AUBURN — Two candidates seeking to reform the City Council and the School Committee decided this week to focus on the schools.

Dan Herrick and Joe Gray had completed petitions putting them on the ballot for seats on both boards. They withdrew their nominations for the City Council seats, according to City Clerk Sue Clements-Dallaire.

Herrick, of 470 Hatch Road, had guaranteed spots on the ballot for the Ward 3 Council seat and for the Ward 3 School Committee seat currently held by Tom Kendall.

Herrick said Friday that he had withdrawn from the council race to focus on the School Committee.

“They both need help, don’t they?” Herrick said. “I want to go where I can do the most good for the public right now.”

Gray, of 1200 Sopers Mill Road, had a guaranteed spot on the ballot for the Ward 5 School Committee seat, challenging incumbent Larry Pelletier. Gray was also one of six candidates that had guaranteed spots on the ballot for two at-large City Council seats.

Gray said Friday he decided the schools need more help and sensible leadership. He said he disagreed with how the School Department has managed the student computers at the high school and middle school levels.

“I think you can see that the way they’ve handled new iPads has not been thought completely through,” Gray said. “That’s the kind of thing I think they do a lot and that I want to get away from. I think they have a history of making rash decisions.”

Clements-Dallaire said Friday was the last day for candidates to withdraw before the municipal ballot was settled.

“It’s ready to go to the printer now, so this is the last change I’m able to make,” she said.

Voters go to the polls on Nov. 6 to fill the seven City Council seats, seven School Committee seats and the mayor’s seat.

Absentee ballots for those seats should be available by Oct. 4.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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