Charge dropped against Columbia Councilman Thomas

The misdemeanor charge against a Columbia city councilman has been dropped.

Ian Thomas no longer faces the charge after his lawyer announced Friday the Cole County prosecutor is dropping the case.

In September, Thomas was accused of offering to support a new subdivision in north Columbia in exchange for the developer making a donation to a low-income housing organization.

The councilman had acknowledged his actions were wrong but believed he did nothing illegal.