In the campaign for the 1st Congressional District seat, Ed Case intends to focus on the weakened economy and finding jobs for thousands.

“;It is all about the economy and jobs. It has to be,”; Case said yesterday. “;We have to keep Americans working.

“;Our priority must be to get our country's economy moving again. Everything else, from balancing our budget to protecting our country to taking care of ourselves and our aina ... depends on that,”; he said.

Case announced his candidacy for the urban Oahu district yesterday on his Web site, http://www.edcase.com. U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie is vacating the seat to run for governor. In 2006, Case unsuccessfully ran against incumbent Sen. Dan Akaka for the Senate. Four years earlier, he was elected to fill the seat of the late U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink after an unsuccessful bid in the Democratic gubernatorial primary against Mazie Hirono. He was re-elected to the congressional seat for a second term two years later.

Case previously served in the state House for eight years representing Manoa and Makiki. After his loss to Akaka, Case has been working with the law firm Bays Deaver Lung Rose & Holma.

On his Web site, Case said: “;For me, the question has never been whether to continue my public service, but when and how. My head and heart tell me I can best serve by returning to Washington, D.C.”;

Brian Schatz, chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, said, “;Democrats are excited that we're going to have strong choices and we feel confident that we can recapture the governor's seat and retain the 1st Congressional District because Hawaii voters wanted elected officials to support President Obama's agenda.”;

Abercrombie said: “;We are fortunate that the Democratic Party has a very strong bench from which to choose my successor. We need a strong team — a Democratic team — who can work with President Barack Obama to change the way we govern. The president's plans for economic recovery start in Washington, but they must be supported and executed here at home.”; In a news release, Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou, an announced Republican candidate for the 1st Congressional District, said: “;I welcome the competition now that he has decided to run for the 1st Congressional District even though he represented the 2nd. My campaign has always been about bringing an independent voice to Washington and restoring fiscal discipline to our federal government and I look forward to a campaign on the issues.”;

Case said he has lived in the 1st Congressional District for half of his life and spent all his years with the exception of his time in Washington, D.C., working in the district. “;I believe I know the 1st as well as anybody in Hawaii,”; he said, noting that he plans to run a one-on-one campaign.

In a written statement, Willes Lee, chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party, criticized Case yesterday over his decision to run for the U.S. House, saying, “;Ed will run for anything and everything until he wins something.”;

In response to Lee's criticism, Case said: “;I've been committed to public service my entire adult life. I believe that I can contribute my seniority and experience to Hawaii's benefit in Washington.”;