Udall ? Udall residents have decided that Mayor Christopher Lette will stay in office.

Residents of the southern Kansas town on Tuesday rejected a bid to recall Lette by a 178-88 vote. Leaders of the recall effort accused Lette of abuse of office and illegally awarding a city contract to his own construction company. He had denied the accusations.

The Winfield Daily Courier reports that Lette issued a statement thanking those who stayed positive during the recall effort. He says he hoped the town of Udall would not be divided by the issue.