Though his name will still appear on the primary election ballot, Theodore Smith has decided to drop out of the race for a seat on the public hospital district board.

In an email to the News-Times on Friday, Smith said he is withdrawing because he and his wife have decided to move to be near one of their sons in the state of New York.

Other candidates for Position 5 on the WhidbeyHealth board include Morgan Cooper, Kirk Gasper and Dennis Rochier. Two will advance to the general election in November, but if Smith is one of the two who gets the most votes, a vacancy will be created and filled by the district’s board via a special appointment process, according to the Island County Elections Office.

Cooper, who previously served on the board, was the owner of Image Builders Marketing Ser

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