One of the Democratic candidates running for Oneida County Sheriff says she has been met with opposition ever since she entered the race. Democrat Angela Gumbarevic, an Oneida County Corrections Officer, says she never had a chance to receive the endorsement of the county Democratic Committee.

"I was told by several committee members, 'You did a great job, we think you're great, however, deals have been made and favors are owed and it's Rob Maciol's turn'," Gumbarevic said. She also said some party leaders would call her 'honey' or 'cute'.

Gumbarevic filed more than 1,200 signatures recently to force a September primary with Maciol. Maciol, also the Mayor of New York Mills, has objected to some of the petitions, something Gumbarevic calls 'frivolous.'

She cites one particular issue with the dating of the peitions. "I was trained at my job at the Sheriff's department, by my field training officer, to put a slash through my zeros," to differentiate between the letter O and the numer zero, Gumbarevic said. "Mr. Maciol challenged those saying that I made date changes on the bottom of all by petitions, and that I didn't initial them, so he's trying [to have them thrown out.]''

A hearing date will be set to determine the validity of the signatures. If they stand, the two would have a primary in September on the Democrat line.

Two candidates on the Republica side will primary one another for the GOP line, State Assemblyman David Townsend and Rome Public Safety Commissioner James Masucci.

Current Sheriff Daniel Middaugh is retiring.