Dan Miller was vying to become the first openly gay mayor in a Pennsylvania city when he lost the Democratic primary election May 21. However, Miller is back in the race again and this time, he is running on the Republican ticket. For the last four years, Miller served as Harrisburg city controller and has also been on city council — serving in both positions as a Democrat. This past spring, Eric Papenfuse bested Miller for the Democratic mayoral nomination by just 400 votes, but Miller received enough Republican write-ins to run on the Republican side next week. If Miller weren’t running, Papenfuse would have been unopposed. Miller said the issues Harrisburg is facing are not specific to one party or another — they are issues relevant to all Harrisburg residents. “Our issues aren’t Democratic or Republican, they are issues of how to balance budgets and help people,” he said. “Harrisburg is in a bad financial place. We need to get the power back into the hands of the people.” Miller said he believes he has a fighting chance to win the position of mayor of Harrisburg. “I have a strong base of Democratic support. For me to have won the Republican vote, I feel like I have bipartisan support. I think I have a viable shot to win,” he said. But the past few months of campaigning have proved challenging, Miller said. “It was difficult to be on the Republican side. The Democratic Party cut me off — cut me off from endorsements, voting software,” Miller said. “It was difficult getting geared up again. We had paid staff in the spring; we don’t have that anymore because there are no funds.” If elected, in addition to working to rectify the city’s financial woes, Miller said he would also help Harrisburg continue its record as a leader on LGBT-rights issues. In 2009, the Harrisburg City Council approved a life-partnership ordinance, which Miller introduced. Harrisburg was also the first city in the state to adopt a non-discrimination ordinance inclusive of gender identity in 1983. Miller’s election would also be historic. “If I win, I will be the first openly LGBT mayor of a major city in Pennsylvania, which also happens to be the capital of the state,” he said. “As mayor, I will have interactions with state legislators as well, and I think that would be a very positive thing to move forward in LGBT rights.” For more information, visit www.danmillerforharrisburg.com.