CQ Voting Studies are an annual analysis of a member's support or opposition to a given position. Interest Group Ratings are based on rankings from groups chosen to represent liberal, conservative, business and labor viewpoints.Voting Participation scores are based on the number of times a member voted "yea" or "nay" on roll call votes (not including quorum calls in the House). CQ Vote Studies Year Presidential Support Party Unity   S* O* S O 1998 84% 12% 90% 5% 1997 73 15 85 7 1996 84 16 92 5 1995 84 13 93 6 1994 81 15 94 1 1993 76 22 91 3 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 95 1997 91 1996 98 1995 98 1994 96 1993 96	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 100% n/a 44% 0 % 1997 95 100 40 4 1996 90 91 31 0 1995 90 100 17 4 1994 90 88 45 0 1993 93 83 29 7
Note on Interest Groups: ADA=Americans for Democratic Action; AFL-CIO=American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations; CCUS=Chamber of Commerce of the United States; ACU=American Conservative Union

CALIFORNIA 17 : Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties - Santa Cruz

The 17th includes the most populated part of upscale Santa Cruz County, along with its namesake city and several sizable seaside communities. Farther south, in Monterey County, exclusive Pebble Beach is home to celebrities and Silicon Valley executives. While Santa Cruz County is a Democratic stronghold, the district remains competitive because of its Republican-leaning farmers and retirees.

South of populous Santa Cruz County, agriculture drives the economy. Major wineries and vineyards also dot the landscape. Salinas, the seat of Monterey County, is known as the "salad bowl of the nation" for its fresh vegetables. The district's one-third Hispanic population is concentrated here, and Hispanics are beginning to win local offices.

Residents in the 17th expected to suffer economically when they lost their military base, the huge Fort Ord, in 1994. But California State U. Monterey Bay has since located there, and the influx of students and related jobs is expected to help replace 17,000 military jobs.

Major Industry
Agriculture, tourism, higher education

Military Bases
Presidio of Monterey (Army), 3,395 military (includes 3,097 students), 1,282 civilian (1997); Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, 95 military, 168 civilians (1998); Naval Postgraduate School, 1,500 military, 1,500 civilian (1998 est.)

Population
571,077 (1990)

Cities
Salinas, 128,300; Santa Cruz, 54,600; Monterey, 33,800; Seaside, 29,850 (1998 est.)

People
74% urban; 11% age 65+ (ranks 27 of 52 in state; bottom third nationally); 57% married couples, 29% married couples with children; 23% college educated (ranks 21 of 52 in state; top third nationally); 55% white collar (ranks 34 of 52 in state; middle third nationally), 22% blue collar (ranks 31 of 52 in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Race
70% white, 4% black, 6% Asian; 31% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$33,911 (ranks 27 of 52 in state; top third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Clint Eastwood was mayor of Carmel; Former White House Chief of Staff Leon E. Panetta represented the 17th from 1977-93; Monterey known for its language institutes; The Big Sur coastline, along U.S. Highway 1, a favorite location for filming car commercials; Author John Steinbeck grew up in Salinas.

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