NORTHAMPTON — Molly Burnham is no longer running for a School Committee seat in the Nov. 5 city elections.
Burnham, who has served on the School Committee since 2016, registered to run for the Ward 5 seat, but decided last week to drop out of the race.
“Really, the reasons are there are some professional and personal changes that are going on in my life that have taken up a lot more of my time than I had anticipated,” Burnham said Monday.
The children’s book author said she is dedicated to the city’s public schools and felt the committee’s work trying to get more state funding was particularly important. “I really think that serving on the School Committee has been one of the greatest things that I’ve done — one of the most challenging, but so worthwhile,” she said.
Though she is not seeking reelection, it is too late to get her name off of the ballot. “I just want to put the word out that I’ve dropped out the race,” Burnham said. “I can’t get my name off of the ballot this point.” Candidates have 48 hours after submitting their paperwork to rescind their decision, according to the city clerk’s office.
Burnham’s decision leaves the Ward 5 seat uncontested, with Dina Levi as the only other person running.
Greta Jochem can be reached at gjochem@gazettenet.com.