By Liz McMahan
One of four candidates for the Ward IV City Council seat withdrew from the race Friday afternoon.
Paige Lane Frix, 48, an attorney, certified public accountant and community volunteer, said she was the first to file against incumbent Jim Ritchey, and after she saw that another candidate filed who would make a good council member, she decided to take back the time it would take to serve on the Council.
By withdrawing from the race she also will be able to continue serving on several boards and committees that she said she knew she would have to give up if she were elected.
Frix said she is endorsing Kenneth Wayne Payne, 48, for the post. Payne owns a quick lube business and the Coney Factory on York Street and works as a security officer at Muskogee Community Hospital.
That leaves Payne and retired school educator Elbert Cedric Johnson, 77, in the race with the incumbent, Jim Ritchey, 47.
Ritchey, Payne and Johnson will be on the April 6 ballot for the post.
If one of them doesn’t get 50 percent plus one vote, the contest will be decided in a May 11 runoff election.
The race for Muskogee mayor will be decided the same way, with three running for that seat:
• John Tyler Hammons, 21, a college student and substitute teacher, the incumbent.
• Chris James, 49, a travel agent.
• John Robert Coburn, 58, local businessman.
• Teresa Carol Garris, 61, local volunteer.
The only other race on the April 6 ballot will be between Ward II incumbent David Ragsdale Jr., 48, who works for the VA Regional Office, is a minister and part-time funeral home employee, and Randy Howard, 56, a salesman.
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