Zone 4 candidate withdraws from council race

Ray Lampert has withdrawn his name from consideration for council’s Zone 4 seat.

What was a three-way race for the Zone 4 Springfield City Council seat currently held by Matthew Simpson has been winnowed to two candidates with the withdrawal of Ray Lampert.

In addition to Simpson, Bruce Adib-Yazdi will appear on the ballot for Zone 4.

Springfield City Clerk Anita Cotter said via email that Lampert’s name was not among those submitted to the county to be placed on the ballot because he withdrew.

Reached this morning, Lampert said a conversation with Adib-Yazdi led to his decision.

"We decided it would be better for this to be a two-way race rather than a three-way race," Lampert said, noting his "values and goals" would be well-represented on council by Adib-Yazdi. "I decided to back out and allow him free rein to run against Mr. Simpson."

The candidacy of Lampert, who operates Lampert Law Office, had been certified with eight other candidates, as reported by Springfield Business Journal Jan. 22.

There are two other contested races. Mary Collette and Jeff Schrag are both running for the seat being vacated by term-limited Mayor Ken McClure, and incumbent General A Councilmember Heather Hardinger is being challenged by Eric Pauly.

Incumbents Craig Hosmer of General B and Monica Horton of Zone 1 do not have challengers.