PASCO -- He's back from Olympia and he's planning to keep his place in politics.

Local Republican Representative Larry Haler, 18th District, broke the news Wednesday that he's ready to run for a third-term.

And after the latest political pow-wow in Olympia, he's got some bills to brag about.

Haler helped pass the anti-gang bill which he co-sponsored with a Yakima legislator.

The bill calls for stiffer sentencing with gang-related crimes and a data base to better track gang members.

Haler said he's proud of the bill but getting it through both houses was a tough task.

The one the governor signed was a little watered down.

" tell everybody, when you start off with a bill you go for a greyhound -- a sleek, running dog -- but we ended up with a kind of chihuahua with lots of fur on it this year," he said.

Haler said he plans to bring a tougher version of the gang bill back again next year.

He also helped tighten up laws on sex predators and supported drilling for geo-thermal energy.