WASHINGTON - Rep. Amo Houghton will announce next week whether he will seek another term in Congress representing New York's Southern Tier, but there was increasing speculation last week that he would call an end to his career.

If he does, it could be the message state Assemblyman Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, needs to hear to officially enter the race for Houghton's seat. Kolb, who represents parts of Cayuga County, has already started raising money for a campaign, but has said he would not run against Houghton.

Aides to the millionaire congressman were quick to note that speculation about his retirement has proven wrong in the past.

Houghton spent the past year disagreeing with the Bush administration over a number of issues, including the war in Iraq, tax cuts, and the possible closing of a veterans' hospital in his district.

Many within the state's congressional delegation believe other matters, some personal, make it more likely than ever the 77-year-old multimillionaire will step aside after nine terms.

Word spread last week in Congress that Houghton had even told his staff recently he would not seek another term.

Houghton's spokesman Robert Van Wicklin wouldn't say if such a conversation with the staff had taken place, adding his boss has a tendency to change his mind, anyway.

"Any kind of staff meeting we have here is between he and us," said Van Wicklin. "No matter what he may say to anyone else, he will not make up his mind until April 6."

Van Wicklin said that four years ago, Houghton told his staff he was leaving Congress, and then stayed, "so that kind of shows you what his thinking process is."

Houghton's schedule for his Tuesday announcement - a campaign kickoff or farewell tour - is almost as inscrutable as the congressman himself.

The announcement will be made at Donna's Restaurant in Corning, where he has launched all of his previous campaigns. It will be followed by two days of visits throughout the district to explain his decision.

Houghton sought his current term largely in order to protect his district from being carved up by 2002 redistricting.

"He stayed last time to save the district from being cannibalized, and he doesn't have to worry about that now," said one Republican who did not want to be identified.

Health issues also will likely be a factor in his decision. Houghton was treated for prostate cancer late last year, but has recovered well, and recently traveled to China to discuss trade issues with foreign leaders.

Tuesday's announcement could mark the end of a unique political career.

Born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth as an heir to the family that owned the Corning Glass Works, Houghton has shown a distinctively common touch in life and politics since joining the Marines at age 18.

He worked as an executive of the family business for 25 years before becoming, in 1986, the only former CEO of a Fortune 500 company in Congress.

In the following 18 years, he displayed a moderate bent and became a member of the "Republican Main Street Partnership," a group generally voting as fiscal conservatives and social moderates.

Houghton's biggest fights in the last term reflected both of those concerns.

He fought a Bush administration proposal to shutter the Veterans Affairs hospital in Canandaigua.

A commission appointed to review the proposal has recommended it remain open with 50 fewer psychiatric beds, and the VA Secretary is expected to make a final decision within a few weeks.

Houghton was one of a handful of Republicans to vote against authorizing force in Iraq, and drew fire last year from the conservative tax-cut group Club for Growth when he refused to support President Bush's 2003 tax cut proposal.

More recently, fellow upstate New York Rep. Thomas Reynolds, chair of the National Republican Campaign Committee, has said he wants Houghton to continue in Congress, but privately many state GOP operatives believe he has run his last race.

His absence would open the solidly Republican district to a host of aspirants, though the early favorite would appear to be state Sen. John "Randy" Kuhl.

Besides Kolb, Monroe County legislator Mark Assini said he plans to run whether or not Houghton retires. Other names mentioned include Rochester lawyer William Nojay and state Sen. James Alesi.

With or without Houghton, the district is expected to remain Republican. It had the highest percentage of votes for George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential election among all New York districts.