Former Saratoga Mayor Kathleen King has withdrawn from the race for Liz Kniss' seat on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, leaving former Palo Alto Mayor Joe Simitian as one of three candidates vying to replace Kniss.

King, who serves as executive director of the Santa Clara Family Health Foundation, announced that she is withdrawing from the race because of health issue involving her son. According to campaign-finance documents released Tuesday, she had received more than $55,000 in contributions.

Simitian, who served on the Board of Supervisors before his election to the state Assembly and, later, the state Senate, raised more than $96,000 as of the end of 2011.

King told the Mountain View Voice that she is suspending fundraising and withdrawing because of her son's medical condition. His health had been worsening and he was just hospitalized for a week, she said.

"I work full time. I have these issues going on (at home). It's just a little too much to run a major campaign at this time," King said.

Simitian is looking to replace Kniss, another former Palo Alto mayor, in District 5, which includes Palo Alto, Stanford, Mountain View, Los Altos, Saratoga and Cupertino, as well as unincorporated areas in the northwestern part of the county.

Cupertino Councilmen Kris Wang and Barry Chang are also running for Kniss' seat. King said she is not endorsing any candidate at this time. She also said she may think about getting back into the race in the future, if things change within the race and if her situation at home improves.

"I wish all the others a good race, a good campaign. It will be fun to watch."

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