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John Martin

One of the newcomer candidates for the Lawrence City Commission has withdrawn from the race.

John Martin, an IT manager for the financial services organization TIAA, said in an email to the Journal-World that he withdrew after further consideration, with both his family and his employer in mind. He said he plans to stay engaged in local politics, just in a nonelected capacity for the foreseeable future.

Martin, originally from Yates Center, moved to Lawrence in August 2021 and previously served as a city council member in Stallings, North Carolina. He filed for election in March, as the Journal-World previously reported. At the time, Martin told the Journal-World that key issues for the upcoming term were taxes and spending, operational efficiencies, and planning and development.

The terms of commissioners Courtney Shipley, Amber Sellers and Brad Finkeldei are expiring this year. All three have filed for reelection. Dustin Stumblingbear, Mike Dever and Justine O. Burton have also filed for election. Dever previously served on the commission, and Stumblingbear and Burton would be newcomers.

The filing deadline for the City Commission race is noon on June 1. Candidates will have an Aug. 1 primary, if needed, and the general election will be on Nov. 7. Primaries will be scheduled only if the number of candidates who file is more than two times the number of open seats.