Candidate withdraws from Bartlesville City Council race

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - What had been two races for seats on the Bartlesville City Council is now only one race.

Lee L. Lane III who filed in August to run against incumbent and Mayor Tom Gorman for the Ward 3 seat told 2NEWS on Wednesday he has withdrawn from the race, leaving only Gorman.

Lane is the second contender to withdraw after filing for the seat, Randy Rickman having withdrawn his candidacy days after he filed to run.

Lane cited medical issues as being the reason he left the race.

“A couple years from now I should be back,” he said. “God willing, I'll be back and kickin'.”

Washington County Election Board Secretary Yvonne House told 2NEWS on Tuesday that when voters go to the polls on Nov. 6, they will still see Lane's name on the ballot as Lane did not withdraw the Friday following the filing period – the deadline for officially withdrawing candidacy.

On the ballots voter will chose in the only remaining race – that between former councilor Eddie Mason and Allen Bretz who both filed for the Ward 4 seat.

Incumbent council member Ted D. Lockin filed for the Ward 1 seat, incumbent Mike McGrew for the Ward 2 seat and incumbent Dale Copeland for the Ward 5 seat.