District 3 race in Cedar Rapids down to four candidates

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

In comments on Tuesday, Rieke said he wanted to do more homework before he tries to take 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.