Citizens of McKinney, Texas, who are dissatisfied with recent city decisions have moved a recall effort into the verification stage. On September 26, organizers led by John Aselton delivered petition sheets to the city clerk, indicating that more than 6,500 signatures have been internally validated.
Signature count exceeds required threshold
The recall committee says the city charter requires 5,805 valid signatures to advance a recall. Their internal audit shows at least 6,500 signatures from registered McKinney voters, with the total number of collected signatures exceeding 7,000. This puts the effort well above the required threshold and ahead of the September 26 filing deadline.
Officials targeted by the recall
The petition seeks the removal of Mayor Bill Cox, At‑Large Council Member Ernest Lynch, District 3 Council Member Geré Feltus, and District 1 Council Member Justin Beller. Organizers say the recall was sparked after the council unanimously approved the construction of an Islamic center, a decision that many residents opposed.
Next steps in the recall process
Submitting the petitions does not guarantee that the recall will proceed. The city secretary must review each signature to confirm that it meets the eligibility criteria set out in the charter and state election law. If the signatures are certified and no official resigns within the charter‑specified period, the city council will be required to schedule a recall election.
John Aselton told the Dallas Express, “We just submitted all of our petition sheets to the city. They’re going through and documenting them. We’re going to get copies as well as documented receipt for intake.” He added, “Based on our turnout, we had over 7,000 people that signed, internally validated 6,500 or more. So very, very excited about that.” Aselton thanked volunteers and citizens who signed, promising further updates as the verification proceeds.
Community response
Supporters of the recall have praised the rapid collection of signatures, emphasizing the importance of local participation in municipal governance. Critics, including some community leaders, argue that the recall effort distracts from pressing city issues such as public safety and infrastructure. Both sides agree that the upcoming verification will be a pivotal moment for McKinney’s political landscape.
The city’s next public action will be the certification of signatures, after which a recall election could be placed on the ballot later this year or early next year, depending on the council’s schedule and any legal challenges.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
