In this fall’s House of Representatives races, incumbent Susan Davis will have competition locally in California’s 53rd District. Republican Mari Hamlin Fink, a lifelong Point Loma resident, announced earlier this month she will run for Congress. “I’m in this for the long run and I would like to bring some real change,” Fink said. Fink said she decided to run for Congress because she simply felt that it was time for a change. In her four elections as incumbent, Davis had been elected by an average of two-thirds of the vote. “We have an incumbent who has been seated for 10 years now and I think it’s time for a little challenge,” said Fink. “I feel confident that I can challenge her and bring some change to the policies in Washington that I think are frustrating our citizenry right now.” One of the issues Fink is most concerned about is healthcare. Her wish is that the issue be taken back to the drawing board by both conservatives and liberals to come up with a solution both transparent and beneficial to the public. “There are so many parts of the current bill that are not what people want to see – the rationing and the limits,” Fink said. “Those aren’t portions of the reform that should be in there and it’s not what represents the people well.” In a struggling economy, Fink said she also would like to see spending limits because she believes the government currently funds too many special-interest groups. “There’s so much waste and inefficiency in our current government and there’s so much spending that does not need to be there,” Fink said. “We need to analyze spending before we go forward with it and limit spending. The runaway spending has got to be reined in. This affects the whole 53rd and it affects Point Loma.” Fink is a ninth-generation San Diegan. She earned a B.A. in business administration from San Diego State University after graduating from Point Loma High School. For the last three decades, Fink has been involved in philanthropic efforts of numerous organizations, including Rady Children’s Hospital and the American Red Cross. “I bring a broad knowledge of our San Diego district, having lived here my whole life,” Fink said. “I bring a strong ethic of working for my community.” For more information on Fink’s campaign, visit www.finkforcongress.com.