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Ryan mulling another run for PA-17

CORRECTION APPENDED (see bottom)

Five years after losing in a crowded Republican primary, Lebanon businessman Frank Ryan is once again considering a run for Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District.

In an interview Wednesday with pa2010.com, Ryan said he was still a few months away from making a decision. But he has reached out to close friends and supporters in an effort to gauge support and commission a poll examining the potential viability of his candidacy, he said.

“I’ve made no decisions, but I’m definitely thinking of it,” Ryan said.

A retired Marine Colonel and owner of a company that helps businesses avoid bankruptcy, Ryan was one of several Republicans who competed in 2004 for a chance to face off against Congressman Tim Holden, who was defending the newly drawn district for the first time (he had previously represented a now-defunct version of the 6th District for a decade). Since then, Holden has become harder to beat in the new district, a challenge Ryan said he understands.

“I’m more than aware of how difficult it is to defeat an incumbent,” he said. But, he added: “I think people are beginning to recognize more and more that the Blue Dog Democrat may not be Blue Dog.”

In 2004, Ryan finished fifth among six Republican candidates, garnering less than 13 percent of the vote. His candidacy was hurt in part by a spending spree that petered out too early and revelations of what was described in press accounts as a “nasty divorce.”

This time around, with the economy in peril, personal issues are unlikely to carry as much currency. And Ryan said he had learned much from his 2004 effort. He recalled making list of his mistakes, and stopping at 21 items so he could move on.

“I was told politics is not a business and it is,” he said. “I failed to understand that. And I spent way too much money way too early.”

Ryan said supporters approached him about running again in 2006, but he had just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. With government spending growing, though, he said he’s become increasingly concerned, prompting him to considering runnning again.

“I think I was abot 6 years early in my concerns about government spending. I think peple are more concerned about that than they were six years ago.

“If I did to a corporation what the federal government is doing to our budget and our deficits, I would be fired,” he added.

And he said he wouldn’t run if he didn’t feel people were receptive to his message.

“One of the things I’ve noticed is in the past people’s perception of being a good representative was how much money you brought back to the district,” he said. “If that’s the benchmark people are measuring, I’m probably not the guy. I don’t believe in selling people something they don’t want, and I don’t believe in changing my positions just to get elected.”

It remains unclear if other Republicans are anxious to go up against Holden for the seat, which includes parts Lebanon, Schuylkill and Dauphin counties. Holden last year defeated Republican Ton Gilhooley by almost 30 points.

CORRECTION: This article incorrectly stated that Congressman Tim Holden was a freshman in 2004. While he had indeed represented the newly-drawn 17th District for only one term, he previously held office for a decade in a seat that was eliminated in redistricting. pa2010.com regrets the error.

April 22, 2009 at 4:34 pm

--Dan Hirschhorn

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  1. bog

    Apr 22nd, 2009

    “A retired Marine Colonel and owner of a company that helps businesses avoid bankruptcy, Ryan was one of several Republicans who competed in 2004 for a chance to face off against then-freshman Congressman Tim Holden (D-17). Since then, Holden has become harder to beat, a challenge Ryan said he understands.”

    04 was holden’s first re-election campaign after defeating gekas for the redrawn 17th district. he had been the 6th district representative since 93.

  2. oopstheydiditagain

    Apr 22nd, 2009

    Tim Holden is financial poison for District 17 households — on taxes, on spending and on simple matters of democracy like the secret ballot.

    He has his nose so far up Pelosi’s posterior he has to breath through a straw.

    Voters need to jettison this guy soonest. Ryan is a CPA. Washington sure could use a few of those these days.

  3. Dan Hirschhorn

    Apr 22nd, 2009

    Hello Bog,

    This is Dan Hirschhorn, pa2010.com’s reporter, editor and publisher. I want to thank you for pointing out this error. I have appended a correction.

    See this entry on my blog for a note about errors and corrections.

    Thanks again.

  4. Toni Gilhooley

    Apr 22nd, 2009

    I have spoken with and encouraged Frank to make the run. He is a solid fiscal conservative and at this point in time we need him and many more like him in Washington. I ran a hard fought campaign with unfortunately too little money but I worked hard to hold Holden accountable for his spending and his support of liberal Nancy Pelosi’s agenda. He voted with her more than 95% of the time! His current votes make it more obvious than ever that Holden is not a Blue anything…just a servant of his liberal leadership. We need a real, consistent, intelligent and fiscally conservative voice for the 17th district. If Frank decides to make the committment, I will work to support him in this important race.

  5. Jerry Shenk

    Apr 23rd, 2009

    Frank Ryan is everything Tim Holden is not: An honest, honorable, independent fiscal conservative who served in the American military with distinction. Holden has voted for the largest increase in taxes, spending and debt in the country’s history, a burden generations will bear; and, never having served, Holden voted to withdraw American forces from Iraq four times in 2007, even after it was clear that the surge had worked.

    Based on his voting record on taxes and spending, I can’t afford Tim Holden — none of us can. I want to send someone who can count to Washington. Ryan has run a successful business. Holden has slopped at the public trough his entire adult life.

    I encourage Fran Ryan to choose to run.

  6. Bob DeSousa

    Apr 23rd, 2009

    Frank is an honoarble guy. Hard working and smart. He woudl be a super Congressman. The problem with Tim is that he is forced to go along with the far left agenda of Nancy Pelosi. The leadershiop in the Democratic party is taking the country down a path of no return. The budget just passed spends more money than all other budegets ciombined. We can never, ever , recover if we keep Pelois and Reed in leaderrshiop.

  7. Ryan mulling another run for PA-17… | GrassrootsPA

    Apr 23rd, 2009

    [...] Ryan mulling another run for PA-17… [...]

  8. Chris

    Oct 6th, 2009

    I have attended two different seminars on professional ethics that Mr. Ryan has instructed. After spending 8 hours with Mr. Ryan, I feel comfortable saying that he is a gentleman, has a good understanding of accounting and has a strong sense of ethics. I could only hope that every member of congress had the same qualities.

  9. Jim Shotzberger

    May 19th, 2010

    Colonel Ryan – Followed the voting yesterday – we were extermely dissappointed with the results. Thank you for making the effort; perhaps your message will encourage and influence the one selected. Keep your voice – it’s much needed!!!
    - Jim

    PS – Another old Marine Vet – met you at the Salvation Army Annual Meeting.

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