HT News

November 11, 2009

Barletta: No decision on congressional run

He says a Washington newspaper report saying he’s challenging Kanjo is wrong.

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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HAZLETON – Lou Barletta is not running for Congress again – at least not yet.

Barletta said Tuesday that contrary to a story published in Roll Call – a Washington D.C.-based newspaper – the Hazleton mayor has not decided if he will make a third run at the 11th District Congressional seat held by 13-term incumbent Democrat Paul E. Kanjorski.

“I don’t know where they got that story,” Barletta said. “I haven’t made any decision on whether or not I will run for Congress again. I’m busy working on city issues right now.”

Barletta said he is preparing to make a major announcement about the city and its finances. He said until that issue is resolved, he will not give any serious consideration to another run for Congress.

“I am being encouraged to run by people in the district and from around the country,” Barletta said. “And I realize I need to make a decision soon and I expect to do so in the near future.”

But, Barletta said, the point is he has not made any decision as yet.

“It’s a serious matter and I intend to give it serious consideration,” Barletta said. “I expect to make a decision by the end of November.”

Barletta said he is weighing several concerns, and he is trying to retire some of the debt from the last race. He lost in 2008 to Kanjorski by 10,000 votes and came up 22,000 votes short against the Nanticoke Democrat in 2002.

“I would need to raise some more money to try to retire the debt,” Barletta said. “I think it’s around $100,000 now. But first things first, and that’s the City of Hazleton.”

Barletta sent out a “preemptive e-mail” Tuesday that refuted the claims made in the Roll Call story that attributed Barletta’s impending candidacy to an anonymous source.

“The story is not correct,” Vince Galko, former campaign manager for Barletta, wrote in the e-mail.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.

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