With a heavy heart, Laguna Beach’s Mayor Pro Tem says he has decided to not seek re-election and has withdrawn from the race for city council.
Rob Zur Schmiede announced his decision this week, three months after his younger brother was severely injured in a car accident in Kentucky. Schmiede has been helping to care for his affairs since the crash.
"Over the last few weeks, my brother's situation has become more complicated than I could have anticipated," the councilman explained in the statement. “As his legal representative and the only immediate family member with the skills needed to assist him with many of his needs, I have had to wrestle with the demands of ensuring that Tom has the care and resources he’ll need for the remainder of his life and have come to recognize that it is impossible for me to commit to another four years of service on the City Council at this time.”
“I am profoundly grateful for the efforts of my campaign team, for the encouragement and collaboration I have enjoyed from my colleagues on the Council, and from the enthusiastic support of residents throughout Laguna," Schmiede added. "It has been my honor to serve Laguna Beach as Mayor pro tem, as a Council Member, as a Planning Commissioner, and as a Design Review Board member."
Laguna Beach will see a packed race this November, featuring nearly a dozen candidates for city council. Mayor Kelly Boyd has also decided not to seek re-election.
Schmiede will carry out the rest of his term until December.
Read more at Patch and the Los Angeles Times.