Thread: Hazleton's Lou Barletta weighs a run for Congress

From The Morning Call
July 4, 2007
Hazleton's Lou Barletta weighs a run for Congress
Republican mayor is known for battling illegal immigration. He may challenge Democrat Kanjorski.
By Josh Drobnyk Call Washington Bureau
| With the mayoral primary election behind him, Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta says he is giving a run for Congress ''serious consideration'' and will make up his mind by the beginning of next year.

Barletta, who won both Republican and Democratic primaries in the Hazleton mayoral contest in May, said he is also contemplating a run for statewide office, such as treasurer, lieutenant governor and governor.

''I'm not really leaning toward anything,'' the Republican mayor said in an interview Tuesday, three months after saying he hadn't thought about running for any political office other than mayor of Hazleton. ''But I am going to give my future some thought in what direction that I may go.''

A congressional run would pit the two-term mayor against one of the most entrenched incumbents in the state's delegation: U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-11th District. The territory includes Carbon and Monroe counties.

The 13-term lawmaker, second only to Rep. John Murtha, D-12th District, in House seniority from Pennsylvania, has never won by fewer than 12 percentage points. His closest victory came against Barletta in 2002.

Kanjorski also has a significant fundraising advantage, with more than $1 million in his campaign coffers through March 31.

But Barletta's popularity, at least in Hazleton, appears to have increased since he proposed a law last year to crack down on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and businesses that employ them.

The ordinance, signed into law last year, was fought in court by the American Civil Liberties Union and immigrant rights organizations. A ruling is expected any day.

Barletta has gained a national following because of the law, which municipalities across the country have used as a model for their own measures. He won the Republican mayoral primary in May with 94 percent of the vote, and the Democratic primary on a late write-in campaign with nearly two-thirds of the vote.

That's all reason for the GOP to feel bullish about their chances of unseating Kanjorski in 2008.

''A Lou Barletta gives you the opportunity to win this seat, which you just don't get very often,'' said state GOP spokesman Michael Barley.

Democrats say they're not concerned about holding onto Kanjorski's seat, though, pointing to the lawmaker's 45-point victory margin in 2006. ''I think it is pretty clear where support lies in the district,'' said Carrie James, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman.

Wilkes University professor Thomas Baldino said that even with Barletta's boost in popularity, the mayor's chances of unseating Kanjorski are a long shot.

''It is going to be a tall order, and I say this all well knowing that Barletta is very popular,'' Baldino said. ''But so is Kanjorski.''

jdrobnyk@tribune.com

202-824-8216
Copyright © 2007, The Morning Call
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b1_ ... 3074.story

We need many men like him to take move up and take control.

we need men and women who understand the law and support america and americans instead of illegals.

Go get'em Barletta!

YEA Lou.. !

Just step in w/Tancredo..! http://www.TeamTancredo.com

TWO gentlemen w/Integrity.. !



Rob
www.NetLog.com/iQuestionEverything

Go Barletta!!!