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1987 Houston mayoral election

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1987 Houston mayoral election

← 1985 November 3, 1987 1989 →
 
Nominee Kathy Whitmire Bill Anderson Dick Dimond
Popular vote 168,656 27,254 13,628
Percentage 74% 12% 6%

Mayor before election

Kathy Whitmire

Elected mayor

Kathy Whitmire

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

History

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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

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Results

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Houston mayoral election, 1987
Candidate Votes %
Kathy Whitmire (incumbent) 168,656 74%
Bill Anderson 27,254 12%
Dick Dimond 13,628 6%
Glen Arnett 6,977 3%
Mary Pritchard 5,926 2%
Shelby Oringderff 4,853 2%
Don Geil 2,807 1%

References

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  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. ^ a b c d e f g Foxhall, Nene (November 4, 1987). "Whitmire Cruises to 4th Term". Houston Chronicle.