LEWISTON — Saying he had made a personal decision and wants to spend more time with his family, Ward 7 Councilor Robert Reed officially pulled his name from the ballot Thursday.

“I had to make a personal decision based on events that were occurring yesterday, and I decided that I need to spend more time with my family,” Reed said. He declined to say what led him to make that decision. Reed was elected in 2007 when he ran unopposed for the seat.

“No good can come from saying anything,” Reed said.

He said he had spoken to City Clerk Kathy Montejo about having his name removed from the ballot. The clerk’s office had settled the ballot and sent it to the printer at noon Tuesday but was waiting for a proof. Reed said he was confident that his name would be gone from the ballot by the time it was printed.

His departure leaves two candidates on the ballot, Planning Board Chairman Stephen Morgan and Marianne Bratton-Davies.

Reed endorsed Bratton-Davies based upon a meeting this summer.

“She came to my house and introduced herself and we talked,” Reed said. “I just thought that she’d make a good city councilor.”

Reed is the second person to remove his name from the Lewiston ballot this year, after collecting signatures to guarantee a spot. Charles Soule, who had sought elected office without success since 1987, removed his name from the ballot Tuesday morning.

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