Leader Publications

Niles Charter Township treasurer-elect John H. Engel has withdrawn from contention in the Nov. 6 election.

Clerk Marge Durm-Hiatt’s office received official notice from the candidate.

His letter was received by certified mail on Sept. 20.

Deputy Clerk Angie Cole said Friday Engel’s name will appear on the ballot.

The state Bureau of Elections advised that Ringler would have to win the write-in.

If Engel won anyway and declined the post, it would create a vacancy, leaving it to the board to appoint a treasurer.

Reached at the University of Notre Dame, where he is a senior accountant, Engel said he “found other opportunities I’m going to pursue.”

Engel said 16-year Treasurer Jim Ringler, who lost the Republican primary to him Aug. 7, Wednesday re-entering the race as a write-in candidate “had nothing to do with it.”

“I had no idea he was considering dropping out,” Ringler agreed, calling it a “wide-open race,” with a possibility others could file write-ins until 4 p.m. Oct. 26.

“I’m not done serving my community,” said Ringler, who, if he prevails, looks forward to a “different four years” with Jim Stover as supervisor and Terry Eull as clerk that would help “get some respect back.”