A petition to recall McKinney Mayor Bill Cox and three City Council members cleared the city’s signature requirement by 803, according to a November 12 city report.
McKinney verified 6,608 signatures out of 7,422 entries. The city required 5,805 valid signatures. The petition also names council members Ernest Lynch (At-Large Place 1), Justin Beller (District 1) and Geré Feltus (District 3).
“Congratulations to the people of McKinney. The City confirmed we greatly surpassed the number of verified signatures the charter requires,” recall organizer John Aselton said in a statement.
“To the residents who signed, the volunteers who went door to door, and the recall team who organized in the Texas heat congratulations.”
Organizers submitted the petition on September 25. The committee’s sworn affidavit cited “a loss of public confidence” in the four officials’ ability to represent McKinney residents.
Organizers have cited concerns about city spending, transparency, growth, infrastructure and whether City Hall listens to residents. Recall supporter Jeff Hall told The Dallas Express that his concerns include airport expansion and how the city is managing development.
What happens next
City Secretary Empress Drane is scheduled to submit certified results to the council Tuesday, November 17. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. The agenda calls for the council to receive the findings without taking a vote on the item.
Under Section 146 of the city charter, if Drane certifies the petition as sufficient and compliant, she must submit it to the council with her certification and notify the officials named in it. Each official then has five days after receiving notice to resign.
For any named official who does not resign within that period, the council must order and set a date for a citywide recall election under state law. The city’s agenda summary says the council must order the election at its next regular meeting once that condition applies.
The exact resignation deadlines depend on when each official receives notice. The city’s report does not provide those receipt dates. The report and November 17 agenda also do not set a recall election date or an early-voting schedule.
