West Seattle activist and "Port Observer" publisher Christopher Cain today withdrew from the Race for Seattle Port Commission. Citing growing concerns about personal finances and family commitments, Cain released a statement thanking supporters and bowing out of the race.

“After careful consideration and reflection I am withdrawing from the race for Seattle Port Commission," he stated. "I hope my supporters will understand why I made this difficult decision and know that my heart is still very much with them in the struggle against corporate control of the Port of Seattle. I am not giving up the fight; instead I will continue to fight in other ways.”

Cain also announced he will be publishing several issues of his watchdog Port Observer over the course of the Port Commission campaign in order to inform citizens about the candidates and issues that matter. Cain also included a warning to King County voters to use extreme caution when choosing whom to support in this year’s Port races:

“The Port of Seattle is no longer under the control of King County citizens regardless of what anyone tells you," he said in a release. "It's simply not. Port staff consistently fails even the most basic accountability tests and the Port continues to provide inadequate public benefit to justify the burden of debt and taxes it places on citizens. The damage it visits upon the environment and neighboring communities cannot be permitted to continue. Sadly, today more than ever corporate and private interests far outweigh the public interest at the Port .”