Biographical looks at the two leading candidates for the U.S. Senate.

BARBARA BOXER

* Occupation: U.S. senator

* Political Party: Democrat

* Age: 57

* Residence: Greenbrae

* Education: B.A. in economics, Brooklyn College

* Career Highlights: Stockbroker; journalist; Marin County Board of Supervisors, 1976-82; U.S. House of Representatives, 1983-93; U.S. senator since 1993; helped secure $11 billion for Northridge quake relief, $59 million for the Alameda Transportation Corridor, $200 million for El Nino relief and $26 million for a Los Angeles Harbor improvement project.

MATT FONG

* Occupation: State treasurer

* Political Party: Republican

* Age: 44

* Residence: Hacienda Heights

* Education: B.A., U.S. Air Force Academy; M.B.A., Pepperdine; J.D., Southwestern University School of Law

* Career Highlights: In the Air Force, was computer data processing officer; lawyer with Los Angeles firm, 1985-91; unsuccessful run for state controller, 1990; appointed to State Board of Equalization, 1991. Elected state treasurer, 1994, and has helped boost state’s credit rating and put pressure on Swiss banks to return funds to Holocaust victims.