SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Onondaga County Libertarian Party released its slate of candidates Monday, featuring Chris Fowler for Syracuse mayor, among others.

The seven-candidate Libertarian ticket is the first for the party, which formed about a year-and-a-half ago.

Party Chairman Shawn Hannon said local membership is growing, especially in the wake of last year's presidential race. As of January, there were 320 registered Libertarians in Onondaga County.

In Fowler, Hannon said the party found someone who supported the growth of businesses, not government.

"The most attractive part is I don't feel like he's a politician," Hannon said. "He's trying to present new ideas, new ways and solutions not driven by the growth of government."

Fowler said the party aligns with his stance on issues like infrastructure and building a self-sustaining community. While he's still a Democrat, he said the lines of party affiliation are blurring more than ever.

"I think it's harder now than ever to define people by their political parties, as it should be," he said. "Part of my campaign is about challenging the culture of politics and thinking more broadly about how government and politics impact people lives."

Fowler has been collecting petition signatures to run a primary race against up to five other Democrats. He is still seeking that nomination.

The Libertarians do not have a permanent line on the ballot, though Hannon said they expect to establish a line after next year's gubernatorial race.

In order to get on the ballot as a Libertarian, Fowler will need to collect signatures during the independent petitioning process beginning next month. He needs 1,349 signatures from registered city voters who haven't signed another petition. Major party candidates -- eight of them, including Fowler -- have been collecting signatures since early June, mostly from Democrats.

Independent Ben Walsh will also be collecting signatures during the independent petition period, since he is trying to create his own ballot line.

Fowler, then, faces the daunting task of collecting 1,000 signatures from Democrats to be eligible for that primary, then an additional 1,349 signatures for the Libertarian line. So far, he said, he has about 750 Democratic signatures.

"It's a laborious effort, no matter what," he said.

Fowler was the only mayoral candidate to interview with the Libertarians for the endorsement. Hannon said leadership met once with a member of Laura Lavine's campaign and met several times with Walsh. Wash, however, decided not to pursue the party's support.

The party also interviewed five sitting Republicans on the Onondaga County Legislature, eventually endorsing two of them: Derek Shepard (13th district) and Casey Jordan (14th district). The party also endorsed newcomer Will Martin, a Libertarian, to challenge Democrat Chris Ryan in the 8th district.

The Libertarians also endorsed: