SYRACUSE -- Otis Jennings, the former parks and recreation commissioner for the city of Syracuse, has announced he will stay in the race for Syracuse mayor.

At a news conference in Syracuse Monday morning Jennings said he will campaign under the Conservative Party line. Jennings was the Republican Party-endorsed candidate in the recent mayoral primaries, but was upset in last week's primary election by former local television executive Steve Kimatian.

Jennings says he does not feel that running on the Conserative Party line will make him an election night spoiler. He says that he believes he is the best candidate for the job, and come election day the candidate with the most votes will win. Jennings also said that he has not spoken with Kimatian or the local Republican Party leaders about his decision to stay in the race.

"I'm gonna knock on doors and gonna have to communicate in such a way that I'm reaching people with the message of what we need to do here in the city. I love this city, I love the people of this city. For 30 years I dedicated my life to this city" said Jennings.

In last Tuesday’s primary election, Kimatian won 56 percent of the vote compared to 44 percent for Jennings. Kimatian is also listed in the Independence Party line.

Also on Tuesday, Stephanie Miner won the Democratic Party’s mayoral primary by a substantial margin over three candidates – Joe Nicoletti, Carmen Harlow, and Alfonso Davis. Nicoletti has subsequently offered his support to Miner for mayor.