William LeJeune, an Eagle Mountain Democrat, withdrew his name from the candidate list Wednesday, due to a potential violation of the Hatch Act.

Still in the District 56 race to challenge Republican Rep. Kenneth Sumsion are Republican Jared Sepulveda and Constitution Party candidate Michael Barron, both from Lehi.

LeJeune, a member and also an employee of the Utah Army National Guard, gets paid from federal funds. His employment as a military technician precludes him, under the Hatch Act, from seeking higher office.

LeJeune, who describes himself as a moderate Democrat, said he had hoped to provide an alternative to the dominant Republican voice in Utah County. Democrats fielded no candidate against Sumsion in the previous election.

"I would love to be part of the state Legislature and represent my district," LeJeune said. "But I have to feed my family and the federal government is not to be trifled with."

Before the 2006 election, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel told Ogden Police Chief Jon Greiner to drop out of the Senate District 18 race or quit his job because of federal grants his department receives. His oversight of those grants would have precluded him from running.

Greiner stayed on the job and in the race - saying he did not administer those grants - and won the election. Whether the Office of Special Counsel will take further action remains to be seen.

Other candidates exiting early - just two days after the Monday filing deadline - include two Midway Republicans, Ezra Segura and Jerry White, in the hotly contested House District 54 race. The seat is open because Republican Rep. Gordon Snow chose not to run again.

Still standing in that crowded contest are: Democrats Neil Anderton and Lambert Deegan, Republicans David Labrum, Kraig Powell and Robert Wren, and Constitution Party candidate Douglas Thompson.

cmckitrick@sltrib.com