It’s great to be running for Congress! I never imagined how much fun I would be having knocking on doors, making phone calls, talking to reporters, planning a political campaign, and doing everything I can to inform the people of the 50th Congressional District about my candidacy.

I’m a candidate because career politicians at every level of government — in San Diego, Sacramento, and Washington, DC — are letting us down. You and I know that we can do better. And that it’s time we had “new blood” in Congress — someone from outside the system who is fiscally conservative and socially tolerant — to try and implement the fundamental reforms that are necessary.

In Washington, DC, they are criticizing our troops and their efforts to make us safer. You and I know this is unacceptable. I want to go to DC to defend our troops.

In DC, they spent $500 million to build bridges to nowhere in Alaska, but what about roads that you and I drive on here in San Diego? We can do better. I want to go DC to get roads for San Diego.

In DC, they can spend lots of money on a Cowboy Hall of Fame, but they say they can’t cut spending by a mere 1% to help balance the budget. I want to go to DC because we can do better by cutting wasteful spending.

In DC, they won’t even make the tax breaks permanent, but our economy has grown tremendously since they passed. We can do better. I want to go to DC to make tax cuts permanent.

The Pentagon is going to spend 300 million taxpayer dollars on a world-wide PR campaign, but some of our troops in Iraq are still lacking the armor they need to survive a deadly attack. I want to go to DC to change that.

Entering this race wasn’t an easy decision. As you know, running for public office requires a tremendous personal sacrifice on the part of the candidate, but I’m disgusted with the sacrifices that you and I have been making on a daily basis to cope with the serious problems we face — problems that are not being solved by our elected officials. And after consulting my wife and family and some of my close friends, I decided to take the plunge.

And — aside from family and friends — even a few political reporters have reinforced what you and I have known for years that the status quo is not working and that we need real change. Both Republicans and Democrats have been wrong on issues because they toe the party line. The one thing you should remember about Ken King is that I will try to make the best decision on behalf of the people of San Diego — not my party’s leadership.

I know the difference between right and wrong and the Democrats are wrong when they criticize our troops. The Republicans were wrong when they interfered with Terry Schiavo. Government has no place in our homes and bedrooms and in our private and personal decisions. The Democrats are wrong when they say it’s bad to reduce spending and it’s bad to cut taxes, the Republicans are wrong when they vote to spend millions to build a bridge to nowhere and fund other unnecessary pork barrel projects. I’m running for Congress because we can do better.

I’m a small businessman, not a politician. I’ll go to Washington DC to change, not to join the ugly partisan nature that makes common-sense uncommon.

Throughout my life, I have always tried to do the right thing. And I believe my experience as a small business owner, local elected official, and community leader will enable me to make the right choices on behalf of the people of San Diego and the United States.

Defending our troops… It’s the right thing to do.

Keeping the government out of personal decisions and our bedrooms… It’s the right thing to do.

Making the tax cuts permanent and holding the line on spending… It’s the right thing to do.

Currently, there are members of Congress in both parties who don’t have the best interest of the American people foremost in mind.

Saying one thing and doing another is not the right thing to do.

Telling voters what you think they want to hear is not the right thing to do.

Delaying or obstructing votes on important matters is not the right thing to do.

Being part of the problem rather than part of the solution is not the right thing to do.
And grand-standing on personal and private family matters like Terry Schiavo is not the right thing to do.

And one of the qualities I’ve always tried to maintain as a small business owner and employer of more than 60 people is to be a good listener. I also believe that this is one of the most important traits a public servant can have.

My wife Jill and I have six children between us. And our concerns as parents are your concerns. All Americans deserve to live in safe neighborhoods with good schools so that every child has a chance at a bright future.

As a small business owner for decades, I know what it is experience fortune and misfortune. Like many of you, I know what it takes to fashion a living out of nothing.

And that’s why the federal government — with the policies it chooses to enact — needs to be more attuned to the plight of the small business owner, entrepreneur, and average employee in today’s labor market.

We face many challenges and problems at every level of government. We cannot begin to solve these problems unless we elect officials that are willing to do the right thing.

To make the tax cuts permanent and phase out the tax on capital gains, we need members of Congress who can demonstrate how such policies will ultimately benefit the American people.

To rein in federal spending, we need members of Congress who are willing to buck the leadership and vote down appropriations they consider wasteful and unnecessary.

To win the war on terror, we need members of Congress that will continue to support the president and go a step farther by encouraging the adoption of additional innovative measures that will safeguard the American people.

I am not yet a public policy expert, but I consider my lack of political experience an asset in this race. And I have a long history of listening, communicating, and delivering results. My legislative priorities are making the tax cuts permanent, phasing out the double-taxation of capital gains, winning the war on terror, and making sure that the government does not legislate morality. As a fiscal conservative, I believe that government should only do what the people can’t do for themselves. We all know that career politicians at all levels of government have been letting us down. We can and most do a better job of solving the problems that we face because the people are demanding leadership from elected officials on the things that matter in their lives.

I’m qualified to serve in the United States Congress because I have a long record as an honest business owner, local elected official, and community leader; and because I share the political philosophy of the vast majority of the people of the 50th district.

There’s a saying that “winners do what losers won’t do.” And in my campaign for Congress just like in my pool business I intend to out-hustle my opponents in every possible aspect of voter outreach, especially at the grass-roots level — walking precincts, holding signs, and meeting as many constituents as possible. I will work hard on your behalf both as a candidate and member of Congress.

While we face difficult challenges as a nation, I think that the future of America can be as illustrious as its past. After all, we’ve got a lot going for us — a strong economy, a productive population, and a stable system of government — to name just a few.

And, despite our partisan differences, Americans love their country and want to do what’s best for their children and grandchildren. If we stay true to the values that made America great, we can become an even stronger nation and force for good in the world.

With a common-sense, pragmatic approach focusing on what unites rather than what divides, I think the Congress can help improve the quality of life and standard of living of all Americans — so that we will all enjoy more freedom, more opportunity, and better conditions in which to live, prosper, and raise a family.

You may not agree with my position on every issue, but I think the individual issues are subservient to the larger principle of doing what’s right for the American people. If elected, that will always be my guiding light. Whether it is illegal immigration, traffic congestion, or a lack of integrity in our public officials, these problems are very real and need immediate attention. That’s why I am running to represent the 50th district in Congress.

I’m a person who’s always tried to stay true to myself, true to my family, and true to my customers. And I believe I have the leadership ability, integrity, and common sense to stay true to you as your representative in Congress. I hope I can earn your support.

Thank you.