A top lawyer for the state's Republican hierarchy said the petition challenge was going ahead.

In 1994, he attempted to run for lieutenant governor, but was taken off the ballot over a petition challenge.

Consequentially, Bellavia did not receive a ballot position, and the petition challenge was rendered moot.

In last month's primary elections, which attracted little voter interest, 382 petition challenges were filed, a number unapproached anywhere else.

Mr. Green was removed from the Democratic primary in a petition challenge, and he was forced to run on another ticket.

To block the petition challenges, the Democrats could either abstain or vote no.

Either way, the Republicans would not have the three votes necessary to validate the petition challenges.

Yale saw a spirited but futile petition challenge from the left in 2002 by a labor-backed minister who was a graduate of the divinity school.

Following this year's rash of petition challenges, only two judicial contests remain on the Sept. 12 Democratic primary ballot.

But rather than dropping, the number of petition challenges is actually up from the last citywide election.