Just whose congressman is he?

S.J. CAHN

I’m a little obsessed with this idea that Rep. Chris Cox is

“Newport’s” congressman, first and foremost, and how he didn’t come

to his true constituents’ aid regarding the fate of the El Toro

Marine Corps Air Station.

Folks are always quick to say Cox’s core support is in his Newport

Beach hometown, forgetting the size of Irvine or the number of people

who live in Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods,

Laguna Niguel, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano. The rough

estimate, vote-wise, is Newport bringing about 45,000 to the table

versus about 127,000 for the southern parts of Cox’s district. Even

if you add in Tustin’s votes and parts of Santa Ana, there were maybe

25,000 more in the fall.

Votes, of course, are only part of the equation that equals

political victory. Money plays a big part, too -- though probably

less so for Cox, who routinely has out-raised and out-spent his

much-overmatched opposition. In the 2004 race, Cox raised $1.06

million compared with a combined $40 for his two opponents, according

to the Center for Responsive Politics.

(Any surprise he won?)

More importantly, though, is where that money came from. And the

expectation has to be that Newport Beach accounts for a healthy chunk

of it, maybe even an overwhelming majority.

Turns out, I think, that it’s surprisingly close, judging by the

top 10 contributing zip codes -- numbers that include individual

donations, as compiled by the center. Newport totals $95,125. Tustin

adds $23,875 and Santa Ana $14,375 for $133,375 from the northern

part of his district. The rest of his district -- the anti-airport

part -- contributed $84,100.

Now, these numbers aren’t exhaustive (Cox raised $363,000 in

Orange County, for instance), but they at least suggest that not all

of Cox’s money comes from Newport Beach. Add that certainly not all

his votes come from here, and Cox’s support of projects outside

Newport Beach’s borders makes sense.

There is evidence to suggest that Newport Beach residents want to

give money to pro-El Toro politicians, however. Cox’s colleague, Rep.

Dana Rohrabacher, received about $83,000 from individual Newport

donors, again using his top 10 ZIP Codes as a measure. Palos Verdes

Peninsula and Rancho Palos Verdes, which actually are in

Rohrabacher’s long coastal district, chipped in a combined $72,000.

That continued a trend from the 2002 election cycle, when Newport

also was Rohrabacher’s top city.

ONE MORE UNITED PLEA

Here’s a last request to help out with Costa Mesa United and the

2005 Mesa Verde Golf Classic, which Mesa Verde Country Club and the

Pilot are putting on this Monday.

This group of local leaders is trying to raise $7.5 million to

build a football stadium at Estancia High School and a top-notch

swimming facility at Costa Mesa High School. They’re about a third of

the way there.

On Monday, the latest fundraiser, the golf tournament, takes

place. Organizers are seeking a few final silent auction items.

If you can help, send an e-mail to tournament co-chair Ned Bondie

at ned.bondie@latimes.com or call him at (714) 966-4654. Be careful

how you approach Ned, though. I’d already managed to wrangle myself a

slot in the classic when I offered to put lunch with me up for an

auction. I’m now trying to get out of paying extra to play.

* S.J. CAHN is the managing editor. He may be reached at (714)

966-4607 or by e-mail at s.j.cahn@latimes.com.