El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick has withdrawn from his reelection campaign for the District One seat, citing health concerns, according to East County Magazine. Kendrick, 72, has held public office in El Cajon for 24 years and told the outlet he is doing well after seeking medical care for chest pain.

East County Magazine reported that Patrick Grillot, a member of El Cajon's Public Safety Facility Financing Oversight Committee and president of the East County Democratic Club, planned to file papers for the seat. The filing deadline is expected to extend to Aug. 12 because the incumbent is no longer seeking reelection.

The District One race matters beyond El Cajon because the district includes Fletcher Hills, Grossmont College, Gillespie Field, Parkway Plaza and part of downtown, all of which are part of the broader East County economy Santee residents use every week.

Kendrick's withdrawal follows a year of unusually visible local politics in El Cajon, including debates over immigration enforcement and city policy. Voters will now have a slightly longer window to see who qualifies for the ballot before the race is set.

This article is based on reporting from East County Magazine.