Cox could face experienced opponent

S.J. Cahn

NEWPORT BEACH -- Former California Assemblyman Jim Keysor, who

represented parts of the San Fernando Valley in the 1970s, is among four

Democrats considering a run against Rep. Chris Cox (R-Newport Beach) next

year.

“I’m determined to do it,” said Keysor, 71, who now lives in Leisure

World.

Keysor has not yet filed with the Federal Election Commission. There is a

month remaining for potential candidates to file with the commission.

A pair of candidates have taken the step of officially forming campaign

committees: attorney Maziar Mafi, of Laguna Beach, and former UCI dean

John Graham, of Irvine.

Mafi was the first potential Democrat to file, back in May. By the end of

June, Mafi had raised $6,800 -- but now has about $50,000, he said

Thursday.

“We’re in there,” Mafi said. “It’s obviously not an easy [election to

win].”

Mafi added that he was surprised the Democratic field has grown so much,

but said he was encouraged that the party would likely field a strong

candidate against Cox.

“I think it’s very important for people to hear what he’s been doing in

Congress,” Mafi said of Cox.

Graham, a former dean at the Graduate School of Management at UCI, filed

his statement of candidacy on Oct. 13. He could not be reached for

comment.

The fourth candidate will be familiar to voters: Christina Avalos, who

ran against Cox in 1998 and received 25% of the vote.

Her campaign is a bit of a surprise because Avalos terminated her

campaign committee in the summer, said Democratic Party Chairwoman Jean

Costales.

“I was surprised to hear she had taken out papers,” Costales said.

Avalos did not return a call for comment.

Costales said both Mafi and Graham would be “very credible” candidates

who have been deeply involved in Democratic politics in Orange County.

Keysor, however, is a new face in the county. But he does add a wrinkle

of experience to the list of candidates, as well as the potential to

challenge Cox’s money-raising efforts.

While he is against the El Toro airport -- which he says is an important

issue, but not a decisive one in the race -- he said he does not plan to

tap into antiairport money.

Instead, Keysor, who helped start a $50-million plastics manufacturing

company in Saugus, expects to draw largely from his own wealth.

“I don’t think candidates should have a free ride,” he said of his reason

for challenging Cox.

Keysor, who described himself as a moderate Democrat, said he does not

want to go into details about his positions on issues until he’s

officially filed for the race.

Both Mafi and Keysor acknowledged that any Democrat has a large battle

ahead in trying to unseat Cox.

“I think it’s a good idea to explore both options,” Keysor said, adding

that he hopes to attract the votes of disgruntled Republicans upset with

the conservative side of the party.

Cox could not be reached for comment.