Rep. Phil English (R) is touting jobs and local issues in his first television advertisements, which started airing this week.

English’s two ads, one about small business and another about tolling on the local interstate, will run on broadcast TV in Erie and on cable in the southern part of the district. Both ads feature 3rd district residents’ testimonials about English.

“Because of Congressman English, we are expanding into a new factory and tripling our workforce,” said Harvey Downey, manager of small tech business in Erie. “I know Congressman English cares about jobs and bringing jobs to the area.”

The second advertisement hails English’s work to keep Interstate 80 from having tolls.

“Phil, I know how hard you’ve worked to keep I-80 from being tolled,” an unidentified woman said.

English is facing a possibly competitive re-election contest against businesswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D), who is making her first bid for office. English has not seen a serious electoral challenge for more than 10 years; however, the marginal GOP makeup of the district leads some observers to believe Democrats could pick up the seat with the right candidate.

English campaign spokesman Adam Bebee said the ads will air “for an extended period of time” but would not divulge the size or length of the buy. He said the campaign has aired TV ads at this point in the cycle before.

Dahlkemper responded to the advertisements by saying English is trying to clean up Republicans’ economic policies.

“For 14 years, Phil English has been in Washington, rubber-stamping George Bush’s failed economic policies, voting for CAFTA after saying he would oppose it and voting to increase trade with China — it’s no wonder our economy is now struggling,” Dahlkemper said.

— Shira Toeplitz