OREGON

OREGON

Population (1994): 3,086,000 (up 8.6% from 1990); 1.2% of U.S. total

Voting-age population: 2,311,000; 1994 turnout, 41%

Median age: 35 years

Median household income: $31,456 ($808 below U.S. median)

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

Last presidential election: Clinton (D): 42% Bush (R): 33% Perot (I): 24%

Congressional delegation: Four Democrats, three Republicans

Oregon's larger towns--including Eugene, Corvallis and Portland--are enclaves of high-tech industry, university students and environmentalists. Loggers in the Cascade Mountains, millworkers in towns like Roseburg ("Timber Capital of the Nation") and eastern Oregon farmers and ranchers, however, are more conservative, fueling the ongoing "lumber wars" and keeping the state's delegation to the House divided. In the Senate, two Republicans have held sway for nearly 30 years, but the party's dominance may be coming to an abrupt end: earlier this year, the disgraced Bob Packwood was replaced by a Democrat, and now Mark Hatfield is retiring.

TOM BRUGGERE (D) SENATE (OPEN SEAT)

BORN: Feb. 18, 1946, Berkeley, Calif. EDUCATION: U of California at Santa Barbara, B.A., 1968; U of Wisconsin, M.S., 1972; Pepperdine U, M.B.A., 1975 FAMILY: Wife, Kelley; two children RELIGION: Protestant MILITARY: Army, 1968-70 OCCUPATION: Software-company owner POLITICAL CAREER: Oregon board of higher education, 1988-92 ADDRESS: 477 Southwest 11th Avenue, Portland 97205. Tel.: 503-226-7199

In the fight to succeed retiring G.O.P. moderate Mark Hatfield--a campaign marred by partisan sniping--Bruggere has blasted Gordon Smith's frozen-foods company for allegedly poisoning creeks with factory waste. Politically, the foes' platforms are remarkably similar, and the race is a toss-up. But if Bruggere does win, it will mean a reversal of almost 30 years of G.O.P. Senate control in Oregon.

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 consider myself a sensible environmentalist, unlike my opponent who voted against the environment 96% of the time [in the state Senate]."

GORDON SMITH (R) SENATE (OPEN SEAT)

BORN: May 25, 1952, Pendleton EDUCATION: Brigham Young, B.A., 1976; Southwestern U, J.D., 1979 FAMILY: Wife, Sharon; three children RELIGION: Mormon MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Frozen-food company executive; lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Oregon Senate, 1993- ADDRESS: 5285 Southwest Meadows Road, Suite 181, Lake Oswego 97035. Tel.: 503-639-4156

Smith suffered a narrow loss in a January special election to fill the vacant Senate seat of Bob Packwood, who left under a cloud of scandal. In this bitter race, Smith has accused Tom Bruggere of hiring a San Francisco private-investigation firm to "dig dirt." Smith has tempered some of his more conservative positions for this race, but in a state that has elected moderate Senators for the past 30 years, the winner here should still be a moderating influence on Capitol Hill.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES 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: "I would never make a pledge to an extreme radical group who puts preservationist, radical environmentalism ahead of people and jobs."

ELIZABETH FURSE (D) District 1 (Western Portland and suburbs)

BORN: Oct. 13, 1936, Nairobi, Kenya EDUCATION: Evergreen State College, B.A., 1974 FAMILY: Husband, John Platt; two children RELIGION: Protestant MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Community activist POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. House, 1992- ADDRESS: 9220 Southwest Barbur, No. 114, Portland 97219. Tel.: 503-452-2848

In 1994 Furse beat Bill Witt by only 301 votes, giving the G.O.P. high hopes for victory this time around. A pro-choice and pro-environment liberal who would balance the budget in part by cutting Pentagon funding, Furse has earned a 100% rating from the American Federation of Teachers and the League of Conservation Voters, and has the support of Portland's "Silicon Forest," home to prosperous employers like Intel.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES 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: [On tax cuts] "As a mother, I would never let my kids have cake before eating their vegetables. We should make balancing the budget our No. 1 priority."

BILL WITT (R) District 1

BORN: Dec. 12, 1951, Youngstown, Ohio EDUCATION: Case Western Reserve U, B.A., 1973; U of Chicago, J.D., 1976 FAMILY: Wife, Gail; two children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Office-machine-company president POLITICAL CAREER: Republican nominee for U.S. House, 1994 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 230150, Tigard 97281. Tel.: 503-646-1386

Witt, a conservative Washington County businessman, says increased name recognition, better financing and high-level G.O.P. support will tip the balance in his favor this year. He supports a three-term limit for House members and a mandatory 60% congressional majority to raise taxes.

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: [On China] "Here is a country that cares nothing about human rights, has an official policy of forced abortions...has been trying to wipe out the Tibetan culture...Why in heaven's name are we...selling out virtue for business?"

MIKE DUGAN (D) District 2 (East and southwest--Medford; Bend)

BORN: May 17, 1951, Klamath Falls EDUCATION: U of Oregon, B.S., 1973; Lewis and Clark College, J.D., 1976 FAMILY: Wife, Judy Stiegler; two children RELIGION: Presbyterian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: County district attorney; lawyer POLITICAL CAREER: Deschutes County district attorney, 1987- ADDRESS: 25 Northwest Minnesota, Suite 1, Bend 97701. Tel.: 541-330-9508

Dugan is tough on crime, but opposes what he calls G.O.P. extremism and cuts in Medicare and education, which he calls a preventive measure against youth crime. This seat was considered ripe for Democratic picking when G.O.P. incumbent Wes Cooley ran into trouble this fall. Then came Bob Smith, a tougher candidate than Cooley ever would have been.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: "We can do things in a sustainable way to protect our resources and protect the resource-based economy we have in the Second District."

BOB SMITH (R) District 2

BORN: June 16, 1931, Portland EDUCATION: Willamette U, B.A., 1953 FAMILY: Wife, Kaye; three children RELIGION: Presbyterian MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Cattle rancher; businessman POLITICAL CAREER: Oregon House, 1961-73; Senate, 1973-82; U.S. House, 1983-95 ADDRESS: 5000 Cirrus Drive, Suite 150, Medford 97504. Tel.: 541-608-7082

After one-term incumbent Wes Cooley withdrew from this race amid controversy over his past, Smith, who gave up the seat in 1994, was wooed back to electoral politics by an offer from Newt Gingrich to chair the House Agriculture Committee. A former rancher, Smith is a conservative westerner who wants endangered-species laws loosened and federal land opened to more development.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: "The Endangered Species Act must be balanced to put humans on the same level as fish and insects."

EARL BLUMENAUER (D) District 3 (East and north Portland and eastern suburbs)

BORN: Aug. 16, 1948, Portland EDUCATION: Lewis and Clark College, B.A., 1970, J.D. 1976 FAMILY: Wife, Janice Babcock; two children RELIGION: NR MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Public official POLITICAL CAREER: Oregon House, 1973-77; Multnomah County commission, 1978-86; Portland city council, 1986-96; U.S. House, 1996- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1396, Portland 97207. Tel.: 503-235-3399

Blumenauer's record on transportation and environmental issues in Oregon helped him win Ron Wyden's House seat when Wyden replaced Bob Packwood in the Senate this year. Blumenauer helped install Portland's light-rail system, launch curbside recycling and take cars away from drunk drivers. He also opposes salvage logging. With a pragmatic and independent streak, he enjoys an added advantage in this Democratic district.

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: "We need a constructive relationship between the federal and local levels [of government] and investment in the environment and education."

SCOTT BRUUN (R) District 3

BORN: May 3, 1966, Portland EDUCATION: U of Oregon, B.A., 1988; Portland State U, M.B.A., 1992 FAMILY: Wife, Alison RELIGION: Protestant MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Commercial loan officer POLITICAL CAREER: None ADDRESS: P.O. Box 14675, Portland 97214. Tel.: 503-225-2695

Bruun, a 30-year-old superachiever, is loaded with ideas for growing the economy and limiting government. He believes in term limits, privatization and a 17% flat tax with substantial exemptions and deductions for charity. A fiscal conservative, he may be able to count on G.O.P. votes in Portland's exclusive section of Dunthorpe, but the working-class and middle-class neighborhoods in the rest of the district are staunchly Democratic. And though he vows to protect Medicare, his platform of budget cuts may rattle the strong senior-citizen vote that helped keep Democrat Ron Wyden in this seat for 15 years.

THE ISSUES

Budget YES Medicare YES Defense YES 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:"I will fight for a smaller, less obtrusive, more responsive Federal Government."

PETER DEFAZIO (D) District 4 (Southwest--Eugene)

BORN: May 27, 1947, Needham, Mass. EDUCATION: Tufts U, B.A., 1969; U of Oregon, M.S. 1977 FAMILY: Wife, Myrnie Daut RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: Air Force, 1967-71 OCCUPATION: Gerontologist POLITICAL CAREER: Lane County board of commissioners, 1982-86; U.S. House 1986- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1316, Springfield 97477. Tel.: 541-485-1622

Lane County's university liberals, who make up half the Fourth's voting population, approve of DeFazio's pro-environment, anti-corporate-welfare stand: he has carried at least two-thirds of the vote each election since his first term, despite the forestry conflicts that persist in this district. He opposes most salvage logging efforts--a burning issue here--but has come down on the side of labor and is against NAFTA, GATT and the exporting of raw lumber to Asia. His ability to manage these divergent interests has helped keep him in office.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO Medicare NO Defense YES 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: "Medicare should not be used by Congress as a piggy bank to pay for lavish tax cuts or pork-barrel spending."

JOHN NEWKIRK (R) District 4

BORN: Jan. 15, 1927, Glasgow, Mont. EDUCATION: Huntington Public High School (Los Angeles), diploma, 1943 FAMILY: Divorced; three children RELIGION: Roman Catholic MILITARY: Navy, 1943-49; Naval Reserve, 1949-53 OCCUPATION: Land developer and consultant POLITICAL CAREER: Sought nomination for U.S. House (as a Democrat) 1980, 1982; (as a Republican) 1984, 1992; Republican nominee for U.S. House, 1994 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 41565, Eugene 97404. Tel.: 541-342-4166

Though he has run under various parties' banners over the years, Newkirk considers himself a friend of the blue-collar worker. He favors a flat tax and opposes gun control, but his burning issue is freeing up Oregon land for economic development.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: "We should have the right to harvest the timber. We should have never been stopped by environmental issues ... Our mills should not have been shut down and our economic position sent to utter chaos."

JIM BUNN (R) District 5 (Willamette Valley, Pacific Coast--Salem; Corvallis)

BORN: Dec. 12, 1956, McMinnville EDUCATION: Chemeketa Community College, A.A., 1977; Northwest Nazarene College, B.A., 1979 FAMILY: Wife, Sonja Skurdal; five children RELIGION: Nazarene MILITARY: National Guard Reserve, 1987-93 OCCUPATION: Farmer POLITICAL CAREER: Oregon Senate, 1987-95; U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 5141, Salem 97304. Tel.: 503-585-5109

Taking office in 1994, the conservative Bunn was antiabortion, supported term limits and campaign-finance reform. But he refused to sign the Contract with America because it would cut off aid to unwed mothers under 18, which he believes would encourage abortion. He earned only a 12% rating from the League of Conservation Voters this year, and his support for cutting in old-growth forests has raised tempers in liberal enclaves like Corvallis.

THE ISSUES

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

QUOTE OF NOTE: "You can't tell a 17-year-old not to have an abortion, but that she's on her own if she has a baby."

DARLENE HOOLEY (D) District 5

BORN: April 4, 1939, Williston, N. Dak. EDUCATION: Oregon State U, B.S., 1961 FAMILY: Husband, John; two children RELIGION: Lutheran MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Teacher POLITICAL CAREER: West Linn city council, 1977-81; Oregon House, 1981-87; Clackamas County commission, 1987- ADDRESS: 1974 Southwest Willamette Falls Drive, West Linn 97068. Tel.: 503-657-3133

Hooley entered politics 20 years ago after her son was injured at a local playground. Two decades later, she has developed more (and presumably safer) area parks, along with a landmark state welfare-reform bill and a $10,000-per-year tax-deduction plan for higher education. Hooley's reputation for consensus building has made her a popular candidate and made this one of the closest House races in the country.

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: "The relationship is clear: people with more high-quality education secure better futures for themselves."