Dan Miller, joined by supporters, announces run for mayor, at Vernon Street Park in Harrisburg.
Long-time Harrisburg public official Dan Miller believes he will beat incumbent Wanda Williams in November and become mayor.
Miller, a Democrat, announced that he would officially run for mayor on the Republican side of the ticket in the general election, at a press conference at an Allison Hill park on Monday morning.
Miller, the city treasurer and former city councilman, ran as a Democratic candidate in the May primary, but lost by under 100 votes to Williams. However, he secured enough Republican write-in votes to earn him the nomination on the other side of the ballot, and formally accepted the nomination, according to Dauphin County.
“I’ve got great energy. I’ve got lots of new volunteers, and we’re going to win this thing in November,” Miller said, as supporters cheered behind him. “I know conventional wisdom may be a little bit against me but I think we’re gonna do it.”
He acknowledged his primary defeat, and explained that he was not changing his party affiliation by running as the Republican nominee. He is still a registered Democrat and said that both parties should feel comfortable voting for him.
“The way I look at it, it’s really a runoff between the top two vote getters,” Miller said.
In 2013, Miller similarly ran as the Republican nominee after losing in the primary, and lost to Eric Papenfuse in the general election. But, when asked about that, Miller said that this time would be completely different.
“I didn’t really want to run. There was no way for me to win that election. But I felt like I needed to step up so there was a choice,” Miller said of the 2013 race. “So this is completely different.”
Miller’s main campaign message remains the same as it was during the primary—the current mayor is neglecting the city and Harrisburg “desperately” needs change.
“We know what the status quo is for the past three-and-a-half years,” he said. “If you want Harrisburg to move forward, there’s a huge difference between a Wanda Williams mayor and a Dan Miller mayor; it’s night and day, trust me.”
Miller took time to point out his opponent’s flaws, citing the fact that she is under investigation from PA Ethics Commission and is currently involved in a court case in which a former public works director sued her for allegedly firing him for failing to promote her son, who was a city employee.
“I think there’s huge animosity towards the mayor and there’s a huge amount of desire for change,” he said.
Miller criticized Williams’ handling of the Broad Street Market rebuild after the fire and the delays, saying it “wasn’t a high priority in the current administration.” He said that he would make it one.
Revitalizing downtown and Allison Hill were other priorities that Miller said he would work on, as well as fostering a collaborative relationship with City Council. Citing his back ground as a business owner and certified public accountant, Miller said he would reduce wasteful spending and address, what he called, “horrible” mismanagement.
Throughout the press conference, supporters cheered and chanted “Dan can,” several holding up “Dan Miller for mayor” lawn signs.
A city property owner, Vik Uppa, said he supported Miller, as he’s had a positive relationship working with him through the treasurer’s office. Uppa said Miller has been very responsive and feels that he would support Harrisburg property owners.
A Midtown resident Hana Zickgraf said that revitalization downtown and better pedestrian, bike and green infrastructure were important to her. Zickgraf, a member of the urban advocacy nonprofit Strong Towns Harrisburg chapter, felt that Miller best aligned with her and her group’s priorities and that Williams wasn’t supportive of them.
“He wants Harrisburg to be an attractive city, to have a thriving downtown and safe, prosperous residential neighborhoods, so, from an urbanist perspective, I think he’s the clear candidate,” she said.
Miller said that he already has the support of several local officials and business owners, as well as several city council members.
He also urged voters who supported one of the other Democratic candidates in the primary, Lamont Jones, Tone Cook or Lewis Butts, to vote for him, saying that he would bring the change that they desire.
“There’s 1,500 people that voted for change,” he said. “They don’t want the current administration, so I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”
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