Houston elects new slate of council members

HOUSTON — Voters here picked all new faces to serve on the city council.

In a tight race, Paul Stout won over the current mayor Rosemary Burnett by 21 votes Tuesday to claim Seat F. Stout garnered 141 votes to Burnett’s 120.

Stout is a former councilman who was appointed to fill a vacant seat and then lost his bid to retain it in 2008 to councilwoman Ruth Blanchard.

Burnett is a former business owner, current community activist and longtime councilmember.

Though Stout defeated the mayor he will not necessarily be the mayor himself. The newly constituted council will meet after the election to decide which among them will take Burnett’s place.

Kathy Barney beat write-in candidate Lee Himes with 191 votes to Himes’ 56.

Himes was an incumbent, but a medical emergency kept him from filing his re-election papers in time, hence his write-in candidacy.

Newcomer James Johansen won Seat E against challenger and fellow political newcomer Alma Hartley. Johansen raked in 161 votes to Hartley’s 87.

Johansen will take the seat currently held by Roger Purcell who, amid controversy and facing a recall, resigned as mayor and decided not to run for council again.

Election results will be certified at the Monday, Oct. 11, Houston council meeting. The new council will vote to select the mayor and deputy mayor.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.