Two weeks ago, the candidates were all set for Newton’s 2025 local election. Or so we thought.

In a bit of a late-in-the-game bombshell, city councilors Rick Lipof (Ward 8 at-large) and Alan Lobovits (Ward 6 at-large) have opted not to run for reelection after all.

Lipof said he’s been sitting with the decision for a while.

“After more than two decades representing Newton in City government, the decision to not run was a struggle as service for me has been not just an honor but also a serious obligation,” Lipof said in a statement on Thursday. “But it is the right decision at the right time.”

Lipof has been serving on the City Council for 24 years, since it was the Board of Aldermen, taking a break in 2008 to care for his wife as she battled breast cancer.

Now, he said he plans to spend his newfound free time to focus on fighting “the rising scourge of antisemitism.”

“I am tremendously honored to have joined the Board of Directors of the Holocaust Museum of Boston, helping to build New England’s first Holocaust Museum on Tremont Street (across from the State House),” his statement continues. “Additionally, I am working on bringing a new opportunity to Newton to raise funds above and beyond what Proposition 2 1⁄2 will allow. New revenue can come to our community in many ways. Stay tuned.”

Lobovits (who hadn’t responded to a request for comment by the time of publication) is a retired physician who first ran for City Council two years ago to confront proposed zoning changes in the city’s village centers—the Village Center Overlay District plan—and give voice to residents who thought there was too much development happening too quickly.

What this week’s developments mean is that the Ward 6 at-large race is down to three candidates for two seats: Sean Roche, Lisa Gordon and Ted Gross. And the Ward 8 at-large race is no longer competitive, with incumbent David Kalis and newcomer Jacob Silber the only remaining candidates for those two seats.

By the way…

In other news, the “Schrodinger’s Race” in Ward 4 is demystified. Cyrus Dahmubed, who submitted papers for the ward seat (currently held by Randy Block) and for an at-large seat, has decided to stick with the at-large race. That means he now faces incumbent Joshua Krintzman and fellow challenger John Chaimanis for one of two at-large seats.

A resident named Patrick Costello had taken out nomination papers for the Ward 4 at-large race, but he did not hand those papers in.