Nick Patronas' name still will be on the Nov. 5 primary election ballot for the open eastern Duluth seat on the St. Louis County Board, but Patronas said Friday he won't be actively running for office due to a medical problem.
Patronas, 58, said he discovered after filing for the office this week that he needs not one but two hip replacement surgeries. He said he would be unable to run an active campaign and would need several months of convalescence before being able to resume a full workload.
"Ironically, the first surgery is scheduled for Nov. 5, the same day as the
primary," Patronas said. "This is really unfortunate, because I have been getting so many calls from people supporting me. I've already got $700 in campaign contributions I'm going to have to give back."
It's too late under state law to remove Patronas' name from the ballot, said Don Dicklich, St. Louis County auditor. Filing for the office closed Tuesday, and the last chance to get off the ballot passed at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dicklich said.
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Patronas' withdrawal from the race leaves five candidates seeking the office: Adam Jaros, Scott Keenan, Jim Stauber, Patrick Boyle and Cary Thompson-Gilbert. The top two winners in the primary will go on to the Jan. 14 special election for voters in roughly the eastern third of Duluth.
