Republican congressional candidate Pete Riehm made the first official visit to Atmore of his young campaign Tuesday during a lunchtime meet and greet at David’s Catfish House.

Embarking on what he called the “Restoring Common Sense Tour,” Riehm began a series of brief speaking engagements throughout District 1 early Tuesday in Chatom and continued throughout the day, ending in Mobile with a massive televised press conference.

A retired Navy commander and current commercial Realtor in Mobile, Riehm will be challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, for Alabama’s District 1 seat.

Should Riehm pull off a victory over Bonner in the March Republican primary, his position as a freshman representative will mark his first term holding any elected office.

Despite his lack of political experience, Riehm said on Tuesday he knows exactly what the people of District 1 want and need from their congressman.

“The people are sick and tired of the nonsense that’s happening in Washington, and they want some common sense restored,” Riehm said.

Riehm pointed to several issues he said are key to solving the problems currently facing south Alabama and the nation, including balancing the budget by cutting spending.

“Congress has a spending problem, not a revenue problem,” he said.

Riehm also said economic growth must be promoted through lower taxes and less intrusive government regulations and touched on Alabama’s current immigration problems saying the boarders must be secured and a realistic guest worker program created “so we know who is in our country.”

Riehm said he supports the controversial immigration laws passed by the Legislature in their last session and pointed to Washington as the catalyst for such extreme legislation.

“I think it’s a good step,” he said. “It is obviously a huge problem for the country. The reason Alabama has to take such measures is because the U.S. government has abdicated their responsibilities.”

Riehm again pointed to common sense as a means to solve the immigration issue.

“Why don’t we do some common sense things,” he said. “Let’s enforce the laws we have and close the boarders.”

Riehm was also critical of the national government for spending and for passing the proposed healthcare coverage plan — which he called “Obamacare” — alleging even Congress has not read the bill in its entirety.

“It should be out of here. Repeal it,” he said. “What kind of nonsense is it to pass a 2,000-plus page bill when you don’t even know what’s in it?”

Riehm said, under his tenure, attention would be focused on getting back to basic conservative values and eliminating big government.

“We’re doing things the constitution doesn’t allow,” he said. “We’re going to have to start affirming the constitution. We can get out of this if the government will get of the way.”

Riehm said the most important aspect of his service in the U.S. Congress would be voicing the concerns of the voters in district one.

“The people of south Alabama want their voices heard,” he said. If there’s a fight for the soul of this country, then Alabamians want to be in the fight.”

Riehm is a Texas native who retired from the Navy while stationed in Mobile in 2005.  He currently resides in Mobile with his wife Debra and three children, Jessica, Justin and Jennifer. He is the former executive director of the Tea Party’s Common Sense Campaign; served as operations director for the South Alabama Honor Flight; event coordinator for the South Alabama Veteran’s Council; is the former president of the Military Officer’s Association of America; is a member of the Mobile area Chamber of Commerce; is a member of the Mobile Area Association of Realtors. Riehm is also heavily involved in the Tunnels of Towers 9/11 Committee, which annually honors those who died in the World Trade Centers.

Riehm will face off against Jo Bonner in the Republican primary March 13, 2012.