ILLINOIS SENATORS HOST FORUMS

CAIRO, Ill. -- U.S. Sens. Paul Simon and Carol Moseley-Braun will host community forums in three Southern Illinois communities today. The Illinois Democratic senators will seek the public's questions and comments at the meetings.

The first forum will be held at 10 a.m. in the Alexander County Courthouse at Cairo; the second in the Shawnee Community College River Room at Ullin at noon; and the third at the Stinson Memorial Library in Anna at 2:30 p.m.

Today's appearances are part of a statewide tour to listen to concerns of the voters while the U.S. Senate is adjourned.

Simon, a former newspaperman from Makanda, Ill., and an early candidate for president in 1987, served in the U.S. House for 10 years. He resigned to run for Senate in 1984, and defeated incumbent Republican Charles Percy. He won re-election to his second term in the Senate in 1990.

Simon, who previously served in the Illinois House and as lieutenant governor, is noted for his many town meetings.

"Town meetings are his trademark," said a spokesman from Simon's Washington offices. "He has conducted hundreds of town meetings, with more than 558 during his eight years in the Senate."

Moseley-Braun was elected last November, becoming the first black woman ever elected to the Senate. She defeated incumbent Alan J. Dixon and multi-millionaire candidate Albert Hofeld in the March primary and beat Republican Rich Williamson in the general election.

Moseley-Braun, who started her career as an assistant state's attorney in the mid-1970s, was elected recorder in 1988. She was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1979, eventually becoming an assistant majority leader and legislative floor leader for Harold Washington, Chicago's first black mayor.