Texas Gov. Rick Perry has the buzz in the GOP presidential primary race after keeping Republicans stringing along for months before declaring his candidacy.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been appearing in early primary states and still hasn't announced her intentions.

Pete Ruggieri doesn't believe in playing such games.

Ruggieri is coming out early and declaring his candidacy — very early — for Lancaster city mayor.

Ruggieri, a bartender, cellphone salesman, stand-up comedian and self-described "editard" of the "People of Lancaster" Facebook page is the first and only announced candidate for the post. The election is more than two years away.

"I think it's time for the next generation to step up," Ruggieri, 42, said.

Since he moved to Lancaster in 1992 after attending Millersville University, Ruggieri said he's seen the downtown become more vibrant. He attributed that to the "under 40 crowd," which he said has bought homes, opened businesses and invested in the city.

"We just don't want to come in, buy a cup of coffee and leave," he said.

He believes the leadership in recent years represents an older mindset. The current city mayor, Democrat Rick Gray, is 66. His predecessor, Republican Charlie Smithgall, is 65.

Unlike them, Ruggieri will not have the backing of a major political party. Officially, Ruggieri is running as an independent in Pennsylvania, which does not recognize third parties. Unofficially, he is running as a Libertarian.

A fiscal conservative who's more liberal on social issues, Ruggieri said "I can't hang my hat on either party."

While the Libertarians are not a force to be reckoned with in Lancaster, Ruggieri believes the party will be more help than hindrance.

If elected, he would be the highest-ranking elected Libertarian in the country. He believes that could prompt some campaign contributions to come his way from Libertarians across the country.

He also is hoping for a collective disdain for both major parties by 2013.

"I think after the presidential election, people will be so sick of politics that maybe only 500 people will show up to vote," he said.

Ruggieri anticipates a low-key, low-dollar campaign in which he'll meet directly with potential voters and tap into the Internet for support.

During his daily life, Ruggieri crosses paths with many people, he said. He works as a bartender at Hot Z Pizza near Columbia. He also is self-employed selling Sprint cellphone plans to businesses. He's a on-call bartender at Clipper Magazine Stadium, does merchandising for a third-party contractor in stores and does stand-up comedy.

He acquired his varied work life after he was laid off by Verizon. A victim of the down economy, Ruggieri said he makes about half as much as he did a few years ago.

"I think that's a little perspective that other people don't have," he said, in a veiled reference to Gray, who was a prominent criminal defense attorney before taking office, and Smithgall, a pharmacist whose family owns a drug store.

He also crosses paths with many people online. As the editor of "People of Lancaster," he has more than 3,000 Facebook followers.

Some of those followers contribute amusing or embarrassing photographs — depending on which side of the camera you're on — to the site.

The site regularly pokes fun at people and life in Lancaster County. Subjects are often labeled "Lancastards," "Ephratards" or other descriptors.

As mayor, Ruggieri would try to promote small local businesses. He's done so for several years with "Lancaster 505," a happy hour club without dues or name tags. People get together at different nightspots monthly to socialize.

He's also past grand master of his Masonic lodge.

"I interact with people from the bar world to the professional world to the more traditional, and I seem to get along with everybody," Ruggieri said.

His first campaign appearance is on Sunday, Aug. 28, at the Marion Courtroom Art & Music Festival. There he will have mini campaign signs, or rather, "Ruggieri for Mayor" business cards.

He's that far ahead of the curve.

bharris@lnpnews.com