McKinney residents will soon learn whether Mayor Bill Cox and councilmembers Justin Beller, Geré Feltus and Ernest Lynch face a recall election after the city secretary’s office verified that the petition against them contains enough valid signatures to meet the charter requirement. The verification, completed on Nov. 13, confirmed 6,608 signatures out of the roughly 7,400 submitted, surpassing the 5,805‑signature threshold—more than 30% of the votes cast in the city’s last regular municipal election.
According to Community Impact, the petition was originally filed on Sept. 25 and the city’s review concluded that the signatures represent registered McKinney voters. The city council will receive the secretary’s findings at its regular meeting on Nov. 17, as noted in a city news release. No formal vote on the recall will occur at that meeting; instead, council members have five days to resign voluntarily. If they do not, the council is required to order a citywide recall election.
The recall effort began after the council approved a plan to expand a local mosque, as reported by CBS News Texas. Petition organizers argue the mosque expansion is one of several projects—along with an airport expansion and a planned Highway 380 bypass—that were approved without sufficient public input. They contend the effort is not solely anti‑Muslim, but rather a response to perceived disregard for community concerns.
Former Mayor George Fuller, who opposes the recall, told CBS News Texas that many signatories believed the petition was aimed at stopping the mosque, but he expects they will change their minds once they understand the full context. “I have every confidence that McKinney residents will stand by the good councilmembers,” Fuller said.
The recall petition was filed by five voters on Aug. 11, citing a loss of public confidence in the officials’ ability to represent the city. Under the McKinney City Charter, a recall petition must be signed by at least 5,805 qualified voters, the 30% benchmark the petition now exceeds.
All verified signatures and the summary report are available on the city’s website. The council’s work session and regular meeting on Nov. 17 will be livestreamed from McKinney City Hall at 401 E. Virginia St., allowing residents to follow the proceedings.
What’s next: The council will formally receive the verification findings on Nov. 17. If the council members do not resign within five days, a citywide recall election will be scheduled, giving voters the chance to decide whether to retain the mayor and the three councilmembers.
Sources: communityimpact.com, cbsnews.com
