Another Republican gets in 11th District race

Prince William County, Va. -- This is what it's like when you're the third candidate to get into a three-way political race, only weeks before the primary:

You don't have yard signs -- or buttons or campaign stickers -- before you have to make your first big speech.

It's a given that you have to raise money -- and quickly.

And you have to answer lots of questions about why on earth you'd want to run when two other hopefuls already are.

Kurt Riesenberg doesn't seem worried about those details, though.

"I have to hustle," he said Wednesday, an American flag-themed lanyard around his neck. "It all comes down to hustle."

The 36-year-old trade association executive has joined the GOP nomination fight in the 11th congressional district.

He will face businessman Keith Fimian and Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity in a June 8 primary to decide who will face Rep. Gerald E. "Gerry" Connolly, a Democrat.

The freshman congressman defeated Fimian in 2008 for the seat that represents much of Prince William County.

Riesenberg is president and executive director of the Fairfax-based Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance, an association that represents 350 corporate members in the high-performance roofing and insulation industry.

He lives in Lake Ridge with his wife, Mickey, son, 10-year-old Cameron, and daughter, Sydney, 8.

He's a Cub Scout leader and a lacrosse coach and, about a month ago, he decided to run for Congress.

"I threw myself into this race really, really late," said Riesenberg, who grew up in Syracuse, N.Y.

But he said he's not deterred by the nomination process or his opponents' head start.

"I still think there are a lot of people out there to appeal to," he said.

Voters are tired of the political bickering, he said, and seek the "tempered, measured" approach he can bring.

Riesenberg said he can relate to today's American families because he's got young kids and he knows what it takes to make ends meet.

He thinks some aspects of health care reform are beneficial, but he's worried about how the recent legislation was passed and about how much it will cost the country in years to come.

His background working with manufacturers and contractors has taught him about energy efficiency, so he supports alternative power sources as well as drilling off Virginia's coast, which President Barack Obama endorsed Wednesday.

And he wants to address the country's infrastructure needs, federal budget deficits, unemployment and the continually expanding bureaucracy.

Staff writer Jonathan Hunley can be reached at 703-369-5738.