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WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce's announcement last week she will not seek a ninth term has renewed speculation about whether two other Ohio veteran House members — Reps. David Hobson, R-Springfield, and Ralph Regula, R-Navarre — also will decide to bow out after this term.

In a statement this week, Hobson said "as of now, I'm running," but added that he hasn't completely gone through his decision-making process yet.

Still, he's raising money for 2008. Hobson, 70, had $887,894 in his campaign coffers as of June 30 and between April 1 and June 30, he raised $201,868, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission. That's comparable to what he raised at this time during the 2006 campaign.

Regula, 82, who is in his 18th term representing his northeast Ohio district, has not committed to running or retiring. He had $163,579 in the bank as of June 30, but at this time period in the last election cycle, he only had $114,752 in the bank.

Regula already has opposition. State Sen. John Boccieri, D-New Middletown, has announced he plans to run in the district. And two other Republicans are raising money for the seat, according to the FEC.

In Hobson's district, only Hobson's 2006 opponent, William Conner of Beavercreek, has indicated he will challenge Hobson in 2008.

Much of the speculation about Hobson has been spurred by the impending end of state Sen. Steve Austria's state Senate term in December 2008. Austria, R-Beavercreek, cannot run for re-election because of term limits. Austria is a close Hobson ally, and his wife, Eileen, works for Hobson in his Springfield office.

Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted said he is trying to convince Austria to run again for state representative. Austria served in the Ohio state house from 1998 to 2000.

Austria, meanwhile, said he is exploring options including running for the 70th District statehouse seat and the private sector.

Austria is raising money — including his annual June golf outing — but said he's doing so as part of his role as Majority Whip. Under FEC guidelines, he cannot transfer money from a state campaign fund to a congressional campaign. "Part of my job is to help raise money for my caucus," he said. "That's why I continue to have fund-raisers."

Hobson, meanwhile, is limited to giving any prospective successor $2,000 for the primary election and $2,000 for the general election.

He also shows no indication he's slowing down, garnering earmarks in federal appropriations bills, including funds for the NextEdge Industrial Park near Springfield and the Air National Guard base in Springfield. And he's suffered minimally as a member of the minority thanks to close relationships with key House Democrats.

Hobson has flirted with retirement before. In 2000, he sold his Alexandria condominium in preparation for stepping down. But then he became chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. The job re-energized him.

Dan Harkins, chairman of the Clark County Republican Party, said it would likely cost about $1 million for a new candidate to successfully run for the seat, which overlaps both the Columbus and Dayton media markets.

"The expectation is that Austria will seek election to the General Assembly unless Hobson announces his retirement," he said.

Comment: Do you think Rep. Dave Hobson should run again?