Kuhl set for a third campaign
By BOB CLARK THE EVENING TRIBUNE

It's déjá vu all over again for the 29th Congressional District.

U.S. Rep. John "Randy" Kuhl, R- 2 9 , Friday announced he's going to run for a third-term in Congress at the Monroe County Republican Committee Headquarters in Rochester Another announcement was planned laer in the day at the Corning Visitor Center in Corning.

This morning's announcement location is actually located outside the 29th District, which ends at the Brighton-Rochester ci ty line. Kuhl, trying to gain support in Monroe County, where he lost in several polling districts in 2006, chose the location for ease of television media and local Republican access.

"It is easier for me to come to the chairman of Monroe County than for him to come to me," Kuhl said. "This is just on the verge of the district. This is the central core, if you will, of Monroe County."

With the large number of Democrats in the northern part of his district, Kuhl feels positive about his run, but it will be a hard battle against Democratic challenger Eric Massa, his opponent in the 2006 election. Kuhl won that election by a little more than 6,000 votes.

"At this point, I feel I'm the under dog, if you would," Kuhl said. "Certainly, the Democrat machine is in the majority, they've got a presence here already. "And I've never really gotten any support from them talking direct funding. We're looking to the constituents."

Massa, who has already announced his intention to seek the seat, issued a prepared statement following Kuhl's announcement.

"I welcome Randy Kuhl's participation in the political process. This race is and always has been about the families of Western New York, not Eric Massa or Randy Kuhl," Massa said in the statement. "As we move forward, voters will have the opportunity to decide whether they want more of the same from Washington, or whether they are ready for a change in leadership and a new vision for America.

"I believe we must save our country's economy by enforcing fair trade, not by giving away living wage jobs through free trade agreements like CAFTA," he added. "I believe that all Americans should have access to the same quality health care that Congress already enjoys. I believe in ending the war in Iraq and bringing out troops home now. In November, together, I know we can move this country in a new direction."

The decision to run was not difficult for him, Kuhl said.

"You have to reflect on where you've been, and where you can go, what the challenges are, whether you can really meet the challenges and whether you can lend some credibility to moving those challenges and finding a solution," he said. "Two years ago, Democrats took the gavel and things have only gotten worse. We went from a Republican majority who lost its way to a Democratic majority with misguided priorities."

Kuhl first joined the House ranks in 2005. He ran for the post after Amo Houghton announced he would not seek re-election, defeating Democrat Samara Barend in 2004 with 51 percent of the vote. Barend brought in 41 percent of the vote, followed by Conservative Party candidate Mark Assini, who was defeated by Kuhl in the Republican primary and dropped out of the race prior to the general election, with 6 percent of the vote. Kuhl then faced off against Massa in 2006.

Prior to his time in Congress, Kuhl spent 18 years in the state Senate, and six years in the state Assembly.