Aspinwall Democrat Sarah Shaffer has withdrawn from seeking a party nod for a council seat, leaving the upcoming primary race uncontested.
Shaffer, 43, was one of five in a race for four nominations in the May 20 election.
Other candidates include current council President Jeff Harris, Councilwoman Lara Voytko, former councilwoman Patti McCaffrey and newcomer Andrew Corey-O’Connor.
Shaffer did not attend a recent Aspinwall Democratic Committee meet-and-greet.
The marketing director and Columbia University grad announced on social media May 2 that she was dropping out and temporarily moving out of town for personal reasons.
She also pledged her support to the remaining candidates via Facebook.
“I will be back in Aspinwall in the future,” Shaffer told TribLive. “I just can’t serve on council now.”
She declined to get into specifics other than an “unexpected opportunity” came up for her and her family.
“I’ve served the Aspinwall community for the past decade with local nonprofits like Aspinwall Neighbors,” said Shaffer.
“I was looking forward to continuing that service on Aspinwall Council, and I’m unfortunately not able to run for personal reasons that will take me out of Aspinwall temporarily.
“I hope to have the opportunity to run (for council) in the future and serve the community. I very much appreciate my supporters and I’m sorry to disappoint anyone who had planned to vote for me.”
Shaffer said she shared the news with the Aspinwall Democratic Committee on April 24.
When reached via email, committee chair Kevin Kerr wished Shaffer well in her future endeavors.
“Sarah has been such a champion for the people of Aspinwall for years,” Kerr said via email May 2. “We’re incredibly lucky to have her in our community and look forward to continuing to cheer her on in whatever she does next.
“It brings us no joy to spread this word to neighbors, but the Aspinwall Democratic Committee joins Sarah in asking our neighbors not to cast a vote for her in this month’s primary election.”
The Republican race is uncontested with three candidates seeking four party nods. Those candidates are Donald Mazreku, Terry Nelson Taylor and Aggie Lotz.