GLENN POSHARD, DOUGLASS LEE SEEK ILLINOIS' 19TH DISTRICT SEAT

When last year's redistricting in Southern Illinois pitted two incumbent Democratic congressmen against each other, Rep. Glenn Poshard was cast in the role of David, as in "David vs. Goliath."

Rep. Terry Bruce's advantages were vast: not only did the more senior Bruce boast a campaign warchest of more than $600,000 Poshard had less than $50,000 but a huge 70 percent of the territory in the sprawling new district was from Bruce's old district.

But Poshard emerged the winner by a surprisingly wide margin.

Now Poshard is being portrayed as a big spender by Douglass Lee, the Republican candidate for Congress in the remapped 19th District, which covers 27 counties, including Pulaski, Massac, Johnson and Williamson in Southern Illinois.

Lee is accusing Poshard of being a big spending liberal in Congress, alienating business and cow-towing to special interest groups. He also criticizes Poshard for accepting a $40,000 pay raise."

Poshard, who pledged in 1987 not to accept PAC or national party money, says he operates one of the most frugal offices in Congress, that Lee doesn't have any issues and he "feels free to say whatever he wants without any facts."

One of Lee's biggest complaints about Poshard is an issue that Bruce raised during the primary. Lee uses a study from the National Taxpayers Union to show that Poshard ranks 33rd in congressional spending.

"Poshard says the study does not measure what a bill might save the government or what a member may vote to cut from other programs. He said Lee is unfairly portraying the survey, and that the study only tallies the cost of legislation each member sponsors.

"A health care bill is the bulk of the spending total listed by the NTU," said NTU Foundation Vice President Paul Hewitt.

The NTU ranks Poshard as a co-sponsor of the universal health care legislation, which is worth $253 billion."

"Without that legislation, Poshard's would-be spending totals come to $62 billion," said Hewitt.

But Lee maintained that "Glenn is a big spender. That's the bottom line."

Poshard, who is seeking his third term in Congress, and Lee, who is entering the political arena for the first time, both support a balanced budget amendment, a presidential line-item veto and some spending cuts as ways to reduce the deficit.

Poshard wants to see about 13 percent of the federal budget devoted to the military rather than 20 percent. He supports reducing foreign aid by 10 percent. Lee supports 20 percent cuts in foreign aid. He also favors military cuts.

Lee also favors a combination of tax incentives, deregulation and opening new markets as a way to stimulate economic grow. Poshard favors tax incentives, but he believes improving job training and infrastructure are key means of bolstering the economy.

Lee supports imposing term limits and changing the term from two to five years, with a limit of two terms. He also thinks PAC contributions should be eliminated and that a $250,000 spending limit should be imposed for an entire congressional race.

Poshard supports a number of congressional reform bills, including those that limit franking, lowering congressional staff budgets and eliminating PAC contributions.

Both candidates are pro-life and oppose the federal funding of abortions for poor women.

Poshard, a former educator, entered the political area in August 1984, when he was appointed to an Illinois Senate vacancy. He was elected to a full term in November 1984 and was re-elected in 1986. He was elected to the U.S. House in 1988 and was re-elected in 1990.

After redistricting in 1992, Poshard decided to run in the 19th District instead of the 22nd District where he previously served.

Poshard campaigned in 1988 for the U.S. House seat being given up by Democratic Rep. Kenneth J. Gray. He won the seat with ease, maintaining the Democrats' 35-year hold on the seat. Poshard was considered a middle-of-the-road Democrat.

Poshard is a native Illinoisan. He received a bachelor's degree, a master's degree and a doctorate degree in higher education administration from Southern Illinois University. He taught history and government at high schools from 1970-74. He was assistant director of the Southern Illinois Regional Education Service Center and director of the Area Service Center for Educators of the Gifted from 1974-84.

Poshard and his wife, Jo, have two children.

Lee is also a native Illinoisan. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, in 1984, with a double major in political science and history. He received his law degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law and a master's degree in business administration at DePaul University in 1988.

He has his own legal practice in Decatur.

He and his wife, Julie Lee, reside in Decatur.