1987 Houston mayoral election

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1987 Houston mayoral election
Flag of Houston, Texas.svg
 1985November 3, 1987 1989  
  Kathy Whitmire (1).jpeg 3x4.svg 3x4.svg
Nominee Kathy Whitmire Bill AndersonDick Dimond
Popular vote168,65627,25413,628
Percentage74%12%6%

Mayor before election

Kathy Whitmire

Elected mayor

Kathy Whitmire

The 1987 Houston mayoral election took place on November 3, 1987. Incumbent Mayor Kathy Whitmire was re-elected to a fourth term.

Contents

History

Whitmire, first elected in 1981, partly from a political alliance with the Houston LGTBQ community, partly retreated from this political alliance after a political loss in 1985 on some civil rights and equal-employment charter amendment referendums. A local opposition group organized as a Straight Slate of Candidates in 1985. Although none of these candidates won in 1985, the 1987 election revisited LGTBQ as political battle line. Thus, an important political objective for the 1987 Mayoral Elections was mending this rift with local interest groups, such as the Gay Political Caucus. [1]

In other races, George Greanias resigned his Houston city council seat to run for Houston City Controller. He gained election with 62% of the vote, despite being a frequent critic of popular Mayor Kathy Whitmire. Receiving the second most votes was Jamie G. House, previously the assistant to outgoing City Controller, Lance Lalor. [2]

Candidates

Results

Houston mayoral election, 1987
CandidateVotes %
Kathy Whitmire (incumbent)168,65674%
Bill Anderson27,25412%
Dick Dimond13,6286%
Glen Arnett6,9773%
Mary Pritchard5,9262%
Shelby Oringderff4,8532%
Don Geil2,8071%

References

  1. Phelps, Wesley G. (2018). "The Politics of Queer Disindentification and the Limits of Neoliberalism in the Struggle for Gay and Lesbian Equality in Houston". Journal of Southern History. 84 (2): 311–348. doi:10.1353/soh.2018.0087. S2CID   158740652.
  2. Carreau, Mark (November 4, 1987). "Greanias Whips Field in Race for Controller". Houston Chronicle.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Foxhall, Nene (November 4, 1987). "Whitmire Cruises to 4th Term". Houston Chronicle.