Up close and personal with the candidates
Wesley K. Clark:
Hometown: Little Rock, Ark.
Born: Dec. 23, 1944, Chicago, Ill.
Family: wife Gert Kingston Clark, one son, Wesley Jr.
Education: B.S. , U.S. Military Academy at West Point, 1966 (graduated first in his class). M.A., Rhodes Scholar, Oxford University, 1968
Political/Professional Background:
Joined Stephens Inc., as a consultant, 2000
Named Managing Director of Merchant Banking of Stephens Group, 2001-2003
NATO Supreme Allied Commander and U.S. European Command, 1997-2000
Commander -in-Chief, U.S. Southern Command, 1996-1997
Director of Strategic Plans and Policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1994-1996
Deputy Chief of Staff for Concepts, Doctrine and Developments
Training and Doctrine Command, United States Army, 1991- 1992
Assistant Professor, United States Military Academy, 1989-1991
Chief, Army Study Group, Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army, 1983-1984
Chief, Plans Integration Division, Office of the Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, United States Army, 1983
White House Fellow, 1975-1976
U.S. Army, 1966 – 2000; Retired as a Four-Star General
Web site: www.clark04.com
Howard B. Dean III:
Born: Nov. 17, 1948, in New York City, N.Y.
Family: Married to Judith Steinberg, a physician. Two children: Anne and Paul
Education: B.S., Yale University, 1971. M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1978.
Political/Professional Background:
Governor of Vermont, 1991-2003
Chair, Democratic Governors Association, 1997
Chair, National Governors Association, 1994-95
Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, 1986-1991
State Representative of Vermont, 1982-1986
Web site: www.deanforamerica.com
John Edwards:
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Born: June 10, 1953 in Seneca, South Carolina
Family: Married to Elizabeth Anania Edwards. Four children: Wade (deceased), Catharine, Emma Claire and Jack
Education: B.S. , North Carolina State University, 1974. J.D., University of North Carolina, 1977.
Political/Professional Background:
U.S. Senator of North Carolina, 1999-present (elected 1998)
Attorney, 1977-1999
Web site: www.johnedwards2004.com
John Kerry:
Hometown: Boston, Mass.
Born: Dec. 11, 1943, in Denver
Family: Married to Theresa Heinz Kerry. Two children; Alexandra, Vanessa and three stepchildren, John, Andre and Christopher.
Education: B.A. Yale University, 1966. J.D., Boston College, 1976.
Political/Professional Background:
U.S. Senator, 1984-present
Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, 1987-1989
Lieutenant Governor, 1982-1984 (elected 1982);
Democratic nominee for Congress, 1972
Practicing attorney, 1979 –1982
Assistant District Attorney, Middlesex County, 1977-1979
Spokesman for Vietnam Veterans Against the War, 1971
Web site: www.johnkerry.com
Dennis J. Kucinich:
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Born: Oct. 8, 1946, in Cleveland, Ohio
Family: Divorced. One child.
Education: Cleveland State University, 1967-70. B.A. & M.A. Case Western Reserve University, 1973.
Political/Professional Background:
U.S. Congressman of Ohio, 1997-present
State Senator, 1995-97
Mayor of Cleveland, 1977-79 (elected in 1977)
Cleveland Clerk of Municipal Courts, 1975-77
Democratic nominee for Congress, 1972
Cleveland City Councilman, 1970-75 and 1983-85
TV News Reporter, 1989-92
President, Marketing and Communications Firm, 1985-1995
Lecturer, 1980-83
Radio talk show host, 1979 & 1989
Consultant, Publicly Owned Electric Systems, 1979-Present
Web site: www.kucinich.us
Joseph Lieberman:
Hometown: New Haven, Conn.
Born: Feb. 24, 1942, in Stamford, Connecticut
Family: Married to Hadassah Lieberman. Four children: Matthew, Rebecca, Ethan, and Hana
Education: B.A. Yale University, 1964. J.D., Yale University Law School, 1967
Political/Professional Background:
U.S. Senator , 1989-present
Democratic nominee for Vice President, 2000
Founder, New Democrat Network, 1996
Chair, Democratic Leadership Council, 1995-2001
Attorney General of Connecticut, 1983-88
Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress, 1980
Candidate for Lieutenant Governor, 1978 (lost at state convention) State Senator, 1970-80 (State Senate Majority Leader, 1974-80)
Author Partner, Lieberman, Segaloff & Wolfson, 1972-1983
Attorney, Wiggin & Dana, New Haven 1967-1969
Web site: www.joe2004.com
Al Sharpton:
Hometown: New York City, N.Y.
Born: Oct. 3, 1954, Brooklyn , N.Y.
Family: Married to Kathy Jordan Sharpton. Two children: Dominique and Ashley
Education: Tilden High School; Attended Brooklyn College 1973 –1975
Political/Professional Background:
Candidate for mayor of New York, 1997
Candidate for U.S. Senate, 1992 and 1994
Founder & President, National Action Network, 1991-present
New York State Senate, 1978
Founder, National Youth Movement, 1971
Road Manager for singer James Brown, 1973-80 Licensed and ordained a Minister at age 10 by Bishop F.D. Washington in 1964
Web site: www.sharpton2004.org
Information used from each of the candidates’ Web sites, as well as TBO.com and The Orlando Sentinel.