AllPolitics - Congressional Races

Joe Barton (R)

District 6 (Suburban Dallas--parts of Fort Worth, Arlington)

BORN: Sept. 15, 1949, Waco

EDUCATION: Texas A&M U, B.S., 1972; Purdue U, M.S., 1973

FAMILY: Wife, Janet; three children

RELIGION: Methodist

MILITARY: None

OCCUPATION: Engineering consultant

POLITICAL CAREER: Sought Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, 1993; U.S. House, 1984-

ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1444, Ennis 75120. Tel.: 214-875-8688

After finishing a demoralizing third place in the 1993 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate and failing to win the chairmanship of the Texas G.O.P. in 1994, Barton has finally enjoyed some legislative glory during the 104th Congress as a leader in the balanced-budget wars. And despite redistricting, he may avoid a runoff.

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: "There's a lot of concern that we're backing away from what we started out [to do] in this Congress. The year that is most important is the current year, and the deficit is going up, not down."

Janet Richardson (I)

District 6

BORN: Jan. 9, 1959, Fort Worth

EDUCATION: U of Texas, 1977-81

FAMILY: Divorced; one child

RELIGION: Methodist

MILITARY: None

OCCUPATION: TV-production-company president; campaign manager; advertising executive; legislative aide

POLITICAL CAREER: None

ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1524, Keller 76244. Tel.: 817-379-9970

Host of a nationally syndicated TV show, Richardson enjoys more name recognition than most challengers without political experience. And she has earned the endorsement of the Texas State Teachers Association for her promise to fight cuts in education. Though a clerical error made her an Independent, Richardson is
really a Democrat.

THE ISSUES

Budget NO

Medicare NO

Defense YES

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: "As a single parent and a businesswoman, I believe I understand what the people of this district are going through as we work hard to raise our families. We are all concerned about crime, health care and the economy ... We deserve to have medical care, a roof over our heads and food on the table."

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