Businessman Mike Kelly (R) has filed to run against freshman Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper — raising the possibility of an expensive contest for the Democrat, who won her seat by a 2-point margin in 2008.

“After much deliberation, prayer, and conversation with my family I decided that I could not sit by and watch our country move further and further away from the values and concerns of every day people,— Kelly said in a written statement. “That’s why today I filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to represent the people of the 3rd District in Congress.—

It’s unclear just how much money Kelly could put into the race, although a little cash goes a long way in the Erie media market. One well-placed Republican estimated that Kelly could put in a six-figure amount but declined to go into any more detail.

Kelly would not be the only self-funding candidate in the race: Businessman Paul Huber (R) has already put about $150,000 into his campaign.

Insurance Agent Steve Fisher, “tea party— activist Clayton Grabb, factory worker Ed Franz and law enforcement officer Elaine Surma are also running for the GOP nod.