POLITICS ASIDE -- s.j. cahn

Our local candidates have come to cyberspace.

Included among them is John Graham, one of the handful of Democrats

hoping to face Rep. Chris Cox (R-Newport Beach) in November.

Graham, who teaches at UCI’s Graduate School of Management, is running

what he calls an experimental race. That means he doesn’t plan to

advertise on television or campaign door to door.

Instead, his campaign will focus on his Web site, at o7

www.johngraham4congress.comf7 , and on direct mailing.

“The 47th District is probably the best place to try this,” he said.

His campaign, he said, offers a glimpse into the future, when new

technology will, among other things, allow TV watchers to skip

commercials. Campaigns (and all advertising) will have to change, as a

result.

Another reason to spotlight Graham can be found at the top of his home

page, under the link: “My Fellow Candidates.”

That’s right, Graham has links to the Web pages of both Cox (o7

www.house.gov/chriscoxf7 ) and fellow Democrat Maziar Mafi (o7

www.mafi2000.orgf7 ). And, he says on his site, “As I learn more about

other new candidates I’ll keep this updated.”

Other sites to surf by: Republican Assembly hopeful John Campbell, at o7

johncampbell.orgf7 , and the two main candidates for the 45th District,

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, o7 www.house.gov/rohrabacherf7 , and Democrat

Ted Crisell, at o7 tedcrisell.comf7 .

Like Graham, the Pilot will keep you updated as other candidates’ Web

sites appear.

On a separate campaign front, the anti-El Toro forces have ratcheted up

their fight against plans for a commercial airport in South County, as

those who watch cable TV already know.

But while those commercials, including the one that loudly illustrates

the sound of an airport, aim at South County residents, the latest

mailing from the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority has an interesting

twist.

The side effects from El Toro -- noise, traffic and pollution -- will hit

all of Orange County, the antiairport group claims. And so, among the

communities that will be affected by “The Blight Path” are Corona del

Mar, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Newport Coast.

Surprise, Newport-Mesa.

* S.J. CAHN is city editor of the Daily Pilot. Send your political news

to him at: Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; by fax at

(949) 646-4170; or by e-mail to o7 dailypilot@latimes.comf7 . He can be

reached at (949) 574-4268.