McKinney Recall Enters Verification After Thousands of Signatures Submitted

Organizers say at least 6,500 signatures passed their internal review in the effort to recall Mayor Bill Cox and council members Ernest Lynch, Geré Feltus and Justin Beller.

By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews

McKINNEY — Petitions seeking the recall of four McKinney City Council members were submitted Friday after organizers said at least 6,500 signatures had passed their internal review, moving the effort to the City’s verification process.

The recall targets Mayor Bill Cox and council members Ernest Lynch, Geré Feltus and Justin Beller. Cox said the petition reflects residents’ right to participate in the process and that the City Secretary will now determine whether it meets City Charter and state law requirements.

Fuller says signature count doesn’t change his view

Former Mayor George Fuller said the number submitted does not change his assessment of the recall.

“Approximately 6,500 signatures were submitted; they still have to be reviewed and verified,” Fuller said. “A petition is one step in the process. Ultimately, if the required signatures are verified, the voters will decide.”

Fuller also criticized how the case for recall has been presented.

“The amount of misinformation and in some instances, statements that are simply untrue, has been astounding,” Fuller said.

He said voters should examine the allegations against each official individually.

“For example, some of the issues being used to justify this recall involve decisions that some of these council members were not even in office to make,” Fuller said.

“People can disagree with council members on policy. That is what elections are for,” he said. “In my view, disagreement with a lawful vote or with a policy decision is very different from establishing grounds to remove an elected official before the end of the term voters gave them.”

Fuller also addressed how the issues surrounding the recall have expanded.

“What I have seen is an effort that began largely in the aftermath of the mosque controversy and then expanded into a collection of other grievances involving the airport, development, spending and other City issues,” Fuller said.

“Residents should examine the actual voting records, dates and facts surrounding each allegation and make their judgment based on those facts.”

The McKinney Recall campaign and organizer John Aselton were asked to respond to Fuller’s comments but had not responded as of publication. Ashley Marie, who has publicly promoted the recall, also declined to comment.

Fuller said he will continue speaking publicly against the recall if it advances.

Hunt says recall remains a ‘serious overreach’

Evan Hunt, the Democratic candidate challenging U.S. Rep. Keith Self in Texas’ 3rd Congressional District, said the number of signatures collected does not change his view of the recall.

“Getting enough signatures to put something on the ballot does not make the recall justified,” Hunt said.

“Mayor Cox and the City Council were doing their jobs,” Hunt said. “They followed the law and upheld their constitutional responsibilities, even under enormous political pressure. Recalling elected officials for doing that remains a serious overreach.”

Hunt also criticized Self’s involvement in the recall.

“Keith Self was involved from the beginning, publicly pressuring the Council over the mosque and later supporting the recall,” Hunt said. “I think a member of Congress should understand better than most that our Constitution protects religious liberty for everyone.”

Hunt said he intends to become involved if the recall reaches an election.

“I oppose the recall, and I support Mayor Cox and the council members targeted by it,” Hunt said. “They have bipartisan support, and I will publicly stand with them.”

Beller points to mosque vote and Self

Beller, one of the four officials facing recall, said the effort began with the mosque site plan.

“This started because the council voted to approve a site plan for a mosque that complied with the existing zoning,” Beller said. “Some felt we should have found a loophole to deny or delay the request.”

He then turned his criticism toward Self and state Rep. Keresa Richardson.

“Keith Self and Keresa Richardson walked into our chamber, KNOWING the law and what was LEGALLY required of us, and still chose to demonstrate that their personal political careers were more important than the communities they serve,” Beller said.

Beller continued his criticism of Self.

“I will never forget how pathetic Keith looked when he stood at our podium,” Beller said. “Fear and outrage are the tools of weak men.”

Beller said he plans to attend Hunt’s Monday campaign event at Old Settlers Park and encouraged others to join him.

“This is the last week to register to vote for the November election so invite a friend, meet the candidate, and let’s work to reject candidates who try to divide us,” Beller said.

“Whatever happens next, I’ll be happy to defend my voting record and my oath to ‘preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this State, so help me God,’” Beller said.

What happens next

Beller said he expects the verification process to take weeks and said his understanding is that, if the petitions qualify, a recall election would be held in May 2027. The City has not yet confirmed an election date.

Fuller said recalling all four officials could raise “obvious practical questions about quorum and the City’s ability to conduct business until those vacancies are filled.”

The City has not yet said how four simultaneous recalls would be handled if all four petitions qualify. For now, the petitions remain under review.

Editor’s Note: TX3DNews contacted U.S. Rep. Keith Self’s office for comment on the petition submission and statements included in this report. Self’s office had not responded as of publication. The story will be updated if a response is received.