Ellen Glasser has withdrawn from the Atlantic Beach mayoral race, citing “serious medical challenges” that she has faced in recent months.
That makes Curtis Ford, the current mayor and other candidate in the race, the winner, according to Duval County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland.
In a letter that Holland’s office received Wednesday, Glasser said she is withdrawing from the race immediately. The former Atlantic Beach mayor wrote that the medical condition has resulted in extremely reduced stamina. And while it is not terminal, she wrote, it does not seem like it will go away in the near term.
“Although my unwavering desire to serve as Atlantic Beach mayor again has not changed, my body is not cooperating,” Glasser wrote in her letter. “I cannot, physically and in good conscience, continue to campaign in the way that’s necessary to win. And even more important, if these medical challenges persist, I will not be in a position to serve the City of Atlantic Beach with the energy, focus, stamina and dependability required to be the best mayor I can be.”
Glasser was mayor from 2017 to 2022. Her letter stated that she’s “not going anywhere.” She said she will continue to pay close attention to city affairs and work with the new commission, city staff and other community members to help Atlantic Beach.