Attorney Greg Smith has withdrawn his name from consideration in the race to succeed Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge, 4th District, who will be termed out of office in 2015.

Greg Smith

Smith announced his candidacy at the beginning of October, but said Monday that his decision stems from a need to be with his family to help care for his daughter, who has special needs.

“It was just bad timing for me,” he said. “I need — right now — to be with my family.”

Having run for city attorney earlier this year, Smith said he understands the commitment a campaign requires and could not continue to pursue the council seat given the circumstances.

“It’s very time-consuming,” he added.

According to a press release, Smith, a Los Angeles native, is a public safety attorney in a private practice that represents members of law enforcement and citizens who have been victims of corruption, waste and abuse.

He planned to run a campaign focused on facilitating good jobs, safe streets, clean air and “exceptional” constituent services, the release states.

According to the Los Angeles Ethics Commission, additional candidates filing fundraising paperwork for the Council District 4 race are Steve Veres, district director for Sen. Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles); Joan Pelico, chief of staff for City Councilman Paul Koretz, 5th District; Carolyn Ramsay, LaBonge’s chief of staff; attorney Teddy Davis; Tara Bannister; and John Nelson Perron Jr.