Thompson survives recall election

HOUSTON — If unofficial election night totals hold, Mayor Virgie Thompson has survived an attempt to recall her from office.

Tallies from the city of Houston released just after polls closed Tuesday evening show the number of Houstonians who wanted Thompson to stay outnumbered those who wanted her to go 2-1. Fifty residents voted to recall her while 102 voted against the recall.

The recall was just one in a string of such attempts in Houston, where more mayors have faced them than have not in the past recent years. None of the attempts has been successful.

In this instance, the anti-Thompson camp alleged the city had paid her for work hours during a period when she was out of state and thus not able to do her job as mayor.

Her defenders said that although Thompson made a mistake on her timecard, she worked the 100 hours per month required by city code.

The election won’t be certified until a special city council meeting Aug. 2. Around 50 ballots are still outstanding. Those won’t be counted until Monday.

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