Downtown Three Rivers resident and First District City Commission candidate Justin Mitchell told Watershed Voice Wednesday he is bowing out of next month’s election for personal reasons. The 42-year-old was set to challenge incumbent Commissioner Pat Dane, which would have marked the first time the seat was contested since 2009.

Mitchell is a graduate of Portage Northern High School and lived in Portage most of his life. Justin, his wife Amy Mitchell, and their 13-year-old son Alex moved to Three Rivers in January 2020. Mitchell said he believes in Three Rivers and will continue to be active in the city, just not in the capacity of city commissioner.

It is too late for Mitchell’s name to be removed from the ballot but his exit means all city races will now be uncontested, with Dane (First District), Commissioner Chris Abel (Third District), write-in candidate Torrey Brown (At-Large) and Mayor Tom Lowry all running unopposed on Tuesday, November 2.

Alek Haak-Frost is executive editor of Watershed Voice.