The Otsego County Democratic Committee on Monday authorized Richard P. Miller, former Hartwick College president, to run for Oneonta mayor on its party line in November's election.
The decision set the stage for a possible primary, as SUNY Oneonta student Jason Corrigan said he intends to follow through with his announcement to run for mayor.
On Monday night, Miller said he was pleased to have the opportunity to compete for the Democratic ballot line, and he will continue developing his independent Collaborate for Oneonta line.
He also is seeking authorization to run as a Conservative.
The Oneonta City Republican Committee has endorsed Third Ward Alderman Erik Miller as its mayoral candidate, and its chairwoman said Richard Miller wouldn't be authorized to run as a Republican.
The Millers aren't related.
Richard Miller said the Working Families Party also turned down his request to be an authorized candidate.
``I didn't expect to get a positive response with everybody,'' he said.
Ed Lentz, chairman of the county Democrats, said the committee authorized Miller's candidacy because of his background, including experience as Hartwick president. Miller's candidacy enhances the choices available to city residents, Lentz said.
Democrats will be helping Miller and Corrigan gather signatures for their petitions, Lentz said, and the committee will likely endorse the winner of a primary.
Lentz said the committee wasn't aware of other possible Democratic candidates.
Today is the first day candidates can gather signatures of registered voters for party petitions, said Lucinda Jarvis, Democratic deputy commissioner at the Otsego County Board of Elections. Party petitions are due at the board office between July 13 and 16.
Jarvis said a candidate who isn't registered with a party needs authorization from the party's county-level committee to be listed on the party's ballot. And a party member, not the candidate, must be collectors of petition signatures, she said.
As of Monday, 2,365 city residents were registered as Democrats, 1,389 as Republicans, records show. In Otsego County, there were 11,004 Democrats, 13,977 Republicans and 9,374 registered in other parties or unaffiliated.
In the city mayoral race, Democratic candidates must have 122 signatures, and Republicans need 73 signatures on their petitions, Jarvis said.
A candidate running in an independent party needs 136 signatures, Jarvis said, and the first day for signing will be July 7, with petitions due between Aug. 11 and 18.
Corrigan, a registered Democrat, said he also will run for mayor under his Unifying Oneonta party. He said Monday he will run in a Democratic primary if needed, citing choice as important for the community and democracy.
``I really am doing this for the people,'' said Corrigan, an undergraduate at the State University College at Oneonta.
Democrat or Republican primaries would be Sept. 15. Election Day is Nov. 3.
Richard Miller and his firm, 55 Maple St., are part of a downtown development contract with the city and county.
He has said development work will continue during the campaign but be passed off if he is elected, as required by law.
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