AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK'S
25TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Dear Friends,

After nearly 20 years in Washington and over 30 years of public service to my community, the time has come for me to step away from elective office.  I have always said that politics is not my life, it is just a part of my life and now at the end of this term of Congress that part will be over. I will not be a candidate for United States Congress in 2008.

You know, growing up I felt like my father was in politics most of my life.  It turns out he only served 17 years.  I have served over 30 years, run in 16 campaigns, attended dinners, receptions, fundraisers, and thousands of meetings and political rallies, met fascinating people, and debated the great issues of our time.  It has been amazing.  I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

To the people of Syracuse and Central New York, I thank you for putting your faith in me over and over again.  It has been an awesome privilege to serve you, to fight for you, and to represent you both in City Hall and in our nation's Capitol.

I have lived out the American dream.  I had an idyllic childhood, attended a great college, served my country in the Peace Corps, saw the world, came home and found the sweetest, most delightful woman I had ever met, had 3 great kids, a great business career, taught telecommunications at the college level, and enjoyed a parallel career in public service as a city councilor and council president.

In 1988, the Republican Party gave me their standard to run for Congress, and the people once again gave me their support.  Like my father before me, I went to Washington.  It was humbling, awesome, and exciting.

I've served on the best committee in the House of Representatives – Appropriations – as a member of the majority and saw our party win back the majority for the first time in 40 years.

I've served as chairman of four different sub-committees on Appropriations – possibly the only person in our Nation's history to do that.  I've had oversight responsibility for over half of the entire Federal budget. 

I've voted to go to war and not to go to war.  I've voted to impeach a President and witnessed our Capitol under attack.  I'll never forget seeing the Pentagon burning outside my window.  I've passed legislation to create National Historical Designation for the Erie Canal and provide hearing testing for every newborn in the country.

I've helped solve a centuries-old dispute in my forefathers' homeland of Ireland.  And I've brought over a billion dollars back home to my community to protect our lakes, grow our commerce, expand our public transit, rebuild our cities, modernize our military, improve our healthcare, and enhance our quality of life.

I look at the dramatically improved water quality in Onondaga Lake, the re-emergence of our neighborhoods and downtown, our local economy transitioning from analog to digital, manufacturing to technology, and the new role of the 174th Fighter Wing, and I can say we had a hand in all of it.

I did my best.  I fought the good fight.  I've made many sacrifices for my community, and my family knows that best.  But it's been worth it.

When I was a kid growing up on Tipperary Hill I never envisioned any of this.  Every day has been exciting and interesting.  I told DeDe when we got into politics, we won't get rich, but we'll never be bored.  And we never were.

But now it's time for the next chapter.  I don't yet know what that is, but I'm excited to turn the page.  I have a great life partner, and she has given me great advice.  I know she'll be right along side me whatever we do.  We love challenges, and there are more out there.

To my dedicated longtime staff, thank you for your loyalty, not just to me, but to the people we represent.  You've fought for them – for their priorities and for their security, for their values and for their families.  And you fought for their communities, our communities.  You've served nobly and unselfishly.

Some will ask, "Why now?"  There is great symmetry in the fact that I am 60 years old, and I've served in public life for half of that time – 30 years.  I've run 16 races – the Republican primary for Onondaga County Executive being the toughest, but the most recent election made me focus on the future. 

Where I am and where I want to be, I've decided that I need a change, and my family deserves a change.  I've met my goals, and I've climbed all the political mountains I set out to climb.  My big projects are either completed or have gained momentum of their own.  It's a good time to go out. 

No matter what I do, there will always be a challenger and a challenge.  I believe that by making this decision now, it opens the field to potential candidates of both parties who have thought about this job for a long time to make their move.  We have wonderful people with real skill and talent and true concern and love for this community who I hope will step forward and take the chance to lead.

To those potential candidates, I guarantee that if you do, win or lose, you will be rewarded by your involvement.  There is something magnificent about the American political process.  Yes, it's tough, and it should be.  But the best candidate and the best campaign usually wins.  The rewards are great.

I am an optimist and a student of history. The American political process is not perfect, but it's the best in the world.  You won't hear me complain about partisanship and a lack of civility.  It's not for the weak or faint of heart.

Congress is a great institution, and with all its flaws, it is still the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Lastly, to members of the media, thank you for the professionalism and the fairness that you've treated me with over the years.  This is a special dynamic, a needed tension between the reporters and the elected leaders.  That dynamic is incredibly important to maintaining our great democratic republic.

Again, to the people of our community, thank you.  We'll be here for another year.  Call if you need us.

Sincerely,

(####)

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