By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

The city official who Linda Thompson once called, “that homosexual, evil little man” will challenge the Harrisburg Mayor in 2013, according to an email from his campaign committee.

City Controller Dan Miller, the first openly gay elected official in Harrisburg’s history, is inviting supporters to a fundraiser, “as he plans a mayoral bid.”

“It’s not an officially announcement, we’re still about 18 months away from the campaign,” he said. “But at the same time, it’s only 18 months away.”

Miller’s latest move comes after last night’s brouhaha on City Council – which voted 4-3 against a recovery plan authored by Mayor Linda Thompson and supported by Governor Tom Corbett. Plan supports say the move will precipitate a state takeover of the city.

Thompson, argued it was the best the city could do, opposition argued it wasn’t good enough.

Miller has advocated for bankruptcy almost as often as he has feuded with Mayor Thompson, and he says he would have voted against her plan last night. He said the timing is a coincidence.

Miller’s annual fall fundraiser typically happens in mid September, and usually features 80-100 attendees.

His host committee boasts Susan Brown-Wilson, Eugenia Smith and Wanda Williams, Council members from both sides of last night’s vote.  Some sources indicated that the councilwomen were supportive of Miller’s fundraiser in the same capacity as previous years, but had not yet decided to support him for Mayor.

Miller disagreed.

“Every person on the host committee knew I was running for Mayor,” he said. “They all know, and they’re supporting me.”

Other talked-about possible candidates include Dauphin County Commissioner George Hartwick, who moved into the city earlier this year, as well as Council members Patty Kim and Brad Koplinski.