USEFUL LINKS

Local attorney Steve Ellis has announced his decision to withdraw from the 2010 race for Cobb County District 3 Commissioner. The announcement by Ellis follows on the heels of businessman Troy Welker's same decision last week, making the commission race seem more like television's "Survivor" series.

The exit of Steve Ellis, pictured here, from the Cobb County District 3 commissioner's race leaves three candidates running to to fill the seat.

Ellis' decision leaves Waste Management Community Relations Marketing Manager Jo Ann Birrell, architect Stephen Moon and business consultant Earl Stine seeking current District 3 commissioner Tim Lee's seat, which he is leaving in an effort to become Chairman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners. All three District 3 candidates are Republicans, and unless a candidate from outside that party qualifies in April, a new commissioner could be picked as early as the general primaries in July.

Ellis, 29, said there was no one-single reason why he decided to end his campaign.

"There is no short answer to that," said Ellis, when asked why he left the race. "I just started a law firm about a year ago, and I have been working not only to maintain the clients I have but also to bring in new clients. I am the only person in the firm, and I know practicing law is not just for one person. The goal is to have more people."

The attorney said he knew how much time campaigning would take but learned, when his client list had grown, he needed to put more time into his practice. Fund raising in the current economy was also a challenge, according to Ellis. However, the former candidate does not believe his age impacted his campaign as much as some involved with local politics may have thought.

" I wasn't surprised by how much time was involved campaigning," said Ellis, who started his law practice off Piedmont Road about eight months ago. "But I was surprised how much time it took from clients as cases began. It was either stop practicing law or stop running. I also saw it was very difficult to raise funds in these times. It's understandable people want to hang on to their money. While I know I faced a challenge conveying to people I knew enough to be a candidate, I don't think age was a direct issue. There are people in the state legislature younger than me."

While he has left the race, Ellis said he will help Stine in his race for the commission seat, and he has not given up on seeking a political office.

" I like the candidates left, but I like Earl Stine's vision," said Ellis, a 1999 graduate of Sprayberry High School. "I also believe in less government. My decision to back him was made before leaving the race. And I still want to stay involved in the community and stay visible because, at some point, I plan on seeking an office again."