The city council race was jolted last week as candidate Robin Mathews pulled out.<BR><BR>Mathews, one of six contenders vying for three open council seats, is leaving Ely to take a new job.<BR><BR>He and his family will move to Pine County, in east-central Minnesota, where he was named the county’s land surveyor.<BR><BR>Mathews’ name will remain on the ballot, but he’s no longer pursuing election and would be unable to take office if he was elected.<BR><BR>In an Echo letter to the editor, Mathews said he and his family have chosen to leave Ely for both family and economic reasons.<BR><BR>He cited both the rising cost of living and limited economic opportunities in the area, noting that his wife is the only person in his household who receives benefits.<BR><BR>“I took employment with salary and benefits that were significantly less than jobs I had held previously,” said Mathews.