Blaine Sutton, a Republican who filed in July to run for an at large seat on the Sanford City Council in the upcoming November election, apparently discussed withdrawing his candidacy with local election officials, the Rant has learned.
State law, however, apparently doesn’t permit Sutton’s name to be removed from the ballot at this stage. Early voting begins on Oct. 16. Sutton is challenging two term Democratic incumbent Jimmy Haire.
Sutton didn’t respond to a message seeking information about his desire to withdraw from the race or whether he would continue to contest the election since his name could not be removed from the ballot. The Rant has seen little evidence that Sutton is actively campaigning – if there are any campaign signs along local roadways, we haven’t seen them, and a campaign Facebook page hasn’t had any activity since Aug. 6. Sutton is the husband of Lee County Board of Education member Pam Sutton.
