To run or not to run? Kuhl to announce re-election plans

The speculation about U.S. Rep. John "Randy" Kuhl's future will end today.

Kuhl, R-29, said Thursday morning during his weekly telephone news conference call he will announce whether he'll seek re-election to the 29th District Congressional seat.

Democrat Eric Massa, who challenged Kuhl in 2006, has announced he's running for the seat again.

The two-term congressman said he'd be making the announcement at two stops. First, Kuhl will be at the Monroe County GOP headquarters at 460 State St. in

Rochester at 9:30 a.m. His second stop will be at 3 p.m. at the Corning Visitor Center at 1 W. Market Street in Corning

Traditionally, candidates seeking re-election have made announcements from multiple sites in the 29th District.

Several reports were out today that Kuhl will run for re-election, notably on Elmira television station WETM and Rochester radio station WHAM. Those reports, as well as rumors that have been rampant about his future, led to his decision to make an announcement.

"Actually, I've decided to make the announcement to quell the rumors," Kuhl said. "I think, at this point, people need to know what I've decided I'm going to do.

"The rumors, we don't deal with rumors," he said. "I said I'd make an announcement in the spring, and we're about 15 days from spring. I thought it was appropriate to make an announcement now."

Kuhl said rumors are floating around all the time.

"I giggle when I see them," he said. "In this particular case (regarding his re-election plans), there were contrasting rumors in the span of six or seven days."

Asked which rumor he was favoring - whether he'd run again or retire - Kuhl laughed.

"Some of my friends are against this, some of my friends are with this," he said. "I'm with my friends on this.

"We'll address that further tomorrow," Kuhl added.

The Evening Tribune