Seeking his fourth re-election to the central coast House seat he has held for seven years, Rep. Sam Farr, D-Monterey, is fending off barbs in the March 7 primary from a perennial challenger and two new critics within his party.

Republicans, after five failed attempts by Pebble Beach lawyer Bill McCampbell, are choosing among three fresh faces. The party needs a candidate with crossover appeal in the 17th Congressional District, where Democrats, who have held the seat for nearly a quarter-century, heavily outnumber them, and where Farr's support for education and the environment have kept him in control.

Carole Dooley, 62, a Carmel management consultant who has worked for several candidates, is campaigning as a moderate Republican.

Dooley believes government waste can be trimmed without cutting programs. She supports stricter controls against illegal immigration, and believes free trade has hurt local agriculture. She also supports abortion rights except for the late-term procedure called ``partial-birth'' by opponents.

Salinas builder Clint Engler, 44, is a conservative Republican who would replace income, estate and inheritance taxes with import tariffs, a consumption tax and a population-based tax on states.

Engler opposes abortion and supports private, religious and home education as alternatives to public schooling, opposes gun control and believes environmental regulations have become too restrictive. Engler also supports a Social Security phase-out replaced by private retirement and pension programs.

Between the two is Rob Roberts, 44, a home care nurse and former talk radio host on KSCO-AM radio. Roberts distinguishes himself from Farr and his fellow Republicans as the only working-class, non-white candidate who would be the first black elected to the district. Roberts made his first bid for public office two years ago in a failed run for Salinas mayor.

Personally opposed to abortion, Roberts says he nonetheless supports abortion rights. He also supports school vouchers, legislation against flag burning, farm land preservation, Social Security and limits on growth and immigration.

Challenging Farr, 58, for the Democratic nomination are retired Santa Cruz social worker Joe Grossman, 56, and Aptos High school teacher Debra Whitmore, 45. They say Farr is too supportive of free trade and was slow in opposing U.S. bombing in Yugoslavia last year. Also seeking the Democratic nomination -- again -- is Art Dunn, 76, a Monterey businessman who has made dismal showings in repeated primary challenges against Farr.

Libertarian candidate Rick S. Garrett, 42, of Aptos; Green candidate E. Craig Coffin, 51, of Pacific Grove; Natural Law candidate Scott Hartley, 50, of Watsonville; and Reform candidate Larry Fenton, 37, of Seaside, are unopposed in the primary.