A candidate for the board of Manitou Springs School District 14 dropped out of the race Thursday, leaving only two candidates for two seats and ostensibly doing away with the need for an election.But whether the district will be able to pull the names off the ballot and cancel the election was unclear Friday because the El Paso County election office was closed.Marsha Weimer notified the district Thursday that she was withdrawing for personal reasons, said Assistant Superintendent Beth Campbell.Contents for the ballot were certified by school districts and municipalities on Sept. 4 and provided to the El Paso County clerk’s office, which handles the printing, mailing and vote tallying for the various entities. The cost for the election is divided among those participating.But questions about whether the ballots have gone to the printer, or whether names can be removed after certification must wait until Monday when the elections office will be open, Campbell said.Manitou voters will receive ballots anyway, because there’s a city election as well.Molly Stevens and Gino Mendoza are the Manitou candidates who will fill the seats being vacated by incumbents Lori Finn and Larry Rice.—Call the writer at 636-0251.

Doug Bruce Photo by KEVIN KRECK, THE GAZETTE

Kevin Kreck