In the special election to fill an open Jefferson County Commission seat July 18, two candidates will face off – retired Alabama Supreme Court Justice Mike Bolin and real estate developer David Silverstein – after a third dropped out of the race.

Real estate developer Jeff Wise dropped out of the race according to published reports. In an interview with Solomon Crenshaw Jr. at the Hoover Sun, Wise said he was “fighting an uphill battle” and that he ” didn’t want to diminish the Republican vote.”

That leaves Bolin and Silverstein in contention for the seat vacated by former District 5 Commissioner Steve Ammons, who left office to become the newest CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA). That district is in the southwest part of the county, covering areas surrounding Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Homewood, and Leeds.

After withdrawing from the race, Wise threw his full support behind Bolin in a separate article for BirminghamWatch that was also written by Crenshaw.

“I am endorsing my fellow Republican Mike Bolin to be our next District 5 commissioner,” Wise told Crenshaw. “After talking with Mike today [July 13], I feel confident that he is the best person for the position at this time. Mike shares my conservative values and will do an outstanding job for us.”