Former Syracuse mayor Stephanie Miner says she decided to make an independent bid for governor because New York's political parties have been unwilling to deal with the state's rampant corruption.

"The corruption in New York that has been ignored by both political parties can't be tolerated," Miner told syracuse.com in an interview Monday.

She said the corruption, highlighted by the conviction of one of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's top aides this year, has led to a state government that no longer functions properly.

"You can see it from the broken water mains to the boondoggle economic development programs," Miner said. "We're seeing it all around with the broken political system."

Miner said the decision to kick off her campaign Monday had nothing to do with the start of a state government corruption trial in Manhattan federal court.

"It just happened to line up with when I made a decision," Miner said. "There are so many corruption trials in New York it's hard not to make an announcement and coincide with one of them."

Syracuse executives from Cor Development are among those standing trial, along with Alain Kaloyeros, the former head of SUNY Polytechnic Institute who led some of Cuomo's biggest economic development projects in Upstate New York.

Miner acknowledged she will be an underdog against Cuomo in a six-person race for governor. Cuomo has more than $30 million to spend on his campaign account, while Miner has about $200,000 left over from her campaigns for mayor.

"There are easier ways to get elected to office than the path that I chose," Miner said. But she said a trend shows Americans are rejecting establishment politics and embracing those who want to change the system.

"We've seen all across the country that money doesn't automatically guarantee wins," Miner said. "That money is a green badge of corruption. I think we have an opportunity here to use lots of different techniques, and to be very nimble with our message. We won't have as much money, but we'll have enough to get our message out."

Miner plans to circulate petitions to appear on the ballot under a new party line, the Serve America Movement, or SAM.

The former mayor said she did not consult prior to her announcement with her successor, Ben Walsh, who won his own independent bid for Syracuse mayor.

The lifelong Democrat said other Democrats did not attempt to dissuade or intimidate her from running as an independent, and potentially playing a spoiler role against Cuomo.

"That tactic failed with me years ago," Miner said of political intimidation. "It didn't work then, and it's not going to work now."

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