47TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

CHRISTOPHER COX

A former White House attorney for President Reagan, Cox was elected in 1988 and has risen to become the fifth-highest ranking Republican in Congress.

* Political party: Republican

* Age: 46

* Residence: Newport Beach

* Education: B.A., political science and English, USC, 1973; M.A., J.D. Harvard University, 1977.

* Career highlights: Forced the first vote on term limits, 1991. Pushed law to limit appeals in death-penalty cases, 1995. Wrote ban on taxing the Internet. Appointed chairman of Republican Policy Committee.

* Priorities: Seek across-the-board tax relief. Simplify tax laws. Repeal estate and gift taxes. Reform budget process. Support teacher competency testing, more money for classrooms, charter schools, tax-free education savings. Provide liability protection for those working to fix Year 2000 problems. Save Social Security. Protect Upper Newport Bay. Speed up cleanup of Superfund sites.

CHRISTINA AVALOS

A family counselor for 20 years, Avalos is active with various community organizations. She has picked up some union support in her bid to unseat Cox.

* Political party: Democrat

* Age: 43

* Residence: Orange

* Education: B.A., psychology, Cal State Fullerton, 1993; M.A., human behavior, National University, 1997.

* Career highlights: Member, American Assn. of University Women; board member, All Peoples Christian Center; worked on various Democratic candidate campaigns.

* Priorities: Maintain citizen control over El Toro airport and place strict regulations on noise. Push for federal funding of health and environmental-protection programs. Increase federal funding for schools.

OTHER CANDIDATES: Victor A. Wagner Jr. of the Libertarian Party, Paul Fisher of the Natural Law Party and Raymond O. Mills of the Reform Party.

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A photo of Christina Avalos was not available.