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Hanna prepares for primary day challengers

Ellen Abbott/WRVO file photo

Rep. Richard Hanna recently made the announcement that he will be running for a third term in Congress. But the Republican, who represents the 22nd Congressional District, covering all or part of eight counties stretching from Utica to Binghamton, will have at least two primary opponents to deal with before November's general election.

Former challenger Michael Kicinski, an electronics engineer who lost to Hanna in a 2012 primary race, and Michael Vasquez, a former stockbroker living in Binghamton, have both announced their intention to run against Hanna, a self-proclaimed moderate in the June primary.

Hanna says he expected there to be opposition toward him, especially among those further right on the right than him.

"I've never been in politics before," Hanna said. "I decided to do it late in life, and you know, if you lose, you lose. I've got other things I love to do, too, but for the moment I've all my life been committed 100 percent to whatever it was that I'm doing, and I'm committed to this, to do the best job that I can do and the 16 people that work in our office do."

Hanna also says his track record has shown his ability to represent the region.

"We try to be transparent, we try to be balanced, and we try desperately to represent the 700,000-plus people," Hanna said. "Not the fringes, not the extremes, not the special interest people who are so loud and vocal, but all the people of this district."

Primary day for the congressional election is June 24.