Crawford Mayor Connie Shell survived a recall election yesterday by about a 57% margin, 190-141. Shell is about midway through her first term as mayor.

       Shell says she’s grateful for the support of those who voted for her, but is disappointed that about half the Crawford residents who received ballots didn’t return them because everyone should participate when community decisions are made.

       Recall supporters said Shell needed to be removed because she doesn’t have the community in her best interest, is self-serving, had said “lucrative” local businesses were not valuable, and had threatened to sue Chamber of Commerce members.

     Shell strongly denied all the accusations and said that a number of people who’d signed the recall petition told her that circulators lied about what they were signing.