Nakasian Drops Out of Mayoral Race

And then there were two.

Northfield City Councilor Suzie Nakasian has withdrawn from the , leaving Councilor Rhonda Pownell and former city councilor Dana Graham in the running for the city's top elected official.

Nakasian, who filed on the last day of the filing period last month via the U.S. Embassy when she and her family were in London, said she realized now was not the time to run for mayor.

She said she feels one of her strongest assets is helping facilitate a group and thought the mayoral role would be a perfect fit for that.

Nakasian, who is in her second year of a four-year term representing the city's First Ward, told Patch she started realizing she lacked enough time to effectively lead in the mayoral role when considering personal, professional and elected life.

“I just started to feel the other side of it,” she said, alluding to additional commitments of the mayor position in terms of additional meetings, public appearances and working with media.

Nakasian's departure from the race is important to note because of the primary election on Aug. 14.

Voters were asked to pick two of the three nominations to move to November's general election. Though Nakasian has dropped out of the race, she will still be on the primary ballot. This, she said, is important to note because she wants to make sure people who may support her don't vote her through to November's election.

Nakasian said she remains enthusiastic to work with the , which she says has accomplished a lot in the past 18 months.

Here's a statement Nakasian released to media:

I am writing to announce that I have withdrawn as a candidate for Mayor of Northfield.  Since entering the race, it has unfortunately become clear to me that the added responsibilities of the mayor's role would be more than I can manage well at this point in my personal and family life. 

On account of election procedures, my name will appear on the primary ballot, but I am no longer running for office. 

I look forward to working on behalf of the community and to contributing to work of the City Council in my continued role as Ward 1 Council representative.