News staff writer

The Hood River City Mayoral race has undergone some unexpected twists: One candidate has been disqualified, another has withdrawn and a new contender is now in the running.

Councilor Arthur Babitz has thrown his hat in the ring for mayor and will now square off with Bob Palmer.

Dawna Armstrong was disqualified by Sandra Berry, county elections supervisor, because she was two days short of meeting the voter registration deadline. Armstrong had not been eligible to vote for a full year before filing, as required by the city charter.

“It was a snafu that slipped us all by until the last minute,” stated Armstrong in a written statement.

“Yes, I am still interested in serving our town somehow. I am in the process of talking with different folks about what the best approach will be to still do what is in my heart, which is to improve our town. I will most likely seek a position in our local government in the near future.”

Armstrong is mechanical engineer who decided to leave a high-tech life in Seattle. She and husband Vlado Sklenar, a photographer, relocated to Hood River where she changed careers and spent five years working in the spa industry.

A.J. Kitt withdrew his filing as a candidate due to family time constraints. He and wife, Amy, have pre-school triplets, own a business and are both employed full-time. Kitt felt the role of mayor required many more hours of public service than that of a council member.

He plans a return in the near future to the elected body that he was appointed to in mid-2004 and won election to that same fall. He was forced to resign nine months into his first term when Amy encountered medical complications late in her pregnancy.

“I definitely see myself running for mayor in the future because I want to be part of the solution — this is just not the right year,” said Kitts.

“I want to run when I can spend the time that it will take to intimately understand all of the details involved in the issues.”

Babitz, 48, an electrical engineer, captured his current position in 2006 by beating out incumbent Martin Campos-Davis.

Palmer, 78, retired Hood River fire marshal, served as mayor 18 years ago and has re-emerged on the political scene.

John Herron will face off with incumbent council members Ann Frodel and Laurent Picard for the two open seats.