Houston needs professional help

Like a bad accident or the sideshow aisle at the carnival, Houston city politics continues to be a gruesome scene you can’t help but watch.

Six months after the Roger Purcell administration imploded, Mayor Virgie Thompson finds herself the subject of a recall effort. It comes in the middle of unconfirmed allegations by Houston’s own police captain that Thompson and City Treasurer Carolyn Grabowski are the subject of an FBI investigation into alleged misuse of city funds.

The city also is still reeling from a series of recent public scandals that saw a police officer shoot eight dogs at the Houston animal shelter, Purcell denying claims he illegally used the lights on a city police vehicle while driving it to Fairbanks and another recall effort to oust Purcell from office.

Purcell eventually resigned the night before Houston residents were to vote on that recall.

Now it seems it’s Thompson’s turn.

A vocal opponent of Purcell’s, Thompson and her supporters claim the petition to recall her is retaliation by Purcell supporters. Mostly what has changed this time around is the names of the people pointing fingers at the mayor. The petition was brought by Ruth Blanchard, a fellow city councilwoman, and Ralph Buzard, himself a former councilman and current planning commissioner. (Buzard also is pursuing assault charges against current city councilman Jim Johansen.)

Thompson’s failing? Petitioners allege she failed to work the required minimum of 100 hours back in November. If true, then the mayor should be called to the carpet, but if petitioners see this as such an egregious act, why did it take five months to bring it to the public?

In truth, does it really matter anymore? It seems public service in Houston is no longer about doing the best work for the good people who live there. Instead, it’s a round robin of feuding between two factions — those who support Purcell and those who don’t.

It’s selfish, embarrassing and drains energy and resources away from the massive effort that’s now needed for the city and its leaders to restore Houston’s ebbing credibility.

We’ve tried direct appeals here — to no avail — to city officials and to residents. We’ve suggested that residents put aside their squabbles and work together to solve their shared challenges and pursue shared opportunities.

But it seems Houston needs more help.

While we are reluctant to suggest spending city money on such a drastic move, it seems like a professional mediator might be a good investment of city dollars. Perhaps an impartial third-party trained in consensus building could help the community get back on track.

Otherwise, voters shouldn’t stop with Thompson; recall the whole bunch.