Tom Engstrom, the former police chief for the city of Lakeport and an early contender for a Lakeport City Council seat, said he's dropping out of the race, although his name will appear on the November 2010 ballot. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The field of Lakeport City Council members has dropped from seven to six.

On Sunday, Tom Engstrom, the city's former police chief and an early contender in this year's council race, said he is dropping out of the race due to unforeseen circumstances.

It's a surprising turn in the council election, for which he already had put together a campaign Web site and Facebook page and was doing outreach for his council bid.

Engstrom said his name will still appear on the ballot, as names of candidates can't be removed after the Aug. 11 filing date.

He said on Aug. 22 he received an assignment from his church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to oversee nine congregations from the Mendocino Coast to Middletown and from Cloverdale to Willits.

“This is a nine year unpaid assignment that requires long hours and extensive travel,” Engstrom said.

“I sincerely apologize to those people who have supported and encouraged me in my bid for a seat on the city council,” he said. “I can never thank you enough for your love and friendship.”

He continued, “I realize that I have let you down, but serving the Lord has been a priority throughout my adult life. Cindy and I decided early on in our marriage to follow the admonition found in Joshua 24:15 – 'Choose you this day whom ye will serve ...But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.'”

Engstrom encouraged all Lakeport voters to cast their ballot for two of the six remaining well-qualified candidates.

The six remaining candidates include current mayor and construction contractor Jim Irwin; former councilman and local businessman Ted Mandrones; Realtor Stacey Mattina; Paul Racine, who manages his father's business, Paul Racine Distributor of Lakeport; Marc Spillman, a Lakeport planning commissioner; and George Spurr, a computer programmer and analyst for the county, as Lake County News has reported.

“I wish them and the city of Lakeport all the best,” Engstrom said.

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