Independent qualifies for House District 120 ballot

With no GOP opponent in sight, she was already being called “state representative-elect,” but Democrat Barbara Gervin-Hawkins now has a last-minute challenger to contend with in her Nov. 8 race for an East Side legislative seat.

Laura Thompson, the interim state representative in Texas House District 120, gathered enough signatures to qualify as an independent candidate for the general election. The Texas Secretary of State notified Thompson on Thursday that she had met the requirements of the Texas Election Code to be added to the ballot as an independent.

The ruling negated a previous determination that she failed to meet a July 1 deadline to gather at least 500 valid signatures.

Thompson, a certified mediator, said the reversal came after she provided information to validate signatures that had been disqualified previously.

“We are afforded an opportunity to appeal decisions and Open Records (law) guarantees us a transparent government,” Thompson said in a statement.

In an August special election, Thompson won the seat vacated in January by former state Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio. Thompson prevailed by 50 votes over special election candidate Lou Miller in the district that encompasses parts of the East and Northeast sides, Windcrest, Kirby and Converse.

Thompson’s term will end in January when the 85th Legislature convenes. In the meantime, she’ll be able to say she’s running for re-election.

Thompson’s win in August was a rare feat for any independent running for the Legislature. Researchers said it was the first time since 1961 that an unaffiliated candidate had prevailed.

Gervin-Hawkins, an educator, earned her spot on the Nov. 8 ballot by winning the six-candidate Democratic Party primary, which required a runoff. With no Republican candidates, some Democrats began referring to Gervin-Hawkins as “state representative-elect,” but that title was premature.

“For us, nothing is going to change,” said Tyrone Darden, campaign manager for Gervin-Hawkins. “We’re always going to work hard, to make sure the community is informed before the election,” he said. jgonzalez@express-news.net Twitter: @johnwgonzalez