The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Both candidates are natives of the district, which includes Fort Collins and the Eastern Plains of Colorado. Both candidates served in the Colorado General Assembly and were party leaders in the Senate. Both are married and have children. And now both candidates are vying for the seat that opened early this year after incumbent Republican Congressman Bob Schaffer announced he would not seek reelection due to a term limits pledge.

Since Schaffer's announcement, Matsunaka shifted his campaign for Governor to the U.S. House. Meanwhile, Musgrave battled and eventually defeated Jeff Beddingfield, a Greeley attorney, in a tense primary race to become the Republican candidate.

The Republican Party currently possesses a narrow 13-seat advantage in the U.S. House and this race, along with Colorado's new 7th District race between Republican Bob Beauprez and Democrat Mike Feeley, is one of the tightest in the nation and may determine which party maintains control of the House.

While there are many similarities between Matsunaka and Musgrave, their ideologies are sharply different. Here is a look at the two candidates:

Stan Matsunaka

Stan credits his father Harry, an American citizen raised in Colorado by parents of Japanese ancestry, for showing him how to live. Harry served with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in World War II. The regiment was comprised of Japanese-Americans who served in the European theater of the war.

"By his living example, my dad taught me the most important lessons a father can teach a son: maintain your personal integrity, stand up for what is right and work hard for what you believe in. Do these things, and you will live a life without regrets," Matsunaka said.

Matsunaka was born in Akron, Colo. but grew up in Fort Morgan where he met his wife, Kathy Weber. Kathy is now a registered nurse. The Matsunaka's have three children: Melissa, Brian and Kristi.

Stan attended CSU where he received a bachelor's degree in biology. After completing one year in the MBA program at CSU, Matsunaka enrolled in the University of San Diego Law School and received his law degree in 1979.

The Matsunaka family currently resides in Loveland where Stan has represented the city and the 15th Colorado State Senate District for the last seven years. Matsunaka became the first Democratic Senate President when the party assumed control of the Senate in 2000.

Gail Westhoff, a high school classmate and friend of Matsunaka, described him as an attentive representative.

"I know Stan. He's sincere and dedicated," Westhoff said. "The bottom line for me is that Stan understands the average Coloradan."

Matsunaka's platform includes an expansion of health care and transportation funds. He is pro-choice. He believes in protecting and not privatizing the Social Security trust fund and is a proponent of a middle-of-the-road agenda that serves both the District's rural areas and cities.

"I grew up on the Eastern Plains and I haven't forgotten that our state and our nation are built from diverse communities," Matsunaka said. "As the Fourth District's Congressman, I won't forget that the needs of rural Americans are different from, and just as important as, the needs of Americans in the cities and suburbs."

Area newspapers including The Denver Post, The Rocky Mountain News, The Boulder Daily Camera and The Fort Collins Coloradoan as well as the Collegian all have endorsed Matsunaka. He also became the first House Democratic candidate to be endorsed by The Greeley Tribune since 1972.

Democrats such as Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar and U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette and Mark Udall have endorsed Matsunaka. He has also been endorsed by The American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, the International Association of Firefighters and has earned a 96 percent approval rating with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.

Marilyn Musgrave

As a student at Eaton High School in Weld County, Marilyn remembers when politics first came alive to her.

"A teacher in my government class inspired me," Musgrave said. "He was a liberal; he was a good man. He felt deeply about the issues. I remember the class discussing capital punishment. Even then I was very concerned about justice and how states needed appropriate laws."

Musgrave was born in Weld County. She is a CSU graduate in social studies and became a teacher and eventually a member of the Fort Morgan school board. She married her husband Steve while the two were students at CSU.

The Musgraves have four children: Chad, Becky, Amy and John. Marilyn commented about the experience of having children.

"After my oldest son Chad was born, I put my heart and soul into raising him, his sisters and brother," Musgrave said. "They deserved the best of my time and attention."

Musgrave also has four grandchildren under the age of 4 and fifth grandchild is on the way.

Marilyn represented Fort Morgan in two terms in the Colorado State House before running for the Senate in 1998. Last year, she became Caucus Chairman for Senate Republicans.

Anita Cornwell, a personal friend and election staff member, described Musgrave's working style in politics as committed.

"Have you ever seen her in committee? Marilyn is tenacious," Cornwell said. "She keeps at it; she keeps asking questions, until she understands the issues. Once she makes up her mind, she stands her ground."

Musgrave sponsored legislation to ban same-sex marriages, to ban partial-birth abortions and to require parental notification before a minor can undergo an abortion. She believes in making President Bush's tax cuts permanent and is a proponent of conservative and family values.

"I supported the Republican bill that would have started each school day in Colorado with the Pledge of Allegiance," Musgrave said. "In contrast, my liberal Democratic opponent Stan Matsunaka killed the bill three times in the Colorado State Senate."

President Bush, Gov. Owens, Sen. Wayne Allard and Rep. Schaffer have endorsed Musgrave. She has also been endorsed by groups such as Gun Owners of America and has earned a 95 percent approval rating with the National Federation of Independent Business.

-Edited by Vince Blaser and Ben Koerselman

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