With Election Day fast approaching, two contenders in Shakopee's mayoral and City Council races dropped out last week, saying they didn't want to split the city's conservative vote.

Mayoral candidate Mike Luce dropped out at an Oct. 19 candidate forum, saying he would instead support fellow candidate and former Mayor Bill Mars. Luce, a council member, had campaigned on a platform based largely on defeating Council Member Kathi Mocol, who's running with Mayor Brad Tabke's endorsement.

"I think the number of voters I carried was considerable," Luce said. "The problem there was splitting the vote, and that wouldn't be a good thing."

City Council candidate Aaron Weyer also ended his campaign last week, saying, like Luce, that he wanted to avoid splitting the conservative vote.

The City Council field also lost candidate Kari McGuire, chairwoman of the city's Economic Development Advisory Committee, at the beginning of October.

Although Luce, Weyer and McGuire will still be listed on the ballot, only McGuire has said she would serve if elected.

Three mayoral candidates — Dan Hennen, Mars and Mocol — and three City Council candidates — incumbents Jay Whiting and Matt Lehman and challenger Jordan Olson — are still actively campaigning. Two council seats are on the ballot in the Nov. 3 election.

Emma Nelson