NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Peter Oleskiewicz is withdrawing as a candidate for mayor, although his name will be on the ballot for the preliminary election on Sept. 19.

 

Oleskiewicz said his heavy work schedule took him frequently out of town and made campaigning difficult. 

 

"Due to the fact that I still have to maintain a career which requires travel, I decided that it is only fair for people to have a candidate that can campaign full time," he wrote to iBerkshires on Sept. 1. "It was too late to officially back out, so my name will still appear on the ballot."

 

Oleskiewicz, a truck driver, said he was disappointed not to be able participate, and that he had put in his name because he felt the other candidates weren't offering good plans or solutions to the city's problems. 

 

In his first attempt at political office, Oleskiewicz had focused on communications — both with residents and the city's different departments to understand how they functioned and could be improved. 

 

"I am not running on anyone two or even three platforms, there are an entire wealth of issues plaguing the city," he'd communicated back in August. "Ears are one of the most important tools that you could possess. I have spent the last few days just talking and listening to people. It seems that a lot of their concern is that they have been forgotten."

 

Oleskiewicz had called for a cracking down on heroin dealers, increasing the number of police officers, and pursuing grants at all levels to provide them with resources. He also supported raising compensation packages for police and public works employees. 

 

With education the biggest consumer of the city's budget, he said he would begin discussions about opportunities for regionalization, and possibily consolidation with smaller communities. 

 

Oleskiewicz said he had received more support than expected as a political novice and had looked forward to continuing to hear from residents about their concerns and needs. 

 

"I never thought in a million years that I would have the support that I have," he said. "If by that slim chance that I were to make it through the primary, then I will really have to step it up somehow."