Jason Dilts
Jason Dilts, one of the first candidates to announce a run for city council in the April 2011 election, has decided to drop out of the race, according to a message sent to his supporters this morning.
Dilts was running for District 4, which includes Delano and most of southwest Wichita. Council member Paul Gray will vacate the seat next spring because of term limits.
Dilts said he was in a different place professionally and personally when he decided to run last spring.
“Today, my job at the MS Society has me out of town often and keeps my schedule full when I’m in Wichita,” he wrote. “I love the work that I do for the society, and simply don’t think I can do it effectively while being a candidate in the midst of what is likely to be a hectic campaign.”
He said he plans to exit politics entirely.
Dilts appointed former KSN news anchor Anita Cochran as his treasurer in early March and has hosted fundraiser events and promoted his campaign via online social networks. He said he would return any campaign donations to the donors on a pro-rated basis. He plans to donate whatever remains to the Tallgrass Film Festival.