A month into her campaign, Lise Mendel, who has two daughters at Phelps Luck Elementary, has dropped out of the Howard County school board race, noting "personal circumstances." Nine candidates remain for the two seats opening in December.
"When I began this campaign, it was with the idea of bringing a more progressive viewpoint to the Howard County Board of Education.
"Since then, circumstances have changed in a number of ways," Mendel said in a statement.
She pointed to the unrenewed contract of Superintendent John R. O'Rourke and to other candidates entering the race whose views are similar to hers.
Mendel, 39, who wanted more economic diversity in schools, asked that any votes she might have received go to Joanne Heckman, whose campaign is focused on increasing the accountability of school system officials and employees.