McKinney, Texas – A recall drive targeting Mayor Bill Cox and three city council members has intensified after U.S. Rep. Keith Self (R‑Texas) publicly signed the petition. In a Facebook video posted on August 16, Rep. Self said he was there to support citizens who feel the council is ignoring their concerns, adding that “the left is using its normal tactics: bullying, threats, threats of retribution.”
Recall Petition Details
The petition seeks the removal of Mayor Cox, At‑Large Council Member Ernest Lynch, District 3 Council Member Geré Feltus, and District 1 Council Member Justin Beller. Five local voters filed the recall affidavit, citing a “loss of public confidence” in the officials’ ability to represent residents. To advance the recall, organizers must gather 5,805 valid signatures from registered McKinney voters by September 26.
Origins of the Effort
The recall effort began a week after the McKinney City Council unanimously approved the McKinney Islamic Association’s site plan for a mosque and Islamic center, following a contentious public debate. While the affidavit does not name the mosque, Islam or the council vote as grounds for removal, recall supporters say the campaign reflects broader concerns about city spending, transparency, growth, infrastructure and whether leaders are listening to constituents.
Disputed Video Claims
Former Mayor George Fuller posted a Facebook video accusing a recall volunteer of alleging that the targeted council members were receiving kickbacks. Fuller called the claim “disgraceful” and suggested the video was being used to persuade signatures. The Dallas Express has not independently verified any kickback allegations.
Recall organizer Ashley Marie refuted Fuller’s characterization, stating that the woman heard in the recording was not a volunteer but a concerned citizen who came to sign the petition. Marie said Fuller’s video paired her photograph with another woman’s audio, creating a false impression. She also said she spoke directly with the person who recorded the audio and that the woman’s comments were limited to the stated grounds of the recall.
Organizer Perspective
Marie emphasized that the recall campaign is about holding elected officials accountable for what she describes as putting special interests ahead of local residents. “This campaign is important because our city council put special interests ahead of the people who actually live here,” she said.
Political Context
Rep. Self’s involvement marks a rare instance of a sitting member of Congress directly supporting a municipal recall effort. The congressman’s endorsement underscores the political dimension of the dispute, though the recall itself is governed by local election rules rather than state or federal policy.
Next Steps
Recall organizers plan to continue gathering signatures through the September 26 deadline, giving McKinney voters a chance to decide whether the four officials retain their confidence. The city council has not issued a formal response to the petition, and both former Mayor Fuller and Rep. Self have not provided additional comments since the initial statements.
Background on Recall Process
Under Texas law, a recall petition must be signed by a specified percentage of registered voters within the jurisdiction—in this case, 5,805 signatures representing roughly 10 % of McKinney’s registered electorate. Once the threshold is met, the city will schedule a recall election, allowing voters to choose whether to remove the officials from office.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
