By Jake Palmateer
ONEONTA _ Whatever happens in the Democratic primary for Oneonta mayor, candidates Jason Corrigan and Dick Miller say, they intend to be on the ballot on Election Day.
Corrigan, a 21-year-old SUNY Oneonta senior, and Miller, a 66-year-old former Hartwick College president, filed Democratic Party designating petitions this week with the Otsego County Board of Elections. That will lead to a primary Sept. 15 if there are no successful objections to the petitions.
They also plan to run on independent lines, which would guarantee a three-way race on Election Day.
Third Ward Alderman Erik Miller, a 34-year-old Republican, filed petitions this week for mayor on the GOP, Independence, Conservative and Working Families lines.
A primary is also shaping up between Judge Lucy Bernier and city prosecutor Michael Getman, who are vying for a vacancy on the city court bench.
Bernier, a Democrat, and Getman, a Republican, filed Independence Party petitions in addition to petitions for their respective parties. Bernier also filed Working Families Party petitions, and Getman filed Conservative Party petitions.
Mayor John Nader, a Democrat, was appointed as provost of the State University College of Technology at Delhi in March and said then he would not seek a second four-year term. His term expires at the end of the year.
Corrigan is also petitioning to get on the ballot as an independent with his Unifying Oneonta party. Richard Miller is doing the same with his Collaborate for Oneonta party.
Miller, a registered independent voter, had sought the approval of the Republican and Democratic committees to get on their ballots as required by state election law. The Democrats approved his request.
Under state election law, Miller could not collect petition signatures by himself for the Democratic line, and his campaign committee went door-to-door.
He and his committee are continuing their door-to-door efforts to collect signatures for his Collaborate for Oneonta party.
"We're taking it one step at a time," Miller said Thursday. "We're going to as many events as I can go to."
Corrigan said he is maintaining an active campaign schedule and said the primary is not his main focus.
"It doesn't matter who wins the primary," he said Thursday. "Really, it's just an opportunity to get our messages out."
Miller and Corrigan needed to collect 122 signatures from Democrats. They each said they finished with more than 200.
Independent petition deadline next
A candidate running on an independent line for mayor needs 136 signatures, and the first day for signing was July 7, with petitions due between Aug. 11 and 18.
Any registered voter who has not already signed a party designating petition and who is qualified to vote for an office may sign an independent nominating petition for that office, according to the state Board of Elections.
Erik Miller has said he does not plan to file independent nominating petitions. He did not immediately return calls for comment Thursday.
Miller, the executive director of the Otsego County Conservation Association, won election in 2007 to represent the Third Ward on the Common Council. His council term expires at the end of 2011.
The Independence, Conservative and Working Families parties must authorize Miller, Bernier or Getman to be on the ballot on the lines each candidate is seeking, said Sheila Ross of the county Board of Elections.
Bernier, a former city prosecutor and assistant district attorney, was appointed in 2004 by then-Mayor Kim Muller to a vacant quarter-time position at City Court.
Bernier and Getman, who is also an assistant district attorney for Otsego County, are vying for the seat of Judge Walter Terry III, who is retiring from the bench at the end of the year. His half-time city post pays $54,000.
No objections have been filed against any of the party designating petitions, according to the county board of elections. Objections may be made for up to three business days from the date a candidate files his or her petitions.
Potential objectors have until today to file against Corrigan, with a Monday deadline to file against Richard Miller and Erik Miller, according to the county Board of Elections.
The mayor's post pays $19,500 annually. The mayor serves as an ambassador for the city, works as a part-time administrator at City Hall, appoints Common Council committees, citizen boards and commissions, and votes to break ties on the Common Council.
Election Day is Nov. 3.
