45TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

DANA ROHRABACHER

A California native, Rohrabacher was a newspaper editorial writer before joining President Reagan’s speech-writing staff in 1981. He was elected to Congress in 1988.

* Political party: Republican

* Age: 51

* Residence: Huntington Beach

* Education: Bachelor of arts, history, Cal State Long Beach, 1969; master’s, American studies, USC, 1975.

* Career highlights: Elected to Congress, 1988. Chair, House space and aeronautics subcommittee and senior member of Foreign Relations Committee. Worked on 1976 and 1980 presidential campaigns of Ronald Reagan; Reagan speech writer 1981-88.

* Priorities: Promote commercialization of space. Protect rights of U.S. patent holders. Continue pressure to deny most-favored nation status to China.

PATRICIA W. NEAL

A Huntington Beach real estate broker, Neal has organized a strong challenge in making her first run for office.

* Political party: Democrat

* Age: 67

* Residence: Huntington Beach

* Education: Attended Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles, and UC Berkeley.

* Career highlights: Past president of California Assn. of Realtors, 1994; California Realtor of the Year, 1994; Rancho Santiago Real Estate Advisory Board since 1980; Realtor since 1973 and broker since 1979.

* Priorities: Seek laws to make schools safer. Promote crime-free communities and tougher punishment for criminals. Use budget surplus to protect Social Security.

OTHER CANDIDATES: Don Hull of the Libertarian Party and William Verkamp Jr. of the Natural Law Party.