In withdrawing from the Albert Lea mayor’s race, my biggest regret is that it left a candidate I can in no way support. I’d hoped that in the two months before the general election, a viable write-in candidate would make use of the remaining time to mount a challenge. That hasn’t happened.

Although as I previously stated I will not accept the office if re-elected, I will not deter people from casting their vote as they choose to make a statement about their dissatisfaction. Thank you to the many people who have stated that they wished I was still running.

Mike Murtaugh

Albert Lea