Select Board candidate Russell Kriehn has decided to withdraw from the Select Board race.

Kriehn made the decision because “I feel like I wouldn’t be able to give 100%” to serving on the Select Board, he said. 

He and his wife own three businesses, with Better Way Primary Care as their main business. Better Way has added approximately 500 patients in the few months since Kriehn first started collecting signatures, which does not leave him with enough time to dedicate to politics as well, he said. 

“I hate to take on any kind of a job, project or whatever and not be able to give it my all, so if I was to continue running, I would just be taking votes from good people who deserve the job that have the time to spend helping the town. and that’s not right,” he said. 

“I had a long conversation with a friend of mine involved in politics and Wareham and to be honest it was eye opening,” said Kriehn. “I had no idea really what was involved and the dedication from the people who already hold a position.”

While Kriehn has stated his intention to withdraw from the race, his name will still be on the ballot. The deadline for an official withdrawal was Thursday, April 4.