Ann Marie Buerkle, the former Republican Congresswoman from the Syracuse area, says she will not try to regain her old seat by running next year for the 24th Congressional District. That Central New York District includes Wayne County.
Buerkle had defeated Democrat Dan Maffei by 648 votes in 2010, but lost her re-election bid to Maffei last fall. In a statement released Wednesday, Buerkle says there has been an outpouring of support and encouragement to consider a run. She says this was a difficult decision, but is the right one for her at this time. Buerkle was nominated in May by President Obama to serve on the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Reportedly there are at least two Syracuse area Republicans who may decide to challenge Maffei next year.
