A GUIDE TO THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES: INDIANA

INDIANA

Population (1994): 5,752,000; (up 3.8% from 1990), 2.2% of U.S.

Voting-age pop.: 4,298,000; 1994 turnout: 36%

Median age: 32.8 years

Median household income: $27,858 ($4,406 below U.S. median)

Unemployment: 4.2% (1.4% below U.S. average, March 1996)

Last presidential election: Clinton (D): 37% Bush (R): 43% Perot (I): 20%

Congressional delegation: Eight Republicans, four Democrats

Indiana is home to big-time sports and all-pro conservatives. Hoosiers rate a balanced budget and lower federal taxes as their priority political issues, and though four of their 10 House members are Democrats, none is considered a liberal. The last time they voted for a Democratic President was 1964–Lyndon Johnson.

MICHAEL PETYO (R) District 1 (Northwest–Gary; Hammond)

BORN: March 29, 1949, East Chicago EDUCATION: Lake Central High School, graduated 1968 FAMILY: Wife, Janet; two children RELIGION: Eastern Orthodox MILITARY: Navy, 1969-73 OCCUPATION: Construction-company owner POLITICAL CAREER: Sought Republican nomination for Lake County Sheriff, 1994 ADDRESS: 5112 East U.S. Route 30, Merrillville 46410. Tel.: 219-947-3720

Petyo’s slogan is “Let’s Put Americans Back in Charge,” which to this G.O.P. challenger means shifting education out of federal hands, cutting small-business regulation and instituting a modified flat tax. Petyo hopes to win G.O.P.-leaning areas and limit losses elsewhere, but that might be tough in this heavily Democratic district.

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: “It is time for Washington to quit using our concerns as an excuse to raise your taxes.”

PETER VISCLOSKY (D) District 1

BORN: Aug. 13, 1949, Gary EDUCATION: Indiana U Northwest, B.S., 1970; U of Notre Dame, J.D., 1973; Georgetown U, L.L.M., 1982 FAMILY: Wife, Anne Marie O’Keefe; two children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1984- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 10003, Merrillville 46411. Tel.: 219-736-0751

Visclosky, with his Eastern European working-class heritage, resembles much of his First District constituency. He consistently promotes the local steel industry and has made crime a focus as well, winning a $3 million appropriation to fight drugs and gangs in crime-ridden Gary. Though he faced a tough challenger in 1994, Visclosky remains a favorite.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: “[E]thnic, racial and religious diversity…is truly what continues to make America the greatest country in the world.”

MARC CARMICHAEL (D) District 2 (E. Central–Muncie; Anderson; Columbus)

BORN: Feb. 21, 1950, Muncie EDUCATION: U. of Notre Dame, B.A., 1972 FAMILY: Divorced; two children RELIGION: Protestant MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Gas-company public-affairs director; lumber-company sales executive POLITICAL CAREER: Indiana House, 1987-91 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1997, Muncie 47308. Tel.: 317-287-1997

Carmichael, an Indiana Gas Co. lobbyist, wants to stop what he sees as a G.O.P. assault on working families. He promises to protect Medicare, Social Security, Head Start, college loans and the environment. But he also pledged not to run a negative campaign, then blasted incumbent McIntosh for his Medicare vote [see issues page] and charged him with taking campaign contributions from “fat cats.”

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: “You have to be who you are. I’m conservative on fiscal matters and a moderate on social issues. I believe government should provide a safety net for people.”

DAVID MCINTOSH (R) District 2

BORN: June 8, 1958, Oakland, Calif. EDUCATION: Yale U., B.A., 1980; U. of Chicago, J.D., 1983 FAMILY: Wife, Ruthie RELIGION: Episcopalian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer; White House aide; national-security and public-policy analyst POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 2424, Muncie 47307. Tel.: 317-286-1994

McIntosh, for seven years an aide to Reagan and Bush, has backed bills to streamline safety regulations for home construction and loosen clean-air and endangered-species rules. A shoving incident on a flight in May resulted in assault-and-battery charges (later dropped), but the “misunderstanding,” as McIntosh calls it, is not expected to hurt his chances next week, in this Republican district.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO 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: “President Clinton is regulator-in-chief, leading an army of unelected bureaucrats whose sole job is to churn out red tape that destroys jobs and turns hardworking Americans into common criminals.”

TIM ROEMER (D) District 3 (Northern Tier–South Bend; Elkhart)

BORN: Oct. 30, 1956, South Bend EDUCATION: U. of California, San Diego, B.A., 1979; U of Notre Dame, M.A., 1981, Ph.D., 1985 FAMILY: Wife, Sally; two children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Congressional aide POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1990- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 4400, South Bend 46634. Tel.: 219-288-8683

Roemer is a centrist Democrat who does not toe the party line. As an economic conservative, he supports a balanced-budget amendment and is a hawk on legislative pork. But he shows his Democratic roots by backing federal education programs like the Pell Grant and Head Start. Already thrice victorious in the Third, Roemer seems to have found a moderate voice to suit his district.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion YES 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: “The people of my district have good judgement and keen common sense, and they see my voting for the past five years. If I disagree with the President, I vote accordingly.”

JOE ZAKAS (R) District 3

BORN: Nov. 7, 1950, Chicago EDUCATION: U. of Illinois, B.A., 1972; U. of Notre Dame, M.B.A., 1980, J.D., 1980 FAMILY: Wife, Anne; three children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Indiana Senate, 1982- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1919, Mishawaka 46546. Tel.: 219-257-9589

A four-term Indiana state Senator who has worked for crime victims’ rights and a balanced state budget, Zakas says irs reform will be a priority if he is elected; he wants to make it easier for taxpayers to recover costs resulting from irs errors, reform the rules on deducting home-office expenses, and simplify filing procedures for nonprofit organizations.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: “I’m not going to be a lockstep voter with Newt or anyone else.”

GERALD HOUSEMAN (D) District 4 (Northeast–Fort Wayne)

BORN: April 12, 1935, Marshalltown, Iowa EDUCATION: California State U at Hayward, B.A., 1965, M.A., 1967; U of Illinois, Ph.D., 1971 FAMILY: Wife, Soendari; three children RELIGION: NR MILITARY: Marines, 1954-57 OCCUPATION: Professor POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: P.O. Box 12725, Fort Wayne 46864. Tel.: 219-744-0108

Political-science professor Houseman focuses on tax breaks for businesses to encourage research and development, a fair foreign-trade policy and providing job-skills training. He supports strong environmental protection, the repeal of the assault-weapons ban and unrestricted access to abortion. A quirky candidate in a straight-arrow part of Indiana, Houseman would be only the third Democrat to represent this district in the past 50 years.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: “We need to take Souder out, and we will. We will take out a lot of freshman incumbents. The handwriting is on the wall.”

MARK SOUDER (R) District 4

BORN: July 18, 1950, Fort Wayne EDUCATION: Indiana U, B.S., 1972; U of Notre Dame, M.B.A., 1974 FAMILY: Wife, Diane; three children RELIGION: United Brethren in Christ MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Congressional aide; general-store owner POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 400, Grabill 46741. Tel.: 219-627-6562

Souder is a steady conservative, but has shunned partisan politics. He voted against the balanced-budget amendment and thought repealing the gasoline tax was a political ploy. Making lower federal taxes a priority, he supports a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds congressional vote to raise taxes. Souder is not likely to let up in his push for less government, which should be popular in a district that gave Bush a hefty victory in 1992.

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: [On working with Clinton on the budget] “It’s like trying to pin down Jell-O…You squeeze and it wiggles over to another place, and you squeeze and it wiggles over to another.”

STEVE BUYER (R) District 5 (Northern rural–Kokomo)

BORN: Nov. 26, 1958, Rensselaer EDUCATION: The Citadel, B.S., 1980; Valparaiso U, J.D., 1984 FAMILY: Wife, Joni; two children RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: Army Reserve, 1980-84, 1987-90, 1991-; Army, 1984-87, 1990-91 OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1992- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 712, Monticello 47960. Tel.: 219-583-9843

Buyer moved from the war zone of Desert Storm to the legislative trenches of Capitol Hill and now is a two-term veteran of Congress. He is a strong advocate of the study and treatment of Gulf War syndrome and consistently supports higher Pentagon budgets–Citadel alumni named Buyer their 1995 Man of the Year. Outside his military focus, he is a conservative who supports most of the Contract with America, a plus in this Hoosier Heartland.

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: “When you see a tank, you obviously see a horrible, destructive instrument of war…I see a deterrent, security, something that will ensure the stability of peace.”

DOUGLAS CLARK (D) District 5

BORN: July 22, 1971, Michigan City EDUCATION: Valparaiso U, B.A., 1993 FAMILY: Single RELIGION: United Methodist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Communications liaison POLITICAL CAREER: Democratic precinct committee, Marshall County, 1993-96; Plymouth city Democratic chairman, 1995 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 325, Winamac 46996. Tel.: 219-946-4696

Despite his youth, Clark, 25, is a confident liberal with plenty of ideas to help the working class make a living wage and get quality benefits. He also says he will protect the district’s small farmers, charging incumbent Steve Buyer with being a one-issue military congressman in lockstep with Newt Gingrich. Clark may be a long shot in this G.O.P. district–but he can run seven more times before age 40.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion NO 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: “I’m not a politician looking to move up. I’m a working citizen who is simply fed up with the way politicians run Congress. I feel they are more concerned with elections than solving our problems.”

DAN BURTON (R) District 6 (Central–suburban Indianapolis)

BORN: June 21, 1938, Indianapolis EDUCATION: Indiana U, 1958-59; Cincinnati Bible Seminary, 1959-60 FAMILY: Wife, Barbara; three children RELIGION: Protestant MILITARY: Army, 1956-57; Army Reserve, 1957-62 OCCUPATION: Real estate and insurance agent POLITICAL CAREER: Indiana House, 1967-68, 1977-80; Indiana Senate, 1969-70, 1981-82; sought Republican nomination for U.S. House, 1972; U.S. House, 1982- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 50593, Indianapolis 46250. Tel.: 317-546-5673

Seven-term incumbent Burton is a fierce critic of the Clinton Administration. He also co-sponsored the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, which tightened sanctions against the island. Not considered an inner-circle member of the House G.O.P., he nevertheless keeps his constituents happy, winning at least 63% of the vote in each re-election bid.

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 fact of the matter is, NAFTA has been a disaster, and Mr. Buchanan is not wrong.”

CARRIE DILLARD-TRAMMELL (D) District 6

BORN: April 6, 1964, Muncie EDUCATION: Ivy Tech State College, A.A., 1990 FAMILY: Husband, Daniel; four children RELIGION: Pentecostal MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Credit and loan adviser POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: 11715 Fox Road, Suite 400-202, Indianapolis 46236. Tel.: 317-823-7364

Dillard-Trammell is no stranger to the tough life–one of eight children raised by a single mom on welfare, she emancipated herself at age 15. She faces another challenge in unseating popular incumbent Dan Burton in the most Republican district in Indiana. Dillard-Trammell hopes to do that by defending Social Security, the Brady Bill, education funding and minimum-wage increases, but parts with the Democrats in her stands against abortion and gay rights.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: “I feel like we don’t have a voice from someone who represents the real people–the middle class and the poor. I am someone who can be heard.”

ROBERT HELLMANN (D) District 7 (West–Terre Haute; Lafayette)

BORN: Jan. 16, 1947, Terre Haute EDUCATION: Indiana State U, B.A., 1969; St. Louis U, J.D., 1973 FAMILY: Wife, Nancy; three children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: Indiana National Guard, 1968-92 OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Indiana House, 1983-87; Indiana Senate, 1987- ADDRESS: 1 South Sixth Street, Terre Haute 47807. Tel.: 812-238-2211

Indiana Senate minority leader Hellmann says educational and job-training programs would be his priority in the U.S. House because this is how families will earn better wages and stay together. Though he praises fiscal conservatism, Hellman supports Medicare and a portable health-care system that would guarantee benefits between jobs. He has a challenging race ahead of him in this heavily Republican district.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: “I believe that the people of western Indiana want to see an American government that is improved, not dismantled.”

EDWARD PEASE (R) District 7

BORN: May 22, 1951, Vigo County EDUCATION: Indiana U, A.B., 1973, J.D., 1977 FAMILY: Single RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: College administrator; lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Indiana Senate, 1980-92 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 511, Seelyville 47878. Tel.: 812-232-1156

Pease, a former vice president at Indiana State University, won the endorsement of retiring 15-term Representative John Myers. Like Myers, Pease shuns the confrontational G.O.P. style in favor of bipartisanship and doubts the value of the Republican flat tax and consumption-tax proposals. But he believes in giving states control of welfare and Medicaid. Running a safe campaign on the center right, Pease is favored to continue the Republican status quo in the conservative Seventh.

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: “I can work with people of various political and ideological stripes without abandoning my own, and I think we need some more of that right now.”

JOHN HOSTETTLER (R) District 8 (Southwest–Evansville; Bloomington)

BORN: July 19, 1961, Evansville EDUCATION: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, B.S.M.E., 1983 FAMILY: Wife, Elizabeth Ann; four children RELIGION: General Baptist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Mechanical engineer POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 3676, Evansville 47735. Tel.: 812-422-4227

Despite his firm opposition to two G.O.P. priorities–the balanced-budget amendment and term limits–Hostettler is a strict conservative who opposes gay rights and gun control, as well as the minimum wage. As a freshman member of the National Security Committee, he often criticized Clinton defense cuts. But he can’t take his seat for granted in a district that gave Clinton a narrow 3% victory over Bush in 1992.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: “This country does not need a constitutional amendment to balance the federal budget. It needs lawmakers with the fortitude and control to make difficult decisions…”

JONATHAN WEINZAPFEL (D) District 8

BORN: Nov. 16, 1965, Evansville EDUCATION: Indiana U, B.A., 1988; Georgetown U, M.A., 1993 FAMILY: Single RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Public-relations manager; congressional aide; sales representative POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: P.O. Box 6893, Evansville 47719. Tel.: 812-422-0749 Weinzapfel grew up in Posey County, made his way to Washington for grad school, then served as an aide to then-Eighth District Representative Frank McCloskey. He now wants back in the Capitol as a Congressman. A founder of a local community task force, Citizens for Seniors, Weinzapfel is a defender of Medicare, a healthy minimum wage and accessible health care. He’s an underdog, but upsets seem to be a tradition in the “Bloody Eighth,” which sent four different Congressmen to Washington in the ’70s.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES Abortion YES 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: “All people are looking for is an opportunity to take care of their families. They’re looking for someone who feels the same way.”

LEE HAMILTON (D) District 9 (Southeast Hill Country–New Albany)

BORN: April 20, 1931, Daytona Beach, Fla. EDUCATION: DePauw U, B.A., 1952; Indiana U, J.D., 1956 FAMILY: Wife, Nancy; three children RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1964- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 99, Jeffersonville 47131. Tel.: 812-949-8683

Despite three decades in the House, the race gets harder for this soft-spoken moderate. Hamilton’s opponent, Jean Leising, is the same Republican who almost beat him in 1994. But he has held off the conservative surge by supporting a flat or consumption tax, balanced trade, less government regulation and campaign-finance reform.

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: “I believe all Hoosiers ought to have the opportunity to improve their standard of living and create a better future. That’s why I voted to balance the budget while preserving vital investments in education, health care and job training.”

JEAN LEISING (R) District 9

BORN: Jan. 10, 1949, Batesville EDUCATION: Sunman Consolidated High School, graduated 1966 FAMILY: Husband, Frank Thompson; three children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Farm owner; nurse POLITICAL CAREER: Indiana Senate, 1989-; Republican nominee for U.S. House, 1994 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 53, Batesville 47006. Tel.: 812-933-0353

A nurse and a farmer–she took over operating a 320-acre farm after her first husband died in an accident–Leising lobbied for term limits from her seat in the Indiana Senate. She also introduced informed-consent legislation requiring Indiana women to wait 18 hours and receive counseling before an abortion. The Susan B. Anthony pro-life women’s pac has endorsed Leising in her second effort to unseat 32-year incumbent Hamilton.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO 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: “There are three reasons I got involved with the informed-consent [abortion] bill. I’m a nurse. I’m a mother. And I’m a Catholic.”

VIRGINIA BLANKENBAKER (R) District 10 (Central–Indianapolis)

BORN: March 29, 1933, Indianapolis EDUCATION: Purdue U, B.S., 1955; Butler U, M.S., 1979 FAMILY: Widow; five children RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Investment broker; teacher POLITICAL CAREER: Indiana Senate, 1980-92 ADDRESS: 425 Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis 46204. Tel.: 317-231-2812

Blankenbaker is a proponent of free markets and a balanced-budget amendment. Convinced that Clinton has drifted away from the war on drugs, she advocates pre-trial detention laws, tougher sentencing and fewer death-row appeals. Blankenbaker has also benefited from contributions by women supporting her pro-choice, moderate candidacy.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NR 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: “We must not accept a culture where people are afraid to leave their homes or drive down our streets…I will do my part to once again elevate the war on drugs and crime to the highest level.”

JULIA CARSON (D) District 10

BORN: July 8, 1938, Louisville, Ky. EDUCATION: Martin U, 1994-95 FAMILY: Divorced; two children RELIGION: Baptist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Clothing-store owner; congressional aide POLITICAL CAREER: Indiana House, 1973-77; Indiana Senate, 1977-91; Center Township Trustee, 1991- ADDRESS: 54 Monument Circle, Suite 600, Indianapolis 46204. Tel.: 317-236-0810

A former aide to retiring Representative Andrew Jacobs, Carson should have an advantage in this race. She boasts of being fiscally responsible–taking credit for eliminating a $20 million debt as a township trustee–and hopes to succeed Jacobs by also stressing the need for improved education. The liberal Carson has another asset: a Democratic district that gave Clinton an 11-point victory margin over Bush in 1992.

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: “I believe that if a parent works full-time, his or her wages should be sufficient to support a family. This is more than the American dream; it is the American expectation.”