Local realtor pulls name from city election ballot

Clark Rieke, a local Realtor who has been an avid follower of the City Council, on Tuesday said he was withdrawing his name from the Nov. 3 city election ballot.

Rieke, 62, of 2904 Soutter Ave. SE, was the last of five candidates to file nomination papers to compete for the District 3 council seat. Papers had to be in by last Thursday, and a candidate who had filed them had until 5 p.m. Tuesday to reverse direction and keep his or her name off the Nov. 3 ballot.

In comments on Tuesday, Rieke said he wanted to do more homework before he tries to win a seat on the City Council.

He said his ideas are “a little out of the box” and he said he wanted to polish them “so I don't end up looking like a quack and so I make myself more allies.”

Left in the District 3 race are incumbent Jerry McGrane, 69, 1105 Eighth St. SE, a neighborhood leader; at-large council member Pat Shey, 50, 501 Knollwood Dr. SE, an attorney and business owner; Kathy Potts, 50, 1118 First St. SW, a homemaker, community activist and former state legislative candidate; and Calvin Busch, 52, 1334 C St. SW, a carpenter and contractor.

District 3 is the only one of five council districts with voting precincts on both sides of the Cedar River.