GROVES — Suzanne Williamson, who was set to be in a mayoral runoff, has dropped out of the race.

Williamson announced her intention on social media Monday and spoke with The Port Arthur News about the decision Tuesday.

Williamson said she believes she would have won but would be a “lame duck” mayor because of a majority voting bloc.

Ward 4 incumbent Kyle Hollier was re-elected to his seat and typically votes along the same lines with Ward 3 Councilman Sidney Badon. Also, Ward 1 Councilman Cross Coburn was recalled and a replacement will be named Thursday to serve his unexpired term. Williamson believes the person that will replace Coburn will be handpicked and vote similarly to Hollier and Badon, thus creating the majority bloc.

“I didn’t remove myself because I felt I would have lost but would win and based on the other elected positions I felt as though I would be a ‘lame duck’ mayor,” Williamson said.

She said the fact that she was even in a mayoral runoff race without being a lifelong Groves resident and not a politician and pulled a lot of votes pleased her.

But her fire for public service still burns. She will “absolutely” continue to attend City Council meetings and be involved in city issues.

“I have not changed my views on being involved in local matters. I will not change that,” she said.

She also believes her brief run for local political office has influenced others to have interest in local government. She has received messages with questions on certain city topics and has heard from someone wanting to run for office in 2019.

The decision to withdraw from the runoff was hers and hers alone, she said. She was not “paid off” and not officially threatened, she said.

Incumbent Mayor Brad Bailey led the vote total with 1,914 votes or 48.11 percent of the total ballots cast. Just 101 votes separated Bailey from Williamson, who took 1,813 votes or 45.58 percent of the total ballots cast. The third contender, Kaelan Ramos, 21, tallied 251 votes or 6.31 percent.