Businessman Richard Hanna (R) is taking another shot at unseating Rep. Michael Arcuri (D).

In a statement on his Web site, Hanna wrote Wednesday, “I am running as an independent- minded, pragmatic American who believes that it is government’s responsibility to clear the way for individuals to solve problems, to foster all those productive economic and educational elements that create jobs and opportunity.—

For months, Republicans have been working to lure Hanna, who lost the 2008 race to Arcuri 52 percent to 48 percent, into the 2010 race. But except for a mid-November news release criticizing Arcuri’s vote on the House health care bill, he had remained silent on the political front.

His entry into the race will give Republicans a legitimate challenger for the 24th district seat, which had been in Republican hands for more than 60 years until Arcuri won an open-seat contest in 2006.

The central New York district, which includes the towns of Utica and Rome, voted narrowly for President Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential race but went for President George W. Bush by 6 points in 2004.