WATERVILLE — Three people have decided not to run for the Ward 2 City Council seat after previously saying they would, including Edward Lachowicz, who now holds that position.

City Clerk Patti Dubois said Friday that Lachowicz, Patrick Roy and Ernest Grolimund did not turn in petition signatures for the position by the 4:30 p.m. Thursday deadline.

“These people didn’t just not meet the deadline. It was a conscious decision not to run,” Dubois said.

Lachowicz said Friday he has decided for personal reasons not to run for re-election.

“I feel like I’ve got too many commitments in the way, and I want to make sure the residents of Waterville get someone who can put in the time,” he said.

Lachowicz has served in the position for about a year, since running unopposed on the November 2013 ballot and being elected.

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The seat had been held by Michael Owens, who moved out of the ward and was replaced briefly by Zackary T. Bickford through an appointment by the council.

A current member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Bickford is running as a Republican for the Ward 2 council seat in a three-way race with Democrat Nathaniel J. White and Normand P. Veilleux, who is running with no party affiliation. White is a member of the Planning Board.

Grolimund said he had hoped to become a councilor in Ward 2 so he could work with politicians on an issue he has fought for six years: the burning of wood for fuel, which produces hazardous wood smoke.

“What I’m hearing from politicians now is it won’t make a difference because I’d be outvoted,” Grolimund said. “I may have to dedicate all my efforts now to suing the city of Waterville or the state or federal government.”

Grolimund contends wood should not be burned with stoves and equipment now used for that purpose.

Patrick Roy announced earlier this year that he planned to run for the Ward 2 council seat, but on Friday he said he decided for personal reasons not to run.

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“My wife and I talked about it, and if I’m elected, I’ll be in my 70s when my term is over,” he said, adding that he has had health problems in the past.

“I’ll be 68 shortly,” he said. “I’ve had cancer, I’ve had a stroke and a heart attack, and I’m still kicking.”

He added that residents — not just those in office — need to get involved in city government.

“It takes more than a council to run a town. It takes the people,” he said.

Roy is a Republican but had planned to run with no party affiliation next to his name on the ballot. He ran for the Ward 2 council seat in 2011 but was defeated by George Myers Jr., a Democrat.

Meanwhile, a question on the ballot in all wards will ask whether the city shall approve the city charter revision recommended by the charter commission.

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Dubois on Friday released the names of other candidates whose names will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot, saying all their petition signatures were counted and verified:

• Mayor: Democrat Stephen R. Aucoin, Republican Nicholas S. Isgro, Karen A. Rancourt-Thomas (no party affiliation).

• Council, Ward 4: Republican Sydney R. Mayhew, incumbent Democrat incumbent Erik Thomas.

• Council, Ward 6: incumbent Democrat Dana Bushee, Jibryne E. Karter III, no party affiliation.

• Board of Education: Ward 2, Democrat Susan M. Reisert; Ward 4: incumbent Democratic Maryanne Bernier; Ward 6, incumbent Democrat Elizabeth A. Bickford.

• Kennebec Water District trustees (two positions): Democrat Patricia A. Gorman, incumbent; Democrat Joan M. Sanzenbacher.

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• Ward clerk: Ward 1, Democrat Nancy A. Emery; Ward 2, Democrat Shirleyann Ratajczak-Leaman; Ward 6, Democrat Heather Merrow.

• Warden: Ward 2, Democrat Richard Ratajczak-Leaman Jr.; Ward 4, Republican Carol C. Blier; Ward 5, Republican Herbert F. Oliver; Ward 6, Democrat Roland D. Hallee.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17


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