UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The New York State gubernatorial race is heating up, as an announcement is made right here in Utica.

Former Long Island Congressman Rick Lazio had thrown his hat in the ring. Lazio made the trip to valley view golf course as part of a whirl-wind tour of Upstate New York.

The former senate candidate is the first republican to announce what could end up being a field of political all-stars.

Sitting Governor David Paterson plans on running, and both Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani are both rumored to be considering bids.

Meanwhile, Lazio is emphasizing the need to control state-wide spending.

"This is the way we begin to build a partnership between this region and the state government that will transcend a political campaign," Lazio said Tuesday at the Valley View Gold Course in Utica. "It will be part of the relationship and partnership they will have with me when I am governor."

The gubernatorial hopeful fielded questions on how he would address the problems specifically concerning this area.

Lazio says we need to concentrate on transportation, education, and becoming business friendly in order to grow jobs.