Franki Gablehouse said she “made the difficult decision to withdraw my name from the school board race,” according to an announcement she posted on the Wrangell Community Group Facebook page at about 8 p.m. Monday.
“Right now, Marlee needs me, and my 100% focus needs to be on her — her education, her growth and supporting her in the ways she needs most,” Gablehouse said, referring to her young daughter.
“Because I’m withdrawing late and ballots have already been printed, my name will still be shown on the ballot,” she said of the Oct. 6 municipal election.
She added, “Please do not vote for me. If I were to win and then decline the seat, the school board would need to appoint someone to serve until the next election in October 2027.”
In deciding to drop her bid for a seat on the school board, Gablehouse endorsed one of the two remaining candidates: “Please vote for Jayme Howell for school board.”
Howell and incumbent John ReDuyter are the two remaining candidates in the race for a three-year seat on the board.
