Candidates for Maine House districts representing Windham, New Gloucester and Naples have withdrawn from their respective races.

The withdrawals follow recent party primaries and in advance of a July 14 deadline, after which the candidates could not be replaced on their party’s ticket. Replacements must be announced by July 28.

In the race for the House District 25 seat, Jane Pringle (D-Windham), who has served one term in the Legislature, withdrew from the race. In District 65, Mark Stevens, a Democrat and former New Gloucester selectman, withdrew. In District 68, Richard Cebra, a Republican and former four-term representative of Naples, also withdrew.

Among seasoned politicos, the placeholders who temporarily pose as candidates to buy time for party leaders to find someone who actually wants to run are known as “paper candidates.” In the Lakes Region this season, at least one of the withdrawing candidates, Stevens, said that he had evolved into a paper candidate during the past few months.

Pringle, on the other hand, said she had intended to run all along.

“I was not running just to hold a spot,” she said. “I was running because I intended to run for re-election.”

Pringle said that she had withdrawn in response to family and health issues.

“I realized that I had a number of things needing attention relating to my family,” she said. “I also had some back problems, which required surgery earlier this summer, and I just felt that I didn’t have the time really to commit fully to another term in the Legislature. It was a very hard decision.”

According to Pringle, Democrat Jennie Butler, a math teacher at Windham High School, is set to run in her place.

Pringle’s challenger, Republican Patrick Corey, said he was surprised by Pringle’s withdrawal.

“I thought Jane was in,” Corey said. “I had no idea she wasn’t. I was actually kind of excited to run against her.”

Mark Stevens said that while he originally intended to seek election, that changed mid-way through the primary season.

“When I originally tossed my name out there, I had every intention of running,” Stevens said. “As time went on, my wife and I were looking at our options (and) we decided to put our house up for sale.”

Stevens and his wife, Nichole, who chairs the New Gloucester Democratic Committee, hope to move closer to Portland. Stevens works for the Liberty Group in Portland.

According to Nichole Stevens, their home has been on the market for more than three months and has not yet sold. She said it was only right for her husband to withdraw now.

“I don’t think it’s fair to run for office if your five-year plan doesn’t consist of staying in New Gloucester,” she said.

Stevens said he felt fortunate that he could withdraw after the primary and not automatically yield the race to his opponent, incumbent Ellie Espling, R-New Gloucester.

“I decided to run knowing that the paper candidate option was there,” Stevens said. “We were able to luckily find someone to step up in my place.”

Rosa Van Wie, whose father, David Van Wie, previously held the New Gloucester House seat, will run in Stevens’ place. Espling defeated David Van Wie in 2010, and was unsuccessfully challenged by Nichole Stevens in 2012.

“I think it’s great that she’s putting her hat in the ring,” Espling said of Van Wie.

As for Stevens’ “paper candidacy,” Espling had no criticism.

“A lot of people do that,” she said. “I respect that.”

In Naples, Richard Cebra declined to comment on his withdrawal from the District 68 race. The Maine Republican Party also declined to comment on a possible replacement for Cebra. Cebra served as Naples and Casco’s state representative for eight years before being term-limited in 2012. He recently served a short stint as chairman of the Maine Republican Party.

Incumbent Christine Powers, D-Naples, said she had no idea who she was running against.

“I haven’t heard anything either about why or who is running,” she said. “I don’t know who my opponent is, but no matter who it is I’m going to do the best job that I can.”