LEWISTON — The need to pay attention to his real estate business will keep Ward 6 City Councilor Steve Morgan from seeking re-election this fall.

Morgan said he made the decision last week and began emailing friends and acquaintances alike, hoping that someone will step forward to take his slot.

“It’s a time-consuming job if you plan on doing any kind of decent job,” Morgan said. “But I’ve loved it. I really have.”

But Morgan said the economy has convinced him to focus his attention on his real estate business.

“Maybe in two to four years from now, I can do it again,” he said. “Right now, I have to concentrate on what’s important, which is my family. I have a daughter with five kids and they are my grandchildren. I’d like to spend some time with them.”

His decision leaves a potential hole on the council. So far, Morgan’s seat is the only one that does not have candidates passing petitions to get their names on the ballot. As of noon Thursday, 10 people were passing nominating petitions seeking one of the six other open seats. Three candidates — Ward 1 incumbent John Butler, Ward 5’s Craig Saddlemire and Ward 6 incumbent Mark A. Cayer — have completed their nominations and guaranteed a spot for themselves on the Nov. 8 ballot.

The field is much more wide open on the School Committee, where six candidates are passing petitions to get themselves on the ballot in five wards. No candidates had taken out nomination papers for school seats in Ward 1, Ward 6 and for the at-large seat.

There’s no lack of candidates for the mayor’s job. Five candidates are passing nominating petitions for that seat and three — Mark Paradis, Stanley Pelletier and Walter Hill — have guaranteed themselves a spot on the ballot.

Lewiston candidates hoping to guarantee a spot on the Nov. 8 municipal ballot must file their nominating petitions and signatures by Sept. 9. The terms for the newly elected begin in January 2012. 

Candidates for Lewiston mayor need to gather between 100 and 200 signatures from registered Lewiston voters. 

Candidates for Lewiston City Council or School Committee members must gather at least 50 signatures. For all city councilors or School Committee members from a particular ward, signatures must come from registered voters from their ward. At-large School Committee candidates can gather signatures from any Lewiston registered voters.

According to the city clerk’s office,  the ballot will be printed with no names  if no candidates step forward in Ward 6 for the City Council, for the at-large School Committee seats or the school seats in Wards 1 and 6. Those seats could go to a write-in candidate.

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