A Palo Alto man has decided to withdraw from the Democratic primary race for the Pottsville Area school board.
John A. Deatrich Jr. is leaving the race voluntarily, county Democratic Party Chairman Hugh M. Reiley said Friday.
Reiley said he had discussed the matter with Deatrich and that there were no bad feelings about the situation.
Deatrich could not be reached Friday for his comments on the situation.
Reiley had asked the county court on Tuesday to remove Deatrich from the ballot, alleging he did not have the required 100 valid signatures on his nominating petitions.
Deatrich is the only candidate who did not cross-file for both Republican and Democratic nomination, so if he does withdraw his name from the Democratic ballot, he will no longer be in the race.
The eight remaining candidates for the board are John F. Boran, Robert DeColli, Christina M. DiCello, Patricia Hoak, Rhonda M. Johnson, Alexandra Maskerines Kalinich, Patrick F. Moran and Charles Wagner. All have filed for both the Republican and Democratic nominations.