ST. PETERSBURG – Chris Kelly, the City Council candidate in District 5, ended his campaign to unseat council chairman Jamie Bennett (at left) today, saying he’s too worn out to continue his grass roots challenge. Kelly, 41, said the constant summer politicking has rendered him an ineffective opponent. He already has lost 35 pounds – from 225 pounds this summer to 190 today – and visited a doctor for exhaustion.

"You’ll never win one of these races if you’re running on three volts,” said Kelly, whose fiery issues-based candidacy had been replaced by a more haggard, subdued version in recent weeks. “I’m told I am an engaging person, but it’s absolutely disappearing.”

Kelly formally withdrew in an e-mail to the City Clerk Monday morning. His decision set off a late morning scramble to figure out what happens next.

Would Bennett, who is seeking his second full, four-year term, be re-elected automatically? Would Debra Johnson Woodard, who finished third in the Sept. 11 primary, replace Kelly on the citywide fall ballot? The answer, thanks a quirk in local election laws, is neither.

According to city election law, voters Nov. 6 will have to choose between Bennett or a new election. But how to do that is creating a problem for city officials.

“If I can’t beat myself (in the election), I don’t think I deserve to win in the first place,” said a joking Bennett, who still intends on mounting what amounts to a curtailed campaign.

UPDATE: City attorney John Wolfe says the city has basically two options. Keep Kelly's name on the ballot and count any votes for him as "new election." Or switch out Kelly's name for "new election," which would cost more since at least 5,000 absentee ballots already have been mailed. City officials are trying to schedule a special meeting of council to debate the options.