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Tonko running again?

It was interesting to see Paul Tonko attending downtown Schenectady Martin Luther King ceremonies. This type of public event is heavily attended by politicians always looking for votes.
The Democrat dropped out of the Assembly last year to take an appointment as state energy czar so he doesn't have to be concerned about votes. Or does he?
Some Republican insiders believe Tonko may run against 32-year GOP state Sen. Hugh Farley in November. They say even though he's out of elected office, he's appearing at numerous public events in Schenectady and Montgomery counties.
When Tonko resigned his Assembly seat, I recall talking with Chris Gardner, Schenectady County Democratic capo. He said Tonko would miss campaigning and pressing the flesh. He said he wouldn't be surprised if Tonko returns to running for office sooner than later.
While beating entrenched Farley is a large order, Tonko is the only guy around with a shot. Farley's seat is a key to GOP Senate control, so any move by Democrats wouldn't surprise.

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He said Tonko would miss campaigning and pressing the flesh. He said he wouldn't be surprised if Tonko returns to running for office sooner than later.

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He said Tonko would miss campaigning and pressing the flesh. He said he wouldn't be surprised if Tonko returns to running for office sooner than later.

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Amsterdam democrat considers run for Congress
Updated: 01/25/2008
By: Mark Repasky

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. -- She is not ready to throw her name in just yet, but Amsterdam Democrat Susan Phemister confirms she's considering a run to represent the 21st Congressional District.

"At the moment it's about putting together the support and the money that I would need in order to run," Phemister said.

Phemister, a vice-president at Reuters in Manhattan, has never run for office before.

But she sees that an asset in today's political environment, comparing herself to people like George Amedore, Ann Thane and even Michael Bloomberg, who were business leaders long before they became office holders.


"I am a business woman. I work in Manhattan. I live in Amsterdam. I think that voters are showing they value business people and doers," she said.

Phemister moved to the Mohawk Valley with her husband and three children in 2005. They purchased the Amsterdam Castle and converted into their home and business.

That project gained the attention of Eliot Spitzer, who made it a stop during his campaign for governor.

While she has yet to speak to him about her run, Phemister says she has reached out to a number of leaders across the 7-county district.

"Every county wants to put forth the candidate that will win and be successful and provide the best for the district. Of course the Albany area is incredibly important and I just as any other candidate need to appeal to that," she said.

Phemister said April will be the point of no return, and she'll make a decision by then.

There is also another Amsterdam name being mentioned for the seat, Paul Tonko.

If he were to jump into this race, it could have a big impact on Phemister's fundraising ability.

We called his office today but did not get an immediate response.

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SCHENECTADY
Savage won’t seek House post
Tonko described as having interest
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter

    Susan Savage is out and Paul Tonko in, politicians say, as part of the latest changes in the lineup of candidates for the 21st Congressional District race.
    U.S. Rep. Michael R. McNulty, D-Green Island, announced in October he would retire in 2009 after 20 years in the House.
    Savage, of Niskayuna, is a Democrat and chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature. Tonko, also a Democrat, is a former state assemblyman for the 105th District and is now CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Corp.
    Savage announced Monday she would not seek McNulty’s seat. In the same announcement, she mentioned Tonko as interested in running for the seat. Tonko did not return repeated calls for comment.
    She added both Tonko and Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton would make strong candidates. Several others are interested, and there may be both Democratic and Republican primaries.
    Savage said she considered a run for the seat after McNulty made his announcement. The congressional seat has opened but twice in 50 years.
    But she changed her mind after her father, Charles, died several weeks ago, Savage said. “I made my decision recently. I lost my father, but he was more than a father to me. He was a great adviser to me and I always looked to him for guidance in making big decisions,” she said. Her father served 22 years in the Cayuaga County Legislature.
    In an earlier interview, she said her parents would have joined her in Washington, D.C., had she been elected, to help look after her children.
    Savage said she will now focus her energies on Schenectady County. “Currently, I like what I do and I like the changes I was able to effect on Schenectady County. My mother and my children suffered a great loss and I am happy to be closer to home,” she said.
    Savage did not rule out other options. “There is always time to run for other things. Just because I am not running today does not preclude my running for something else,” she said.
    Her four-year term in the county Legislature expires in 2009. She was re-elected chairwoman for a second two-year term in January.
    Meanwhile, Tonko’s name surfaced in recent weeks within local, state and Washington, D.C., circles as someone interested in McNulty’s seat, several political observers said. Gov. Eliot Spitzer appointed Tonko to head NYSERDA last year after Tonko finished serving 24 years in the Assembly.
PROS WEIGH IN
    Carrie James, spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington, said she had heard Tonko may enter the race, although he has yet to contact the committee. “He has not reached out to us; it’s not a protocol, but it is common for a candidate who is interested in running to give us a heads up,” she said.
    James said the committee will not get directly involved in the race, as it is considered a safe Democratic seat, but it will provide advice and guidance to candidates and incumbents.
    Most likely, James said, “whoever wins the [Democratic] primary will probably get elected.” The primary would be in the fall.
    Charles Diamond, McNulty’s chief of staff, said he heard consideration of Tonko as a candidate. He has not spoken with Tonko directly, however.
    “It’s pure speculation, but with Tonko coming in, it makes the race interesting,” Diamond said.
    Tonko would give Stratton a strong challenge, Diamond said. Tonko represented Montgomery and portions of Schenectady County in the Assembly, and he remains well regarded in the community and has strong name recognition.
    McNulty’s congressional district consists of parts of Fulton, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties and all of Albany, Montgomery, Schenectady and Schoharie counties.
    Stratton has name recognition in Montgomery County, as well, obtained when he ran against state Sen. Hugh T. Farley, R-Niskayuna, of the 44th District, several years ago, Diamond said.
    Stratton was not available for comment on Monday. He said in an earlier interview he would announce his plans after today’s “Super Tuesday” primary.
    James and Diamond said names of others Democrats they have heard include Tracy Brooks, who is regional director for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid in New York; and Albany County Legislator Phil Steck, the Colonie Democratic Committee chairman .
    Republicans J. Christopher Callaghan, a former Saratoga County treasurer, and Warren Redlich, a Guilderland board member who lost races to McNulty in 2004 and 2006, said they will seek the seat.
    There are over 50,000 more enrolled Democrats than Republicans in the district.
    Albany County has a numerical advantage in the district. Diamond said in a primary, Albany would account for 60 percent of the vote, while Schenectady would have 17 percent, Rensselaer 12 percent and the rest scattered.
    Steck and Redlich have created committees to collect money for their campaigns. The committees are listed with Federal Election Commission and both report they have not raised any money as of yet.

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Savage said she will now focus her energies on Schenectady County. “Currently, I like what I do and I like the changes I was able to effect on Schenectady County,...” she said.

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Traveling Tonko

Republican Assemblyman George Amedore can't believe his predecessor, Democrat Paul Tonko, showing up at many Schenectady and Montgomery county events.
Tonko left the Assembly last spring when appointed state energy czar. Yet, he continues attending ribbon-cuttings, public forums and other events elected officeholders often stop by.
"Tonko's at about 75 percent of the things that I go to, making me think he's running for something," Amedore said. "I told him we should start car pooling to save gas." Insiders say he is a potential congressional or state Senate candidate.
Incidentally, some people say they are confused when they see Tonko's vehicle license plate -- "State Assembly 26."
He left the Assembly many months ago, so what gives? I tried to reach him for five days, but he did not return calls.

Also, the Schenectady County Web site -- http://www.schenectadycounty.com/index.php?page_id=241
cq
-- has a picture and details about various area politicians. Tonko is still listed as assemblyman, even though Amedore was elected to replace him way back in July. Hopefully, this is an oversight and not a low-class political omission.

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"Tonko's at about 75 percent of the things that I go to, making me think he's running for something," Amedore said. "I told him we should start car pooling to save gas."

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Also, the Schenectady County Web site -- http://www.schenectadycounty.com/index.php?page_id=241
cq
-- has a picture and details about various area politicians. Tonko is still listed as assemblyman, even though Amedore was elected to replace him way back in July. Hopefully, this is an oversight and not a low-class political omission.

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105TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
Tonko likely to run, officials say
Former assemblyman eyes contest for congressional seat
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter

    Paul Tonko Thursday said he is considering entering the 21st Congressional District race, a prospect that has fellow Democrats buzzing.
    Tonko retired last year after 24 years as the popular assemblyman from the 105th Assembly District to become head of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
    In a telephone interview Thursday, Tonko said he was “flattered by the many requests” he has received to run for the seat being vacated by Rep. Michael Mc-Nulty, D-Green Island.
    Several Schenectady County Democratic Party officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak for Tonko, said they are virtually certain Tonko will enter the race.
    Tonko said he is not a candidate but is “considering a candidacy because I believe we need a new direction.” He said he would announce his intentions soon.
    “My first obligation is to Gov. Eliot Spitzer, to the NYSERDA board and to the people of New York,” he said. “They deserve to have a strong advocate at NYSERDA.”
    Tonko said he was returning to Albany from Washington, where he spent the day talking with officials about “NYSERDA business.”
    Two political officials speculated Tonko would have to resign from NYSERDA to run for the congressional seat, as he would otherwise violate Spitzer’s conflict of interest guidelines.
    Two Democrats have already announced their candidacies: Phil Steck, Colonie Democratic chairman, and Tracey Brooks, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton. Darius Shahinfar, a former aide to U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, and Lester Freeman, an Albany Democratic activist, are considering candidacies. The only Republican stating interest in running so far is J. Christopher Callaghan, former Saratoga County treasurer and a 2006 state comptroller candidate.
    Should Tonko enter the race, he would immediately become the front-runner, said Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton. “I think Paul Tonko is the tier one candidate we need in this race. We expect him to get in,” he said. “He has told many people he is going to announce and announce soon.”
    Stratton himself considered running for the congressional seat held by his father for 30 years before McNulty’s tenure, but he announced Feb. 11 he will remain mayor; he is in the first year of his second term.
    Stratton said he spoke with Tonko and urged him to run. “Paul has always been a good friend and a great supporter. I told him I would like him to get in the race when I made my decision not to run,” he said.
    Stratton called Tonko “a tremendous partner for us in Schenectady and the Capital Region and we need a candidate with a proven record to support us.”
    Schenectady County Democratic Committee Chairman Brian Quail said “most Democratic leaders believe it is a matter of when, not if” Tonko announces.
    The Schenectady County committee, as well as other committees and major Democratic Party officials, have held off endorsing a candidate for the congressional seat until they knew Tonko’s intentions, Quail said.
    Tom Nardacci, spokesman for Steck, issued a statement from Steck about Tonko’s possible announcement: “We need a real change of direction in this country. I’ve been fighting for that change throughout my career and that’s why I am in this campaign to win. If we want to win, we have to earn it, and I intend to make sure that no one works harder than me to earn the support of the people of the 21st Congressional District.”
    Nardacci said Steck has a strong political base in Albany and Rensselaer counties and won the endorsement of former Amsterdam Mayor John Duchessi. Steck also has some 40 other endorsements.
    Brooks has endorsements from former Green Island Mayor Jack McNulty and current Green Island Mayor Ellen McNulty Ryan. The former is Michael McNulty’s father and the latter is his sister. McNulty himself has not endorsed any candidate.
    Brooks and Steck come from Albany County, which accounts for about half the district’s enrollment.
    Democratic Party officials said Tonko has gone to Washington to speak with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee about running and that he has $100,000 remaining in his Assembly Campaign Committee account available for an expected Democratic primary this summer.
    “He wants to do it, but he wants to get his ducks in a row,” a Democratic official said. Another party official said Tonko “can out-raise anyone” for a primary race. “He is the 800-pound gorilla and he would be the front-runner.”

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Plug Power founder to join congressional race
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
By Jill Bryce (Contact)
Gazette Reporter

LOUDONVILLE — A fifth Democrat is expected to announce Thursday he's entering the race for Michael McNulty 's 21st Congressional District seat.
Gary Mittleman, 55, of Loudonville, is the founder and former CEO of Plug Power. He started the company in 1997 and left in 2000. Mittleman does consulting work for small start-up companies, serves on different boards in the Capital Region, including IP Logic, a high tech company, and also invests.
He is expected to announce his candidacy at 3 p.m. Thursday at 255 New Scotland Ave. in Albany.
Mittleman said it's becoming increasingly clear that major issues addressing the country, including the economy, health care, energy policy, foreign policy - including the war in Iraq - the environment and education need to be addressed by people with knowledge in those areas.
"Career politicians are not getting it done," said Mittleman. "With my background and experience, I believe I can change things for the better."
He said he would provide more details about what he would do if in Washington when he makes his formal announcement on Thursday.
When asked about joining the pool of five Democratic candidates, Mittleman, said he's glad the American voters will have a real choice to move forward.
Mittleman, 55, is married and has two children and a step-daughter.
The other Democrats to announce their candidacies include: Phil Steck, Colonie Democratic chairman; Tracey Brooks, a former aide to U S. Sen. Hillary Clinton; Darius Shahinfar, a former aide to U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand; and Lester Freeman, an Albany Democratic activist. Former Democratic Assemblyman Paul Tonko, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, said last week he's also considering a run.
McNulty, D-Green Island, is retiring at the end of this year after 20 years in Congress.
The two-year seat covers parts of Fulton, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties, and all of Albany, Montgomery, Schenectady and Schoharie counties.

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Tonko’s endorsed, sans announcement
March 16, 2008
by Lauren Stanforth, Staff writer

The Schenectady City Democratic Executive Committee voted Saturday morning to endorse current NYSERDA president and former state Assemblyman Paul Tonko in the 21st Congressional district race.

One problem. Tonko hasn’t announced he’s running. And he’s even hedged in the past about whether he’s interested or not.

City Council member Gary McCarthy, who said he’s not a voting member but attends the committee’s meetings, said today that the group wanted to be the first political committee to endorse the next member of Congress.

This is one of the many rumblings that Tonko, who would be the sixth Democrat to enter the race, will compete for Mike McNulty’s seat. But there’s been no indication of movement yet on his side of the table.

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Buhrmaster joins congressional race as lone Republican
Wednesday, March 19, 2008


GLENVILLE — Schenectady County Legislator Jim Buhrmaster entered the race for the 21st Congressional District on Wednesday as the first Republican, but immediately positioned himself as an independent candidate.

Buhrmaster, 62, is president of Buhrmaster Energy Group, a fourth-generation, locally owned and operated company based in Glenville.

A registered Republican, Buhrmaster said if elected, he would go to Congress in Washington, D.C., to represent taxpayers, not a political party.

“I can assure you when it comes to addressing the issues that concern us all, I won’t be looking for the Democrat or Republican solution. I will be looking for the solution that makes the best sense for taxpayers and folks back home,” he said.

Buhrmaster was re-elected to a second four-year term in the county Legislature in District 3 last year. He is chairman of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee, treasurer of the Schenectady County Industrial Development Agency and a member of the Scotia-Glenville Republican Committee.

Five Democrats have entered the race so far: Tracey Brooks, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton; Lester Freeman, the city of Albany’s Equal Employment Opportunity officer; Gary Mittleman, former Plug Power CEO; Darius Shahinfar, 41, an Albany attorney and former Kirsten Gillibrand aide; and Phil Steck, Colonie Democratic chairman.

Michael McNulty, D-Green Island, announced last October he would retire in January after serving 20 years in Congress. The district has been held by a Democrat for 50 years and is considered a safe seat.

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21ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Republican running for district seat
Vasquez says priority would be to improve economy
BY JILL BRYCE Gazette Reporter

    A second Republican has announced that he is entering the race for the 21st Congressional District seat, which could set the stage for a Republican primary.
    Steven Vasquez, 33, of Ballston Lake, a self-described Tech Valley entrepreneur who started an electronics company called ReQuest, said he will work full time on his candidacy.
    He decided to run to “stop wasting money so we can protect seniors and veterans.” He said the key issue is the economy and he will “fight to make hard choices to stop Congress from deficit spending that robs Social Security.”
    Vasquez said the reason taxes are so high is because Congress is spending massive amounts of money, which is hurting the economy, increasing the defi cit and forcing the country to borrow money from Communist China and Saudi Arabia.
    Congress — both Democrats and Republicans — has been taking money from Social Security surplus funds for decades, he added.
    U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty, DGreen Island, who has held the seat for 20 years, is not running for re-election.
    The U.S. Government Accountability Office said that as baby boomers enter retirement age in the next 20 years, the federal government will go broke and not be able to fulfill its obligations, leaving taxpayers holding the bill for more than $500,000 per household, according to Vasquez.
    The U.S. country is reaching the threshold of how much the government can borrow vs. how much it can produce.
    “I would create a firewall and stop Congress from being able to loot the trust funds. That alone won’t save it, but it would buy time to help Congress stop wasting money overseas.”
    Vasquez, who is single, has not run for elected office before but has worked on political campaigns including Ron Paul’s recent run for president.
    A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, Vasquez said he created manufacturing and engineering jobs in Tech Valley by co-founding ReQuest, a consumer electronics business.
    He now serves on the ReQuest board.
    “I am a tech-savvy entrepreneur, and I know how to bring jobs to Tech Valley. What’s happening in New York is that we are more highly taxed than elsewhere in country. It’s creating barriers for people who would like to move in and get jobs.”
    He said he’s excited by the number of candidates in the race. “It will allow voters a real choice. It should be a good race. I think I will win. I have the ability to take on hard choices most other candidates won’t talk about.”
    Earlier this week, Jim Buhrmaster, a business owner and Schenectady County legislator, became the fi rst Republican to announce he would run for McNulty’s seat.
    The Democrats who have announced their candidacies are: Gary Mittleman, founding CEO of Plug Power; Phil Steck, Colonie Democratic chairman; Tracey Brooks, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton; Darius Shahinfar, a former aide to U.S. Rep . Kirsten Gillibrand; and Lester Freeman, an Albany Democratic activist.
    Former Democratic assemblyman Paul Tonko, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, is considering a run.
    McNulty has not endorsed any of the candidates.
    The district covers parts of Fulton, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties and all of Albany, Montgomery, Schenectady and Schoharie counties.
    It has a majority of Democrats with 41 percent; 28 percent of voters are Republicans and 31 percent are not enrolled in either major party.

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He decided to run to “stop wasting money so we can protect seniors and veterans.” He said the key issue is the economy and he will “fight to make hard choices to stop Congress from deficit spending that robs Social Security.”

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21ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Sixth Democrat joins race for Congress
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Michael Lamendola at 395-3114 or lamend@dailygazette.com

    A sixth Democrat, Arthur Welser, has entered the race for the 21st Congressional District seat, from which Rep. Michael Mc-Nulty, D-Green Island, will retire at the end of this term, after 20 years.
    Welser, 55, of Latham, is a licensed broker with Real Property Enterprises in North Greenbush. He is a graduate of Cornell University with a bachelor of science degree in economics, finance and statistics. His campaign information indicates he worked on his family farm for several years in Evan Mills and served on local community boards and the Le-Ray Zoning Board of Appeals. He also worked as a car salesman in central New York.
    He moved to Latham six years ago and describes himself as pro-family and pro-homeownership.
    Welser says he wants to fix Social Security, establish a Reserve Military Training Corps in high schools for problem children, stop promoting gambling and deal with global warming.
    “I’ve never served in a paid position in government, never been elected to political office and I’m of the opinion Congress is well, Congress! It shouldn’t be made up of former government employees and/or politicians. Maybe not people of wealth either, although a few of our Founding Fathers including Jefferson were very rich,” he said.
    He is running for Congress to create change, to end the war and to finish undecided issues left by McNulty, he said.
    The other Democrats in the race are: Tracey Brooks, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton; Lester Freeman, the city of Albany’s Equal Employment Opportunity offi cer; Gary Mittleman, former Plug Power CEO; Darius Shahinfar, an Albany attorney and former aide to Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand; and Phil Steck, Colonie Democratic chairman.
    Two Republicans have declared candidacies: James Buhrmaster, 62, is president of Buhrmaster Energy Group, a fourth-generation, locally owned and operated company based in Glenville, and a Schenectady County legislator; and Steven Vasquez, 33, of Ballston Lake, a self-described Tech Valley entrepreneur who started an electronics company called ReQuest.

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Aretakis to announce Congressional bid

By MIKE GOODWIN, Staff writer
Monday, March 31, 2008

Attorney John Aretakis is running for Congress.
     
In a news release sent to area media outlets, Aretakis announced that he planned to formally enter the race next week.
He'll join a field of six Democrats who are already vying to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty.

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21ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Attorney John Aretakis joining race for Congress
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter

  A high-profile lawyer known for pursuit of clergy abuse cases plans to join the field of Democrats seeking the 21st Congressional District seat of Rep. Michael McNulty, DGreen Island.
   John Aretakis, 47, of North Greenbush, will announce next week he will seek the seat, he said Monday in a news release.
   Mark Lyman, a spokesman for Aretakis, said Aretakis wants to address the sexual abuse of children through legislation in Congress, as well as economic issues affecting New Yorkers.
   Lyman is codirector of the Albany chapter of SNAP, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests. Lyman hired Aretakis in 2004 to represent him when he filed a lawsuit alleging that he was abused by a priest as a child.
   “He wants to appeal to the average middle class family. Look at what is going in Washington, look at what is going in New York,” Lyman said. “People are tired and feel they don’t have good representation in Washington. John will bring a fresh new agenda and will work very hard representing people.”
   Lyman said he and others have urged Aretakis to run for Congress: “John is a fighter and that is what people need right now.” Aretakis’ news release calls him a “battletested fighter and tireless advocate for the marginalized as well as the average person.”
   Aretakis has filed 15 sexual abuse lawsuits since 2003 against the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese in an effort to seek damages for people who claim they were abused by priests. All were either dismissed or withdrawn, diocese officials said.
   Aretakis said he’s settled 25 to 30 sexual abuse cases with the Catholic Church, which includes the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, and he estimates he has collected $2.5 million in churchrelated settlements.
   In 1996, Aretakis won almost $1 million in a clergy abuse case he filed against the Albany diocese, even though the statute of limitations had passed.
   In September 2007, Aretakis was sanctioned by a federal court judge and ordered to pay more than $24,000 for filing a “baseless lawsuit” against a Catholic diocese and the U.S. government. The lawsuit alleged that the church broke its agreement to provide charitable housing to a woman who was forced out of her New Orleans apartment because of Hurricane Katrina.
   Aretakis and his wife have a 9-year-old son.
   He obtained a law degree from Albany Law School and a master’s degree in international law from Georgetown University Law School. He worked as a staff attorney for two years in Washington, D.C.
   Aretakis would enter a race that includes six Democrats and two Republicans. The growing field will result in primaries for both parties this summer.
   The other Democrats in the race are: Tracey Brooks, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton; Lester Freeman, the city of Albany’s equal employment opportunity officer; Gary Mittleman, former Plug Power CEO; Darius Shahinfar, an Albany attorney and former aide to Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand; Phil Steck, Colonie Democratic chairman; and Arthur Welser, a licensed broker with Real Property Enterprises in North Greenbush.
   Two Republicans have declared their candidacies: James Buhrmaster, 62, is president of Buhrmaster Energy Group, a fourth-generation, locally owned and operated company based in Glenville, and a Schenectady County legislator; and Steven Vasquez, 33, of Ballston Lake, a self-described Tech Valley entrepreneur who started an electronics company called ReQuest.
   McNulty will retire at the end of this term after 20 years in Congress.