GOP has hopes for Hazleton mayor
Though the city's immigration law was struck down, it made a name for Mayor Lou Barletta.
WASHINGTON - National Republicans continue to court the mayor of Hazleton, the city where a much-copied anti-illegal immigration law was struck down last week by a federal judge.
Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, told reporters yesterday that he recently had dinner with Mayor Lou Barletta and hopes Barletta will run for a seat in the U.S. House.
If Barletta runs, it would be one of the party's top priority House races, Cole said during a conference call.
"I think he would be a tremendous candidate," Cole said. "I think he's got a couple of unique assets. I think the immigration issue and his success as mayor, the bipartisan support he's gotten from both parties, make him an unusually attractive candidate."
Barletta said in a phone interview yesterday he had not ruled out running against Rep. Paul Kanjorski, a 12-term Democrat he challenged in 2002.
"I've been asked to consider running for Congress as well as other state offices, but right now I'm focusing on my job as mayor," Barletta said.
U.S. District Judge James Munley struck down Hazleton's Illegal Immigration Relief Act on Thursday, saying states and municipalities have no business trying to stem illegal immigration, a federal issue. The measure, which had put Barletta in the national spotlight, was emulated by towns and cities around the nation.
In the May mayoral primary, Barletta won the Republican and Democratic nominations. That all but guarantees he will be elected to a third term in November.