By: Lisa Broadt, Treasure Coast Newspapers
STUART — City Commissioner Troy McDonald has dropped out of the race for Martin County Commission District 2, he said Friday.
McDonald, 50, instead will seek re-election for his current seat on the City Commission.
The three-term city commissioner said he wants to continue in his current role because Stuart is experiencing turmoil and needs steady leadership.
"I made the decision a while back to run for County Commission. That was a good decision for me at the time, but since I announced I was running, we've had an issue involving a commissioner that resigned, a city manager retire and in the last month we've had collectively about 140 years of experience leave or retire." McDonald said Friday. "I became concerned about a vacuum of leadership. It was the hardest decision I ever made."
McDonald was challenged for the District 2 County Commission seat by Stacey Hetherington, who in 2014 ran for the seat but was defeated by Commissioner Ed Fielding, who has not announced if he will seek re-election…