Tetalman Opens Office, Plans 'Good Campaign' Against Issa [Video]

Candidate for the 49^th Congressional District, Jerry Tetalman opened his campaign office Friday at 390 Oak Avenue in his home city of Carlsbad.

The Democrat will be up against Republican imcumbent Darrell Issa of Vista. The newly-redrawn district includes Oceanside, Camp Pendleton, Carlsbad and Encinitas.

With four months left until the election, he hopes to energize independents and recruit volunteers.

“I expect to run a good campaign and do a good organization to getting the vote out and appealing to independents,” he said. “It’s going to be a lot of work.”

Tetalman has received criticism that he is too inexperienced, but he sees that as a strength.

“I think we need new ideas in Washington,” he said. “I think we’ve seen the experienced politicians in Washington get divided and not be able to get things done.”

The economy is the top issue, he told Patch. He said he plans to help grow the economy with sound fiscal policy and creating access to low interest loans for businesses.

He also feels his policies would be more environmentally sound than Issa’s.

“He basically has the ‘drill, baby drill’ attitude towards energy,” he said. “I really see myself as an environmentalist.”

Read more about his views on issues on his issues page.

If you have any questions for the candidate, leave them in the comments section and Patch will forward them to him. 

Editor's note: A previous version of this story included cities that are not in the new district. Those have since been removed.