IRVINE
City Councilman Mike Ward said Tuesday that he has withdrawn from November’s mayoral race to devote more time to running his family’s manufacturing business.
Ward, who announced earlier this year that he would seek his third, nonconsecutive term as mayor, said he will instead run for reelection as a council member.
“I think it’s best for myself and my family to run for the City Council because we still have some unsettled things like El Toro and I want to see that through,” he said. “I can be just as much of a force as a City Council member as I can as mayor.”
The field for the mayoral race has narrowed to two candidates: Councilman Larry Agran and resident Christopher Stamoulis. Mayor Christina L. Shea’s post will be open in November because of term limits.
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