ITHACA, N.Y. -- With veteran Representative Maurice Hinchey retiring from Congress, there is no shortage of candidates vying to take his seat.

"It's probably bad luck to be thinking too much about running for Congress when you're working for somebody who's a very successful and effective congressman like Maurice Hinchey," said Hinchey's top advisor Dan Lamb.

But now Lamb, a long-time advisor to Hinchey, is taking on the challenge, seeking the backing of the democratic party for the 22nd Congressional District.

"I know so much about what Maurice does and the schedule and the routine, I started to realize I could do this and I want to do this. I feel very strongly about the work that we do," Lamb said.

A Freeville resident with a young son, the Ithaca College and Syracuse University alumnus aims to continue the congressman's work.

"So we can work on these issues involving the environment, cleaning up the environment, protecting this area from hydrofracking. But also growing jobs and making sure that we're supporting our universities and colleges in this area because that's the lifeblood of this community."

After 14 years of service by the congressman's side, Lamb says he considers Hinchey a mentor. But will those years of service mean an official endorsement?

"He was one of the first phone calls that I made," Lamb said. "I said, 'What do you think, Maurice, about this?' And he said, 'I think you're ready for this. I think you've work hard and you deserve this right to do this and I'm encouraging you to do it."

As far as an official endorsement, however, Lamb says that decision will have to wait until after redistricting is complete.

Ithaca lawyer and Democrat Leslie Danks Burke is also running for the seat, as are Republicans Tom Engel and George Phillips. Primary elections are on June 26th.