One of three Republicans in the race against incumbent Snohomish County Councilman Dave Somers has dropped out.
Greg Stephens announced his withdrawal in an e-mail statement on Thursday, citing a need to recover from surgery and being “without resources or health to stand up to the mudslinging.”
His departure thins the 5th District race to three in the Aug. 18 primary: Somers, a Democrat; Lake Stevens Mayor Vern Little, a Republican; and former Snohomish Councilman and Mayor Steve Dana, also a Republican. The top two vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
“I just don’t have it in me right now, so I think it’s best that I step back from public service,” Stephens said in an interview. “It’s very reluctantly and it’s the very last thing I would have contemplated earlier this year, but sometimes that’s just what life hands you.”
Stephens, 60, has been recovering from a shattered wrist that he suffered in May while working as a security officer at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Seattle. At first, he thought he was just a sprain. Later, he learned it was a fracture that would require bone and artery grafts to heal.
In 2005, Stephens ran as an independent, coming in a distant third to Somers and the former incumbent, Republican Jeff Sax. Somers’ margin of victory — 2,109 votes— was less than the 2,852 votes that Stephens received.
A post-election complaint that Stephens wasn’t living in the Maltby home he claimed as his permanent residence led to a criminal investigation. Then, as now, he has been staying in Bothell, on the King County side of the county line. Prosecutors determined that Stephens committed no crime.
Stephens is not backing any of the remaining candidates, and said, “I endorse the people and who they choose.”
He said he planned to file an official withdrawal notice with the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office today or Friday.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465 or nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
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