Occupation: Attorney

Date of birth: July 31, 1945

Personal background: Weld was born in Smithtown, N.Y., the son of an investment banker. He lives in Cambridge with his wife, Susan Roosevelt, and their five children. He has an undergraduate degree and a law degree from Harvard. He also holds a diploma in economics and political science from Oxford University.

Work and political experience: After serving as a law clerk with the state's Supreme Judicial Court, Weld worked for 10 years at the Boston law firm of Hill & Barlow. He lost to Democrat Francis X. Bellotti in the 1978 race for attorney general. In 1981, he was appointed U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts. Former President Ronald W. Reagan brought Weld to Washington in 1986, appointing him assistant attorney general in charge of the criminal division. Weld resigned from the post in 1988 to protest the actions of former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese. He now works for the Boston law firm of Hale & Dorr.

Major political positions: He is fiscally conservative, favoring the Citizens for Limited Taxation proposal that would roll back taxes and fees to their mid-1988 levels. Weld has called for zero-based budgeting to manage the state's finances. Weld is avidly pro-choice on abortion, and has stressed his commitment to the environment.

Occupation: State representative; House minority leader

Date of birth: October 10, 1949

Personal background: Pierce was born in Johnstown, N.Y. The son of a carpenter, he was raised in Westfield. He received a B.A. in economics from Union College in 1971, and graduated from Duke University Law School in 1974. He lives with his wife, Mary Jane, in Westfield. They have one son.

Work and political experience: Pierce is serving his sixth term in the House, and is the House minority leader. He received the GOP party's endorsement for governor.

Major political positions: Pierce is a fiscal conservative who supports the Citizens for Limited Taxation tax rollback initiative, although he has said he would be willing to delay the proposal until June. Pierce opposes abortion, except in cases of rape or incest. But he says he would honor the state's constitution--which allows for abortion in line with Roe vs. Wade--even if the U.S. Supreme Court allows states to impose restrictions on abortion.