Gary Hayes is seeking to be Schoharie County Clerk for the third time in the third different party after Democrats endorsed him last week.
Mr. Hayes, who lives in Middleburgh and is former Middleburgh mayor, will challenge incumbent Indy Jaycox, who earned Republicans’ endorsement last week.
Mr. Hayes sought the Republican nomination in 1995, losing to David Hallock in a party primary.
He lost to Ms. Jaycox in a GOP primary in 2007, then gained the Conservative Party endorsement.
In a three-way race that year, Ms. Jaycox polled 4,677 votes to 1,850 for Democratic candidate Richard Shultes and 1,151 for Mr. Hayes.
Now Mr. Hayes is trying again, adding that he sees nothing wrong with running on three different party lines.
“I don’t like to put tags on people and parties,” Mr. Hayes said. “And they endorsed me. I don’t think that’s unusual.”
Neither does Democratic Party Chairman Cliff Hay, who pointed out that Tony Desmond, once a Republican, ran for sheriff on the Democratic line in 2009.
“Tony wasn’t a Democrat but ran on the Democratic line,” Mr. Hay said. “
“Gary can do the job, and he’s a good man. . .very intelligent. Why not?”
Mr. Hayes is registered with the Independence Party and said he has a passion for being county clerk. The office handles documents and includes the Department of Motor Vehicles.
“I love my county, and this is my community,” he said. “I’ve been doing a great deal of thinking the past several months and reflecting on Schoharie County and my ability to effect positive change.”
Also, he said, voters deserve a choice at the polls and study candidates’ qualifications and stance on issues.
“A contest is healthy for voters,” he said.
Contacted Monday, Ms. Jaycox had little to say.
“Everyone has a right to run for whatever job they want,” she said. “I have no problem with it.”
Ms. Jaycox is finishing her first four-year term. She was appointed to the post by Governor George Pataki after then-clerk Pete Lopez was elected to the state Assembly in 2006. Ms. Jaycox was re-elected in 2007.
Now that he has the Democratic endorsement, Mr. Hayes must submit his nominating petitions by July 14, Mr. Hay said.
Besides serving as Middleburgh mayor, Mr. Hayes also served as a Middleburgh town councilman and held a seat on the Middleburgh Central School board.
He said he would also seek endorsements from the Conservative Party and Independence Party.