This just in: City Council candidate Tamara DeRidder—a land use planner who was “in it to make a change”—tells the Mercury she’s dropping out of the race. And she’ll be supporting Jim Middaugh. We’re awaiting a press release from her with more details.

UPDATE: Via Middaugh, Tamara’s announcement, originally given to the organizers of this morning’s homelessness forum at Project Homeless Connect.

I am stepping down as a candidate for City Council Position #2. I am announcing this today and will not be available for your panel discussion on homelessness. Nonetheless, I am continuing my advocacy in fighting homelessness and working with others in our community in developing Emergency Outreach Centers to assist those who are close to falling into homelessness, see attached e-mail.

I am urging those who have supported me in my candidacy to lend their support to candidate Jim Middaugh, Eric Sten’s assistant.

Thank you for this opportunity and I hope to continue working with you on homelessness in the near future.

My best,

Tamara