Tegerdine plans to run against Taylor

Petal businessman speaks to local Republican women

By David Owens, newseditor@laurelleadercall.com

Some 14 months before the 2010 elections, Petal businessman Joe Tegerdine is already hot on the campaign trail. Tegerdine, who is challenging for Gene Taylor’s 4th District U.S. Congress seat next fall, spoke to the Jones County Republican Women Wednesday at Western Sizzlin.

Tegerdine said he was inspired to run after attending a town hall meeting in April that was hosted by Taylor.

“It’s aggravating when politicians never answer questions on television, but you forgive them because they’re in the lion’s den and journalists are asking them questions,” he said. “You understand why they play defense on TV, but to witness that live was extremely arrogant and condescending (on Taylor’s part).”

Tegerdine, a Florida native who relocated to Mississippi for business, said Taylor is “not being a responsible steward” by simply voting no on legislation before congress.

“A part of it is also convincing other congressmen, who are serial spenders, to vote no,” he said. “Members entrenched in the federal government are only concerned with getting re-elected and keeping special interest and big money happy.”

Tegerdine said Taylor, who he called a “career politician,” has not done enough for his constituents, sponsoring only 28 bills in his 20 years as congressman. “Only five of those have passed, and they were all for renaming federal buildings or land,” he said.

“We don’t have the luxury of apathy,” he said. “We need someone with more than name recognition, a pretty face and nice hair. We need someone who will go up there and fight. That’s representation that I feel you deserve and I want.”

Tegerdine, who admitted to being “almost 35,” said he believes he has a better chance than predecessors in defeating Taylor because is working hard to unite the conservative vote.

“Environmentally, the atmosphere is also a lot different than in past elections,” he said. “We don’t need the coast to get elected, but everyone from Clark County to the coast is excited. The Republican party will return if its leaders sit squarely on the conservative platform.”

Tegerdine said that platform includes:

• New leadership — fight for the people of South Mississippi, not lobbyists or special interests; enact term limits to break the stranglehold of career politicians

• Limited government — no nationalized health care; discontinue the policy of bailouts and buyouts of failed companies; stop delegating lawmaking authority to administrative agencies

• Fiscal discipline — control spending; balance the budget and pay off the national debt; reform the tax code, no tax increases; eliminate government waste; reform entitlement programs; reduce the size of government

• Strong national defense — reform and enforce immigration laws; provide our military with the best equipment and training and provide the best health care for our veterans; decrease dependence on foreign oil by increasing supply in the U.S.; ensure that U.S. education is the envy of all nations

Tegerdine holds a B.A. in Communications from Brigham Young University and a Juris Doctorate from Florida State University College of Law. After graduation, he worked in Destin, Fla., which led to his current position as senior director of business development for UNC Satcom Group. This job has taken Tegerdine all over the U.S. and to many countries throughout the world. His job relocated him to Hattiesburg in the spring of 2007, and he now resides in Petal with his wife, Kerry Lynne and four children.

For more information, visit www.joetegerdine.com or call 1-877-583-JOET (5638).

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