'Realist' Corbett Relaxes During Primary Drubbing

James Corbett didn't go out with friends Tuesday evening as the primary votes rolled in. He stayed home and watched television.

The Democratic history teacher, best known for being sued by a Christian student at for , is challenging incumbent Assemblywoman Diane Harkey for the 73rd assembly district. (A message left with the Harkey campaign Tuesday night was not immediately returned.)

Tuesday's poll results—30 percent for Corbett, 69 percent for Harkey as of midnight—bode ill for the challenger.

"I’m kind of a realist. I’ve got a hell of a mountain to climb here," Corbett said. "The outlook for me is pretty grim. At the same time, she deserves opposition."

Corbett said he took up the challenge when Democrats asked him to run because he was dissatisfied with Harkey's stint in the state Assembly.

"Harkey seems to be more concerned with state issues" than issues at home, he said. He pointed to the tax disparity at Capistrano Valley Unified—the district where he teaches.

The state uses a formula called average daily attendance to determine where to funnel state tax dollars. Corbett said that formula hurts CUSD more than any other district in Orange County.

That in turn hurts South County students, he said.

"Harkey and the other conservatives from Orange County have never moved, they’ve never made an effort to equalize the funding for the CUSD," he said.

He also pointed to a lawsuit involving husband Dan Harkey's investment company, which Corbett says includes allegations of elder abuse and fraud.

Despite this political ammunition, Corbett said he went into the race knowing he would be the longshot:

"When they asked me to do this they said, 'Well, we’ll give you a cigarette and a blindfold.' "

His plan is to sit tight until September, then use what campaign funds are available to hit Harkey on her record, beginning in earnest about a month before the election, he said.