. He denies that the Republicans want to cut Medicare and that he is a clone of Newt Gingrich.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NR Gays NR Bosnia YES NAFTA NR Welfare YES Medical NR (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "We have had a lot of young people testifying before Congress saying they don't think Social Security is going to be here in 2050 or 2040."

RON LEWIS (R) District 2 (West central--Owensboro)

BORN: Sept. 14, 1946, Greenup County EDUCATION: U of Kentucky, B.A, 1969; Moorhead State U, M.A., 1980 FAMILY: Wife, Kayi; two children RELIGION: Baptist MILITARY: Navy, 1972 OCCUPATION: Bookstore owner; minister; public official POLITICAL CAREER: Sought Republican nomination for Kentucky House, 1971; U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: P.O Box 307, Elizabethtown 42701. Tel.: 502-769-2760

Lewis came to the House in a special election--after William Natcher died--and became the first Republican to represent the Second District since the Civil War. An ordained minister, Lewis wants less government, opposes a national health-care system and did object to cuts in tobacco subsidies.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NR Gays NR Bosnia YES NAFTA NR Welfare YES Medical Leave NR (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "It is a recipe for disaster for us here in Washington to pass bill after bill, year after year, just to make sure the Washington bureaucracy has enough money, and while the country goes further and further in debt."

JOE WRIGHT (D) District 2

BORN: July 29, 1940, Harned EDUCATION: U of Kentucky, B.S., 1962 FAMILY: Wife, Barbara; four children RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: Marine Corps Reserve, 1962-68 OCCUPATION: Farmer POLITICAL CAREER: Breckingbridge County School Board, 1971-75; Kentucky Senate, 1976-92 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 460, Elizabethtown 42702. Tel.: 502-737-3858

Wright, a member and leader of the state Senate for 17 years, was called a modern-day Cincinnatus by a local newspaper, after the Roman farmer who set aside his plow to save the Republic: he says he saw the chaos in the G.O.P.-controlled Congress and felt a "call" to go to Washington. Wright supports a balanced-budget amendment, tax cuts and welfare reform that moves people into the workplace.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion YES Guns NO Gays NR Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "Most people aren't happy with the way they're running things in Washington. I'll be our voice for common sense and positive change."

ANNE NORTHUP (R) District 3 (Louisville and suburbs)

BORN: Jan. 22, 1948, Louisville EDUCATION: St. Mary's College, B.A., 1970. FAMILY: Husband, Robert; six children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Teacher POLITICAL CAREER: Kentucky House, 1987- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 7313, Louisville 40257. Tel.: 502-485-1996

An excellent fund raiser, Northup has also proven herself an adept campaigner after five consecutive terms in the Kentucky House. She supports the balanced-budget amendment and, as a mother of six, is also in favor of broad-based tax cuts, including a $500-per-child tax credit. She also favors giving states control over welfare and believes the same approach should be tried with crime fighting.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES Abortion YES Guns NO Gays NO Bosnia YES NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "This race should be one of the easiest choices voters have to make. It's a choice between someone who consistently votes for expanding Big Government bureaucracy, and someone who will work hard for a smaller, less costly government."

MIKE WARD (D) District 3

BORN: Jan. 7, 1951, White Plains, N.Y. EDUCATION: U of Louisville, B.S., 1974 FAMILY: Wife, Christina Heavrin; two children RELIGION: Episcopalian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Advertising-company owner POLITICAL CAREER: Kentucky House, 1988-93; U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: 1250 Bardstown Road, Louisville 40204. Tel.: 502-473-7777

A liberal in an age of conservatives, Ward was one of only 13 freshman Democrats elected in 1994. A former Peace Corps volunteer (he served in West Africa), Ward was in the Kentucky House for five years and has strong support in this traditionally Democratic district. He wants an assault-weapons ban, universal health care, protection of abortion rights and a welfare system that would let people trade benefits for jobs and provide more help directly to children.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense NO Abortion NO Guns YES Gays NR Bosnia NO NAFTA NR Welfare NO* Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "The choice a woman makes regarding abortion is difficult enough. It should remain, therefore, a private rather than publicly dictated choice."

DENNY BOWMAN (D) District 4 (North and east--Covington; Ashland)

BORN: April 3, 1949, Covington EDUCATION: Holmes High School, graduated 1967 FAMILY: Wife, Connie Sue; two children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Sporting-goods-store owner; bowling-lane manager POLITICAL CAREER: City commissioner, 1984-85; vice mayor of Covington, 1986-87, mayor, 1988- ADDRESS: 1720 Euclid Avenue, Covington 41014. Tel.: 606-431-0775

Bowman is in his third term as mayor of Kentucky's fourth-largest city. During Bowman's first two terms, Covington's unemployment fell by half, with a total of 7,000 new jobs added. He prides himself on being accessible to residents, and planned to visit every town in the Fourth District before the election.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion YES 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: "If you have a mortgage to pay, family obligations, concerns about the future funding of Medicaid and Medicare and hope to receive Social Security benefits when you retire, you are not being represented."

JIM BUNNING (R) District 4

BORN: Oct. 23, 1931, Campbell County EDUCATION: Xavier U, B.S., 1953 FAMILY: Wife, Mary Catherine; nine children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Investment broker; sports agent; professional baseball player POLITICAL CAREER: Fort Thomas City Council, 1977-79; Kentucky Senate, 1979-83; Republican nominee for Governor, 1983; U.S. House, 1986- ADDRESS: 1717 Dixie Highway, Suite 180, Fort Wright 41011. Tel.: 606-341-6480

Bunning, a former major-league baseball pitcher who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame this summer, has represented the Fourth for the past 10 years, but says he never takes any opponent for granted. He supports economic development in northern Kentucky, and has a reputation for being responsive to his constituents.

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: "I run as though I were dead every time. And then I take a look on Election Day. That's the only poll that counts."

HAROLD ROGERS (R) District 5 (Southeast--Middlesboro; Pikeville

BORN: Dec. 31, 1937, Barrier EDUCATION: U of Kentucky, B.A., 1962, LL.B., 1964 FAMILY: Widowed; three children RELIGION: Baptist MILITARY: National Guard, 1957-64 OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Pulaski and Rockcastle counties commonwealth attorney, 1969-79; U.S. House, 1980- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1214, East Mount Vernon Street, Somerset 42502. Washington Tel.: 202-225-4601

Rogers is the answer to those who believe the G.O.P. is the party of the wealthy: the Fifth District is one of the poorest in the nation and Rogers is running unopposed. His ability to help bring in flood-control projects, education development and a musical-arts center in Prestonsburg have helped make him a popular incumbent, no matter what party he belongs to.

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: "What business is it of...this government to tell an individual...whether they should smoke or eat Twinkies?"

SCOTTY BAESLER (D) District 6 (East central--Lexington; Frankfort)

BORN: July 9, 1941, Lexington EDUCATION: U of Kentucky, B.A., 1963, J.D., 1966; George Washington University, M.A., 1996 FAMILY: Wife, Alice; two children RELIGION: Independent Christian MILITARY: Army Reserve, 1967-73 OCCUPATION: Lawyer; farmer POLITICAL CAREER: Vice mayor of Lexington, 1974-78; Fayette County district judge, 1979-81; mayor of Lexington, 1982-92; U.S. House 1992- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 2147, Lexington 40595-2147. Tel.: 606-226-0303

It will be hard to hold Baesler responsible for Clinton's hits on the tobacco industry: a tobacco farmer, Baesler has chastised the President for threatening the fragile, tobacco-dependent economy of the state. He is also a born-and-bred Lexington boy who was captain of his college basketball team under hoop legend Adolf Rupp, and went on to become a three-time mayor.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense NO Abortion YES 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: [On Clinton's regulatory crackdown on tobacco] "It's a political football the President has decided he wants to ram down Kentucky's throat."

ERNEST FLETCHER (R) District 6

BORN: Nov. 12, 1952, Mount Sterling EDUCATION: U of Kentucky, B.S, 1974, M.D., 1984 FAMILY: Wife, Glenna; two children RELIGION: Baptist MILITARY: Air Force, 1974-79 OCCUPATION: Physician POLITICAL CAREER: Kentucky House, 1994- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 4703, Lexington 40544. Tel.: 606-296-5570

A state legislator, doctor and minister, Fletcher has spent much of his life giving service. He has fought to make health care affordable and accessible and has volunteered as a medical professor and doctor for the Kentucky Care Program, which provides free medical care to the uninsured. But he promises also to protect the state's tobacco farmers, not necessarily a political problem for a doctor in Kentucky.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays NR Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)

QUOTE OF NOTE: "I have spent a lifetime building trust with the people of Kentucky. As an Air Force fighter pilot, our nation trusted me to protect its skies during the cold war. As a family physician, people trust me every day to take care of their health."