Matt Doheny was raised in Alexandria Bay by a traveling salesman father and a mother involved in local politics.  After brief stints in law firms in Syracuse, he became an investment banker in New York City.  Now a portfolio manager for Watertown firm Fintech Advisory, Doheny says he wants to bring his financial expertise to Washington.

Speaking to a couple dozen Republican supporters in Canton yesterday, Doheny said people are angry about high taxes and a soaring federal deficit.  He accused Democrat Bill Owens of following lockstep with House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Whether it's voting in favor of tax increases, or just most recently, voting in favor of health care that is the first step on the way to nationalizing one-sixth of our nation's economy.  These policies are wrong.  The health care will only lead to greater taxes, less choices, and an unthinkable government getting in between you and your doctor.

Doheny said he would fight for Fort Drum and the North Country's universities, all of which rely on significant government support.  Doheny said those are tax dollars well spent.

There's a few basic reasons why we have government.  Now they just happen to be what some of the strong suits are in the 23^rd Congressional district.  Military, we need schools and things that we as individuals can't do that we have to do collectively through the government.

Doheny will face Douglas Hoffman in a GOP run-off.  When asked how he differs from his fellow fiscal conservative, the 39 year-old said his relative youth would bring energy and hustle to the campaign trail.  With Hoffman enjoying better name recognition thanks to last fall's special election, Doheny will need all the hustle he can muster to catch up.

For North Country Public Radio, I'm David Sommerstein in Canton.