Former Albany County District Attorney Paul Clyne said Wednesday he is not trying to get on the ballot for November’s election, a move that would appear to end speculation about a rematch with sitting DA David Soares.

“I’m not circulating petitions, it’s as simple as that,” Clyne said when asked whether anyone was carrying designating petitions on his behalf. The petitions are how candidates get on the ballot. Candidates started collecting petitions Tuesday and have until mid-July to file them.

Soares, a prosecutor under Clyne who upset the incumbent Democrat in a 2004 primary, has already secured the endorsement of the Albany County Democratic Committee.

Albany County Conservative Party Chairman Richie Stack said his party has not selected a candidate for district attorney but would not support Clyne.

County Independence Party Chairman Paul Caputo said his party will make a formal announcement in several days but he personally supports Soares and expects that the committee will do the same.

County Republican Party Chairman Peter Kermani could not be reached for comment.

In a move that angered some in the party, Clyne stayed in the race after the 2004 primary, running on the Independence Party line until he bailed out in late October and through his support behind Republican Roger Cusick in a last-ditch effort to beat Soares.

Until now, Clyne had left open the possibility that he might try to enter the race. For now, Soares is unopposed in November’s election.

Source: Times Union