Two candidates have withdrawn from the Newport and Covington city commission races due to personal reasons.
Incumbent Covington City Commissioner Michelle Williams told LINK nky that she is leaving the race due to “medical issues,” limiting her ability to get out and do the footwork required to knock on doors during the campaign.
Williams was first elected to the city commission in 2012. She lost her reelection bid in 2014 but was elected again in 2016 and every two years since.
Williams said she left the door open to help the city out in another capacity, however, if the mayor and city need her help.
Steve Megerle decided to leave the Newport city commission race due to the expected arrival of a child in late October, which is near the general election on Nov. 8.
“Political campaigns even at the local level in this environment are tough on families, and I want to be able to devote my full attention where it needs to be focused and on what is most important,” Megerle said. “I hope to be back in the arena sometime in the future.”
Megerle, who formerly served on the Covington city commission until 2009 and also ran unsuccessfully for a board of education seat in Cincinnati in 2019. Megerle placed seventh out of ten candidates in last month’s Newport city commission primary in which the top eight candidates advanced to the November general election when four will be elected.
Michael A. Monks contributed to this report.
