Paige Torres…On Saturday February 20th, supporters of accomplished Congressman and Vista resident Darrell Issa joined together for an evening at the Vista Entertainment Center to kick off the 2016 election year. Those who contributed to his campaign fundraiser by buying tickets to the event were able to dine and discuss politics in a social setting, while also having the unique opportunity to converse with the Congressman and hear him speak. As local guests testified, the event served as an important and accessible occasion which allowed the Vista public to take advantage of a rare opportunity to share thoughts and champion political activism.
In the short time that Darrell Issa was able to draw himself from discussion with his supporters, the Congressman made a speech in honor of the coming election year and his campaign for re-election for Congress. The Congressman hopes to enter his ninth term and sixteenth year in office. He acknowledged that he is not sure if this term will be his last, but that he will continue to speak out on issues which need reforming and that he still has a lot he wants to accomplish. He expressed his support for Presidential candidate Marco Rubio, urging his audience to consider him as a viable candidate for the 2016 election. The Congressman then welcomed conservative Phil Graham to the stage, where he discussed his run in the election for State Assembly and the hard work he has completed to try and win the race.
As the night went on, event goers continued to socialize and ask the Congressman questions, even having the opportunity to have their photo taken with him. The Congressman was never idle in conversing with all his guests, showing his close ties to the Vista community he comes from. In reference to his goals for the future, the Congressman stated that he would like to see a reformation in immigration policies and institutions. He summarized his excitement, claiming that it is not the re-election in itself which would be most thrilling but that “when you find yourself doing something [like serving in office] and realize how special it is, that is what is most important…in America even one member of the House of Representatives is important to getting great leaders in the world.” To learn more about Darrell Issa’s campaign go to www. darrellissa.com.
Paige Torres is a Senior at Rancho Buena Vista High School
