CITY FOCUS:

U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher has won nine congressional elections in a row, but Mayor Debbie Cook hopes to break the streak. He has the advantages of long-term incumbency and strong support for his party in the area, but she said she wants to give him the run of his career.

Cook announced her candidacy this month, and already has supporters walking precincts to get signatures for her petition to run. Some local supporters pounding the pavement include former Mayor Connie Boardman and her appointed Planning Commissioner Joe Shaw, who is now communications director for the campaign.

Cook said she intends to capitalize on her numerous connections throughout the district, including her colleagues from government and intergovernmental boards, her allies in environmental and energy groups, and people she’s known through business, volunteering and school in various cities for the last few decades.

Conservative voting patterns as well as Rohrabacher’s incumbency status make it look like an uphill battle for Cook.

Rohrabacher beat entrepreneur and veteran Jim Brandt 59% to 37% in 2006 and by a greater margin in 2004.

But two-term councilwoman Cook notes she’s got credentials in public office not matched by previous Democratic candidates. She said voters were energized this year and were open to change.

When asked about Cook’s challenge to his seat, Rohrabacher called her a solid opponent but said she didn’t fit the political views of his district.

“Debbie Cook is a tangible adversary, and she very well represents the liberal left wing of the Democratic Party,” Rohrabacher said. “If she was running in Berkeley, she would probably be a very viable candidate. The voters of this district have voted consistently for conservative candidates running.”

Her core message of responding to an impending energy crisis, fiscal restraint, health care and education reform has a chance to resonate beyond her base, Cook said.

“The old-school way, those ideas that were so entrenched in Orange County are eroding,” she said.

“It’s different from even 10 years ago. I think we’ve reached a tipping point when the Chamber of Commerce is holding a green business fair. I think business is recognizing that environmental disaster isn’t good for business.”

Cook said Rohrabacher neglected the district’s needs, and there are regional issues she thinks are important to address, like pollution from ports and traffic congestion.

“This region is the neglected stepchild when it comes to transportation dollars,” she said.

She said she plans to hit Rohrabacher on what she calls a lack of depth, and she calls him out of touch with voters.

“I’ve never heard him talk about any issue except the war,” she said.

Even in foreign policy, she said he lacked nuance on issues like resource wars she sees starting to spring up around the world.

“His focus is just on getting the bad guy,” she said. “It’s more than just bad guys.”

Rohrabacher said he welcomed the challenge.

“Hopefully there’ll be a great exchange of ideas,” he said.

Cook called the run worthwhile even if she loses because it will foster a debate and force Rohrabacher to defend his seat.

“I can’t think of anything more important than this,” she said. “There really is no downside.”