Independent council candidates Beatrice Robbio and Christina Zitis will not run in November’s election.

The withdrawal leaves Democrats Maureen Holtje and Jose Luis Vida and Republicans Ayelet Weiss and Bart Talamini to compete for the two three-year terms.

Zitis and incumbent Robbio were supported by the Independent Coalition for a Better Edgewater (ICBE). The bi-partisan "watchdog" group issued a press release Sept. 4 saying that the candidates would not run because the presidential race is "so passionately partisan" this year.

"It is felt that voters will choose a complete slate of either Republicans or Democrats, and few will be interested in the particulars of Edgewater’s local race," the release said.

Robbio and Councilman Denis Gallagher’s three-year terms expire this year. Both candidates were previously endorsed by ICBE. Councilman David Weschler will be the lone ICBE-endorsed candidate on the council next year. The other incumbents will be Democrats James Delaney, David Jordan, and Neda Rose. Mayor Nancy Merse is also a Democrat.

"It wasn’t an easy decision to make," ICBE President Valory Bardinas said. "We intend to maintain our status as a watchdog for the people of Edgewater."

She said some issues the group wants to focus on right now are the budget, and hiring and pay-to-play practices.

Robbio said the ICBE plays an important role in the borough.

Without it so many things would be swept under the rug," she said. "Every government needs checks and balances."

She said she always tried to help the community.

"I feel I served it well by continuing to uncover pockets of corruption," she said.

Bardinas said it is always difficult to campaign in the fourth voting district, which includes Waterford Towers and Independence Harbor.

"That's been our biggest obstacle," she said. "We’re barred from there."

Bardinas said those private residences have an election site inside and Democrats campaign there. "That’s almost 300 votes built in for them," she said.

Bardinas said it is hard for grassroots groups to raise money for campaigns since independent parties aren’t officially recognized. At least one ICBE-endorsed candidate has sat on the council for the last nine years and Bardinas said the ICBE is not giving up on local politics.

"Look for us on the ballot in 2009," she said.

Robbio is not sure if she will run again. She is getting married this month and has not decided where she will live after that.