NORTHAMPTON – After campaigning for less than two weeks, Roberta “Robbie” Saner Sullivan has dropped out of the race for Ward 2 city councilor, citing a family commitment.
“It’s not the right time,” Sullivan, 51, said Monday.
A lifelong city resident, Sullivan closed her home care business last year so she could devote herself to allowing her 87-year-old mother to age in place. After 11 coffee dates with friends and strangers as part of her campaign, she said she learned more about what it means to be a candidate and decided that she would not be able to run for elected office and maintain her commitment to her mother.
“I just got more clarity on it,” she said. “I’d rather do this one thing really well now.”
Sullivan, who serves as the Ward 2 representative on the Charter Review Committee, said that she will continue to advocate for issues that are important to her. Sullivan also said that she is still going to stay involved in the democratic process as a voter.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.