Tom Stobie has ended his bid in the 101st state House District, leaving former Rep. Dan Scripps as the only Democrat left in what should be a competitive race in November.
“The major reason that I’m withdrawing is, I’m having some health problems,” Stobie said in a conference call. “They’re not life-threatening but they would prevent me from campaigning at 100 percent and I believe that you need 100 percent and probably more to be successful in this campaign.”
Stobie, a former superintendent of Frankfort-Elberta Area Schools, previously ran in 2014, losing narrowly to incumbent Rep. Ray Franz.
When he announced he was exiting the race, Stobie also endorsed Scripps in the 101st, which runs from Northport to Ludington. Scripps previously held the seat, but was knocked out of office by Ray Franz during the Tea Party surge of 2010.
Scripps expects the Democratic message will win this November.
“It’s clear that our current legislature is failing to put people first,” Scripps says, “and that they’re failing to address the issues that are important to the people of northwest Michigan.”
Two Republicans are running: Curt VanderWall of Mason County, and Mark Walter from Leelanau County.