AUBURN — Ward 1 City Council candidate John T. Spruill Jr. has pulled out of the November election, saying a City Charter prohibition on councilors working for the city would apply to him.

“I enjoy doing what I do for the Auburn School District, and I’m just not willing to give that up,” said Spruill, a substitute teacher at Auburn schools.

Auburn City Clerk Roberta Fogg said his decision came too late to take his name off the ballot. 

“He can make his announcement to the people and the press, but his name has to stay on the ballot,” Fogg said. “It’s too late to reprint the ballots, so we are unable to accept a formal withdrawal.”

Spruill was facing Tizz Crowley for the seat now held by Mike Farrell.

Spruill said he had talked to Crowley and he’s comfortable having her as a Ward 1 councilor.

“When I first decided to run, I talked with her and I think we share a lot of common ideas,” Spruill said.

Even so, he’s disappointed and thinks the charter prohibition on city employees is unfair.

“There is no decision I could have made as a councilor that would have affected my job as substitute teacher,” Spruill said. “I don’t have a contract; I don’t get a personnel review, and there was no reason for me not to be able to serve.”

Spruill was one of two teachers seeking a council seat. Edward Little High School science teacher Evan Cyr is facing Leroy Walker Sr. for the Ward 5 council seat held by Ray Berube.

Fogg said she has letters from the city’s legal representatives at Brann and Isaacson and from the Maine Municipal Association that agree that teachers are city employees and that city employees cannot serve as elected officials.

Cyr could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Fogg said she had not received withdrawal notifications from any other candidates.

The city began collecting votes by absentee ballot Tuesday. Fogg said she had started visiting Auburn nursing homes to collect ballots.

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