Campbell is a nice fit for community

Not surprisingly, Newport Beach has a familiar face representing it in Congress. John Campbell, who initially was Newport-Mesa’s assemblyman and then its state senator, on Tuesday was elected to fill the seat vacated earlier this year by longtime Rep. Chris Cox.

Campbell’s election should make for a fairly seamless transition. Supported by the county Republican Party, Campbell’s political philosophies are largely in keeping with Cox’s. The two are conservative on both fiscal and social issues, but much more outspoken on the former. Campbell seems about as neat a fit for the 48th Congressional District as could be imagined.

The most significant change, in fact, arguably won’t be that dramatic. Newport Beach always prided itself on Cox being a hometown boy.

Campbell, however, is an Irvine resident and, while he’s widely popular in Newport, he’s never going to be known as “Newport Beach’s representative.”

There will be no (R-Newport Beach) following his name in newspaper stories.

That change largely will be cosmetic, however, since on a number of issues -- the proposal for an airport at El Toro sits at the top of the list -- Cox sided with interests in other parts of the district. Cox, for political reasons, could not always put Newport Beach first.

Campbell, even if not a native son, certainly is familiar with Newport’s issues and its residents’ main concerns. As a reminder -- and as quickly as possible, given how busy Campbell is sure to be this week -- a core list includes water quality; cleaning up and dredging the Back Bay; the flight restrictions at John Wayne Airport; tax policies; and legislation to promote business.

Campbell, we are sure, is up to the challenge of addressing these issues, and the other unexpected ones that will come his way. He has come quite a political distance since winning his Assembly seat in 2000.

We’re happy to be among the first to congratulate him on being elected to Congress.