The Republic from Columbus, Indiana • Page 11

The Republic. Columbus. Sunday, September 25. 1988 A1 1 Campaign '88 Candidates9 pasts color current campaign 7T rf fit mm if k. -A.

iAft fN 1 IT I Ss 1 Hfti ft: The Republic photo by Darron Cummings Mike Pence appears in Richmond after his bike tour of the state. The Republic photo by John Sheckler Rep. Phil Sharp walks in the Wendell Willkie Day parade in Rushville. PHIL SHARP (D) Age: 46 Wife's name: Marilyn Children: Sons Jeremy, 1 2. and Justin.

6 Education: Graduate of Georgetown University in Washington in 1964. received Ph D. in government from Georgetown in 1974 MIKE PENCE (R) Age: 29 Wife's name: Karen Education: Graduate of Hanover College in Hanover Ind 1 96 1 and Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis in 1 986 Pence hopes to overcome outsider role By John Schorg The Republic Mike Pence hasn't forgotten what it's like to be an outcast. Being on the outside is something that has played a prominent part in the Columbus native's run for Indiana's 2nd Congressional District seat. ESCHEWING THE normal wisdom about financing a campaign, Pence has elected not to accept money from political action committees.

Going against the grain in campaigning styles in this hightech age, the Republican rode a bicycle through the district he hopes to represent. Being different is a habit Mike Pence learned to cope with at an early age, when he was, by his description, "a fat little kid, the real pumpkin in a pickle patch. "I had three brothers who were lean and hard and thin and I was the exact opposite," Pence recalled. His size did not translate into excellence in athletics. Indeed, Mike Pence was about as bad as ninth-grade football players can get.

"I WAS THE fourth-string center on the team," he laughed. "That means I was one grade above the blocking sled." However, even then Pence was finding a niche for himself as a public speaker. "I'm not exactly sure how it all came about, but I've got a speaking style, an ability to project, that has served me very well," he said. "Being able to speak in front of people has proven to get me through a lot." That's not to say Pence doesn't quake in front of groups of people, a common affliction among many speakers. He feels the difference is that I'm able to channel a lot of that anxiety into the message I'm giving.

I hope I never lose that anxiety, because it would take something away from me." AS HE GAINED the ability to speak without fear, Pence said he changed in several other areas. Most noticeably, he lost a great deal of weight, 55 pounds over the course of a summer between 10th and 11th grades. He also became more involved with activities around school. Eventually, Pence became the president of his class when he graduated from Columbus North High School in 1977. As he was growing up, Pence's parents, Edward and Nancy, proved continual inspirations to him.

"My mother and father were the American dream personified," he said. "We had some lean years, times when I can remember sleeping in the same bed with my brother when Christmas meant only one present, but they worked hard to succeed, and they tried to instill that in all of us." Sharp still listens after seven terms By John Schorg The Republic Phil Sharp came to the U.S. House as a "Watergate baby." The Muncie Democrat was part of a group of reform-minded Congressmen elected by a public outraged by the scandals in the final years of President Richard Nixon's administration. FOR SHARP, though, the philosophies that he eventually carried to Capitol Hill were formed long before he was first elected to office in 1974. It is a philosophy best defined by his use of the word egalitarianism, the advocacy of full social and political equality for all people.

It's something Sharp readily admits was instilled in him by his parents Riley and Florence. "My father sirrfply did not like people who threw their weight around, while my mother was always willing to look at the positive side of any person," he said. IN MANY WAYS, Sharp thought his parents complemented each other well. His father was more hard-charging and practical, while his mother was very patient. Sharp said the beliefs learned from his parents became more ingrained by the world that surrounded him during his childhood in Elwood, Ind.

"We knew people from all walks of life," he said. "You could sit in a class with 25 people, and you knew them all by their first names. It didn't matter if they were poor or rich." Other things were learned as well during that time. From a piano teacher, Catherine Rutledge, and his high school band director, Clifford Brugger, Sharp said he gained an appreciation of the world outside Elwood. "They had traveled a great deal, and they were able to provide a broader sense of that world to me, giving me a sense of discovery," he said.

AS SHARP grew older, he said he became more focused on the studies of government and history, an interest which caused him to transfer to Georgetown University after spending a year at DePauw University in Indiana. It was there he met "an extraordinary, inspiring professor" named Carroll Quigley, who taught a class called Development of Civilization. "He was a dynamic speaker, one of those people who lectured and did not allow questions to be asked," Sharp said. "That man's gift was bringing history to life and making you want to read and learn more." Thanks in part to Quigley's influence, Sharp pursued a career in teaching, specializing in political science and government at Ball State University. Quayle costly to state GOP Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS Indiana's Republican Party has been asked to raise $1 million to help other state parties pay for buttons, campaign signs and bumper stickers for the George Bush-Dan Quayle ticket.

State Republican Chairman Gordon K. Dumil said that before the Indiana senator became the GOP vice presidential candidate, Indiana was asked to contribute $35,000 to the national effort. Dumil normally raises about $2.5 million for state party operations. THE POLITICAL ambitions were there as well. Sharp thought they were always around, and they grew thanks to people like former Sen.

Vance Hartke, for whom Sharp worked part time on areas like answering constituent requests and legislative research. Finally, in 1970, Sharp decided to run for the U.S. House. He was one of seven candidates for the Democratic nomination in Indiana's 10th Congressional District. "There were two former congressmen in that field, and I think there were four of us who were 27 or 28 years old," he recalled.

"I won the nomination by 400 votes, one vote per precinct." In the fall, he lost to Republican David Dennis from Richmond. "OBVIOUSLY, THIS is not what one seeks to have happen," Sharp said dryly before adding, "but my parents did help me learn from the experience. My dad had a heart attack in 1970. He was very eager about the whole campaign, and I was a little concerned how he might take the defeat. "All he said was, 'Well Phil, I guess we didn't make it.

There will be another time," Sharp noted. "That meant a lot to me." Still, Dennis won in a 1972 rematch, and it was time for the candidate's new wife, Marilyn, to provide moral support. "After one gets beat twice, there's not a lot of enthusiasm there for trying it again, but she encouraged me and it helped," Sharp said. "We did a lot of door-to- door and there was Watergate, of course, which was distressing to so many people, especially Republicans." In 1974, Sharp won, in a district thought to be dominated by Republicans. However, the Democrat noted, "That party always seems surprised at my success." UPON REACHING Capitol Hill, he was influenced by representatives like Tom Foley from Washington and Lee Hamilton and Ed Roush from Indiana.

In all three cases, Sharp places a strong emphasis on the word ethical. That was important, since Sharp was part of a group of congressmen that came to office with the idea of reforming government. Although he admits the group was generally condemned as "a bunch of know-it-alls," Sharp said the "Watergate babies" were not content with business as usual. "It was part of my personal political commitment that I would not settle for the old style of politicking, of business as usual behind closed doors," he said. "It took time, but we were able to see some things get done." AND SHARP believes that commitment comes from his basic philosophy of government.

"I really feel it is necessary to assure that all people get equal justice under the law," he said. "I strive to make sure their voices are heard, that they do have access to people in power. I believe this system performs better if the voices of the people are heard." THE PENCES did it by, among other things, forcing their children to pay for part of their tuition. Mike helped pay to go to Hanover College by being a pump jockey at Ray's Marathon. Beyond his parents, Pence's role models are, oddly enough, two Democrats.

"I guess I was always inspired by John F. Kennedy's ideas and vision and leadership and the commitment to service by Lee Hamilton," he said. Kennedy proved an inspiration at an early age. Pence can recall wadding up some photographs of the president and placing them in a time capsule he made at age 7. "He meant something to me because he was a leader and not simply a politician," Pence said.

"He was a very impressive and profound person, and he stood for a lot of things I believe in. If you look at the record, you'll see he. cut taxes, was strong in defense and stood up to the Russians." AN ADMIRATION of Hamilton came from watching the man serve the people in his district when he still represented the Columbus area. "He was always available and accessible and approachable," Pence said. "I'll always see him as this big, lanky crewcut guy clomping down the street, asking everyone what was goingon." The fact that both men are Democrats means very little to the candidate.

"I've never had a whole lot of faith in people who said. Vote for me because I'm a Republican or Pence said. "I think it's a lot more important to tell who you are and what you stand for. The reason I became a Republican is because it was their ideas I agreed with." That conversion came in the wake of Ronald Reagan's election as president in 1980. Pence admits it took a while to warm to Reagan.

"I THOUGHT he was just a movie actor who was out of his element in government," Pence said. "When he got into the White House, however, and began advancing his agendas, I liked the way the country responded on practically every level. He operated on a consensus of common sense that was very appealing to me." Mike Pence feels his campaign for Congress is based on the same appeal, and an appreciation for the people who haven't had an easy time in life. He thinks he knows how they feel. "I've had a lot of experiences in life that were very difficult," he said.

"I was very chubby and unpopular when I was a kid, and I had a hard time keeping up with the rest of the guys my age. "I've never forgot what it's like to be in that position, to be looked down upon because I was fat or a fourth-string center or in shop class. Having to go through that has taught me that every person in this world has value, no matter what their position or status. I'll never forget that." 4 mm Enjoy 1. Friendly gathering place in front lidiby 2.

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