There's Rep.-Elect Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa), who represents a patch-work of industrial towns, farms and university towns, along the Mississippi River.

"I'm a big bugaboo on education," said Boswell, an army pilot during Vietnam and a longtime farmer. "It's the great equalizer. I agree we need to balance the budget, but not at the expense of education."

Rep.-Elect Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.) arrived yesterday afternoon with his wife. His district covers miles and miles of Nevadan desert.

Although he comes from halfway across the country, Gibbons eschews party ties.

Many Western politicians are staunch conservatives who fear land-grabbing by the federal government. Gibbons, however, acknowledges the need for some government intervention, especially to protect the environment.

"It never hurt anyone to hear both sides of the issue," Gibbons said