MaryMargaret Welch has pulled out of the race for Pos. 3 in the Mercer Island School Board race, leaving board incumbent and candidate for re-election, Lisa Strauch Eggers, unopposed. Welch, the dean of academics at Eastside Catholic High School announced the news last week, and said she was withdrawing for personal reasons.

Welch announced her decision to run for School Board in early June. The former Mercer Island High School science teacher, who has won a number of education awards, left the district in 2006 after accepting the position of associate principal at Eastside Catholic. Welch will continue at Eastside Catholic this fall.

According to the King County Election Office, the deadline for School Board candidates was June 8. However, there is still opportunity for “write-in candidacy,” whereby a willing contender pays a filing fee to campaign independently alongside registered candidates. During the elections, there is a space reserved on the ballot for voters to “write-in” the candidate’s name.

“There’s always a chance that we could have a write-in – we had one four years ago — but I haven’t heard of anyone yet,” said superintendent Cyndy Simms.

As it now stands, incumbent Pat Braman is seeking re-election for a second term in Pos. 5 and Janet Frohnmayer is running for current Board president Leslie Ferrell’s spot. Both women are running unopposed.

Strauch Eggers, an attorney in private practice, has served as School Board president, vice-president and other liaison roles since being elected in 2003. School Board elections will be held in November.