Recount, then get to work

Unity has always been one of the great political strengths of Fort Worth’s north side.

Newcomers outside Loop 820 spoke up for overdue improvements to long-neglected older neighborhoods, and central-city residents in turn supported expansion, new services and growth northwest toward Saginaw and Eagle Mountain Lake.

That unity fractured in this year’s City Council election. Residents outside the traditional north side strongly supported challenger Steve Thornton, a financial planner and retired firefigher, and residents inside Loop 820 supported Mayor Pro Tem Sal Espino, an attorney and 10-year incumbent.

Espino won by 27 votes, but Thornton has said he will ask for a recount.

That is understandable. A 27-vote margin is very close, and Thornton has several days to decide whether any box or ballots deserve rechecking.

At the same time, the city election involves only a handful of precincts. Thornton would have to pick up about two votes in each box to reverse the outcome.

A recount is fine, but the task for all is to reunite north Fort Worth.

This story was originally published May 12, 2015 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Recount, then get to work."