ENCINITAS — At least two of the candidates for the 50th Congressional District are knocking on doors, meeting with party regulars and hosting meet-and-greet events throughout North County in anticipation of the June 3 primary.

Democratic congressional candidate Nick Leibham, an attorney and former teacher, said he is focused on making sure that the district’s needs are well-represented in Washington, D.C., through responsible leadership. His only challenger, Cheryl Ede, a senior psychologist with the San Diego Unified School District who entered the race recently, said she is committed to ending the war in Iraq.

The incumbent, Republican Brian Bilbray, is running without a challenger in the primary. He defeated Democrat Francine Busby in a special election in June 2006 after longtime representative Randy “Duke” Cunningham resigned amid bribery allegations. He defeated Busby again by a wider margin in the regular election in November of the same year.

On the issue of the environment, Leibham said there are stark differences between Bilbray and himself. “People in this district are being (financially) stretched,” Leibham said. “They want their government to be more responsive.”

Leibham said that residents see no reason why industry giants such as Exxon Mobil Corporation should continue to benefit from government subsidies when they are reporting record-breaking profits. Leibham maintains that a possible reason why Bilbray has defended the oil and gas industry in recent votes is his acceptance of $160,000 from industry special interests. “That’s not right,” Leibham said. “That’s not responsible leadership.”

Leibham said the money saved from revoking the subsidies should be used to foster innovation in wind, solar and biomass energy technologies. Bilbray voted against the Energy Independence and Security Act, declaring it did not lead the country on a path to real energy independence. “I voted against the bill because it was a rehashing of subsidies for special interests,” Leibham said. In particular, Bilbray said ethanol producers did not need help from the government. He said instead there should be a focus on renewable energy sources such as wind, hydrogen and nuclear power.

Ede’s Web site states that she supports renewable energy and a “go-to-the-moon” attitude in terms of realizing the potential of the energy sources. The candidate was not available for comment for this story.

Bilbray said he worked toward passage of the reauthorization of the National Water Quality bill, which increases the amount of money that local governments receive from $30 million to $40 million to test the quality of water along the nation’s coastline. “This is a first step,” he said.

Leibham, who was endorsed by the San Diego League of Conservation Voters, said he would stand on the right side of environmental issues with the people of the district. “Brian Bilbray was only one of 25 members of Congress to vote against the Clean Water Act. He voted to make it easier to allow oil rigs off the coast of Carlsbad and La Jolla,” Leibham said.

Bilbray defended his actions by saying that it was the right decision.