PLATTSBURGH — A Lake Placid accountant has joined the race for the soon-to-be-open seat in New York's 23rd Congressional District.

Doug Hoffman held a series of news conferences Tuesday to kick off his effort to gain the Republican endorsement for the race.

"I believe I am the ideal candidate," Hoffman told reporters at the Days Inn in Plattsburgh.

"I am just an average citizen. I am not a career politician, and I am not looking for a pension "¦ I see this as a way of giving back to my community and my country."

BUSINESSMAN
Hoffman, 59, is a managing partner of Dragon, Benware Crowley & Co., P.C., an accounting firm with offices in Malone, Lake Placid, Canton, Massena and Watertown, all of which are in the 11-county district.

He was the corporate controller for the Lake Placid 1980 Olympic Organizing Committee.

He also served in the U.S. Army Reserves and the New York State National Guard.

Hoffman says his background makes him a strong candidate for Congress.

"I have a strong financial and business background, and I have the ability to listen well and work with people and the ability to find creative and innovative solutions to problems."

If elected, Hoffman said bringing new jobs to the district, ensuring border security, improving health care and preserving Fort Drum in Watertown would be among his priorities.

The seat is expected to become vacant later this summer when John McHugh is confirmed as the new secretary of the Army.

McHugh, a Republican who has held the seat in the 23rd District since 1993, was selected for the post by President Barack Obama earlier this month.

GOP CHOICE
Republicans have held the seat in the 23rd District since the Civil War era.

James Ellis, GOP chairman in Franklin County, said the party will hold four regional meetings this summer to discuss who their candidate will be and make a selection.

Hoffman said he believes he can appeal to all the party chairs.

"It is important to select a candidate who is compatible with the entire district and someone who can bring the vote out," he said.

So far, Paul Maroun, a Franklin County legislator from Tupper Lake, is the only Republican to officially announce his candidacy besides Hoffman.

Several more are expected to join the race in the next few weeks.

DEMOCRAT ANNOUNCES
Democrats, riding the wave of momentum generated by Obama's victory last year, a win in the Republican-dominated 20th Congressional District in a special election earlier this year and statewide success in recent elections, are also lining up for a chance to run for the seat.

Danny Francis, a combat veteran of the Vietnam War, said this week that he intends to run. Francis ran as a Democrat against McHugh twice in the 1990s and lost.

There is also a grassroots effort to draft popular Republican State Assemblywoman Dierdre "Dede" Scozzafava of St. Lawrence County to run as a Democrat.

Democratic State Sen. Darrel Aubertine has also been mentioned as a possible candidate.

Hoffman said he knows landing the GOP endorsement will be tough, but he believes he can get it.

"People who know me know I always shoot for the moon."

E-mail Joe LoTemplio at: jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com