Lyons drops out of council race

DOWNTOWN TOLEDO - Less than a month before the Nov. 3 general election, Toledo City Council at-large candidate Tricia Lyons has decided to drop out of the race.

Lyons' decision complicates things said Linda Howe, Lucas County Board of Elections director, as the ballots have been printed for the election.

Howe said the BOE received a letter from Lyons Thursday stating she wanted to drop out of the election.

Lyons told FOX Toledo News that being elected to council would have become her third full-time job. She said she would not have the time necessary to serve the people of Toledo properly, so she has withdrawn her name from consideration.

However, the Lucas County Board of Elections said all of the Nov. 3 ballots have been printed with her name on them.

"We are already voting people at the early vote center and have mailed out absentee ballots," Howe said. "We received our ballots from the printer (Wednesday) ... so it's too late to remove her name."

Howe said if votes are cast for Lyons, they will not count.