Editor's note: This is one of several stories looking at the key races in Tuesday's general election.

Peter Theron of Madison, a math teacher and computer programmer, is taking on five-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Madison in the Nov. 4 election to represent Wisconsin's 2nd Congressional District.

The district represents Dane, Green and Columbia counties, as well as portions of Jefferson, Sauk, Rock and a small part of Walworth counties.

Tammy Baldwin

Age: 46.

Address: 10 E. Doty St. No. 405, Madison.

Family: Partner, Lauren Azar.

Current Job: Congressional representative.

Political Experience: Former Wisconsin state representative, former Dane County supervisor.

Other public service: Former board member of Access to Independence, Madison Urban Ministry homeless shelter, and Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C's).

Education: J.D. from UW-Madison Law School; A.B. (mathematics, government) from Smith College.

Web site: www.tammybaldwin.com.

Peter Theron

Age: 52.

Address: 1021 Sequoia Trail, Madison.

Family: Wife, Amy.

Current job: Self-employed computer programmer.

Political experience: None.

Other public service: None.

Education: Bachelor's in statistics from Princeton; doctorate in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Web site: www.theronforcongress.com.

What will be the first piece of legislation you introduce?

Baldwin: Families are struggling today, and one of the greatest challenges they face is the lack of affordable health care. Over 46 million Americans have no health-care coverage. The first bill I will re-introduce is my bipartisan legislation to achieve health care for all. The bill, which now has 80 co-sponsors nearly evenly divided among Republicans and Democrats, will allow states to innovate with federal government support. The next Congress is poised to enact major health-care reform, which is long overdue. I am working to see that my bill will be a part of a bipartisan solution.

Theron: In light of our need for more energy, the first piece of legislation I will introduce is an all-of-the-above energy bill that will encourage developing our oil reserves, building oil refineries and nuclear power plants, and continuing our energy research.

In light of the troubles in the financial markets, what changes, if any, would you support in the regulation of the banking industry?

Baldwin: For three decades, we have heard that the solution to our nation's problems is to have less government regulation and allow the free market to work unfettered by rules to protect consumers and the public. The collapse of major firms in the financial industry and the resulting credit crisis is nothing short of a complete repudiation of this philosophy. The repeal of the important law separating banking and securities industries (the Glass-Steagall Act) played a significant role in the current crisis. I voted against the repeal of Glass-Steagall.

The first step in re-establishing appropriate regulation is for Congress to use its powers of oversight to conduct a thorough investigation into the current situation to determine where current regulations were inadequate and where regulators failed to adequately enforce existing law. Congress must enact legislation to restore common-sense regulations. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission requires more funding and enforcement staff to see that laws and regulations are followed.

Theron: The source of the troubles in the financial markets is Congress, specifically congressional Democrats. They passed the irresponsible Carter-era Community Reinvestment Act and acquiesced to the pernicious Clinton-era CRA regulations that required banks to loan money to unqualified borrowers. Congressional Democrats created, nurtured and protected Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, whose trafficking in these subprime loans spread them throughout the banking system. Any meaningful reform of the banking industry must start with the voters cleaning up Congress.

How can the government best promote manufacturing jobs, particularly in old-line industries such as paper mills that are common in Wisconsin?

Baldwin: Our manufacturing sector has been devastated. While international trade is a good thing, the rules of trade agreements matter. So-called "free trade" has led to a race to the bottom where American workers are pitted against workers in countries with dramatically lower standards of living and no worker or environmental protections. We must change our trade policy to one of "fair trade" to protect the best American jobs.

Government can help industry retool to increase productivity while using less energy and creating more efficient products in a new "green" economy. Recently, I supported government grants to the auto industry to retool plants in America to make them competitive and keep jobs here at home. Additionally, we must continue to invest in our work force, ensuring that they have the education that they need to fill or keep jobs in high-tech manufacturing. Lastly, health-care costs continue to be a major expense of companies with manufacturing plants in the United States. Foreign companies and operations have a competitive advantage because health-care costs are not an element of their overhead. Addressing our health-care crisis must include confronting this reality.

Theron: Business goes where it is welcomed. Too often governing bodies in Wisconsin have treated business, especially farming and manufacturing, as nuisances. In my economic plan I have called for an economic task force for the 2nd Congressional District. Government can remove red tape, provide safe communities, keep taxes low, and view the private sector as a vital partner.

What's your prescription for America's energy future?

Baldwin: As Wisconsinites face painfully high gas prices and home heating costs, and with climate change threatening our planet and our national security at risk, we must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. We must invest in renewable energy sources, including wind, solar, geothermal and biofuels, which are good for our environment, economy, farmers and energy future. As a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, I was a part of a bipartisan team that crafted legislation to encourage the development of cellulosic biofuels, increase the fuel efficiency of vehicles, improve energy efficiency standards, and create green jobs. Our bill is now law, but our work is not over. We must make an Apollo-scale commitment to energy independence just as President Kennedy committed to putting a man on the moon within a decade.

Theron: Our energy future will evolve as our research continues. In the short term we will remain dependent on oil. For this reason the first piece of legislation I will introduce is an all-of-the-above energy bill that will encourage developing our oil reserves, building oil refineries and nuclear power plants, and continuing our energy research.

Your neighbor is 53, lost his job when the plant closed and no longer has health insurance. Why should he vote for you?

Baldwin: I chose public service precisely because I care deeply about the plight of those who are unemployed, uninsured and unable to make ends meet. And I am a Democrat because I believe that government has a constructive role to play in addressing these struggles. I am working to forge real solutions to the problems facing Wisconsin families. Working across the aisle and setting partisanship aside, I continue to focus on job creation, health care for all and new energy policies to strengthen our economy. In addition, I support important worker retraining, using our outstanding vocational and technical colleges, to provide displaced workers with the opportunity to gain new skills that will open the door to emerging industries.

Theron: My neighbor probably worked at the Janesville GM plant or one of its suppliers. If 10 years ago Congress had put in place a comprehensive energy plan for transportation fuel, this plant that produced popular larger vehicles would never have closed due to $4-a-gallon gasoline. Congress will continue failed energy policies unless we demand change. In World War II health insurance was first tied to employment. We need to update this 60-year-old practice so more individuals can own their own health insurance.