ALBANY - Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, the longest-serving New York Republican in Congress and the outgoing chairman of the House Science Committee, was to announce today if he would seek re-election to the seat he has held since 1982.

There were signs the central New York Republican was ready to call it quits.

Boehlert, 69, was to make his long-awaited announcement at an afternoon news conference in Utica, his birthplace.

An e-mail sent this week to friends of the congressman, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, asked them to attend the event. The subject line of the e-mail read: “Thank you Sherry!”

“Please show your support for Congressman Boehlert by thanking him for his 42 years of public service and an amazing 24 years of service in Congress!” the message said.

“Having our friends attend will mean the world to Sherry and Marianne,” the message added, referring to Boehlert's wife.

“They don't hold a thank-you party for someone who is running again,” said one top New York Republican who is involved in high-level planning to retain the congressional seat without Boehlert. The Republican spoke only on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about Boehlert's future.

After a flight to Washington on Tuesday with President Bush, following a presidential visit to Canandaigua, Boehlert said he informed the president of his decision. But he wouldn't say then what the decision was.

Boehlert is a leader of the small moderate Republican faction in Congress that has clashed in the past with Bush over such issues as global warming and spending for social programs.

Among the Republicans waiting in the wings to possibly run for the seat are two state senators, Raymond Meier from Oneida County and James Seward from Otsego County.

Heading into this election year, Boehlert had just $232,000 cash on hand, little better than half his total at the same point in the previous election cycle.