GLOVERSVILLE - Two candidates are now seeking the Republican nomination for City Court Judge after former City Attorney Matthew E. Trainor announced his candidacy on Friday.
Incumbent City Court Judge John N. Clo announced his candidacy in mid-February.
The primary election is scheduled for Sept. 11, but elections officials want to move it to June 26 to combine with the federal primary election.
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Trainor ran for the position in 2005, and he said his work since then has provided him with valuable experience.
"When I last ran for the position, I had spent my entire legal career working as a criminal prosecutor in the Fulton County District Attorney's Office," Trainor said at a news conference at his Fremont Street law office. "For the past four years I have been operating my own private practice and the contrast between prosecutor and defense attorney couldn't be more stark. While in 2005, I understood intellectually that there were differences in what prosecutors and defense attorneys did while representing their respective sides, I never really understood how different it was until I actually handled cases from each side."
The City Court judge plays an important role in the judicial system as the court is the "origin for the vast majority of criminal cases," Trainor said.
Trainor said many people have contacted him about running since former Judge Vincent DeSantis retired and current City Court Judge John N. Clo was appointed by Mayor Dayton King.
"I have carefully considered the question over the past several months," Trainor said.
Both Clo and Trainor are former city attorneys. Both also have experience working in district attorney offices.
While city Republican Committee Chairwoman Karen Smith was present at the news conference, she stressed the committee has not decided to endorse anyone, and that she would attend any announcement events for Republican candidates.
No Democratic candidates have announced intentions to run.