Fate, TX – The political aftershocks from Fate’s bruising recall election are still rattling City Hall, even after two council members were shown the door. A formal ethics complaint was filed on the very last day former council members Codi Chinn and Mark Harper held office, and has escalated into an official city investigation.

During the May 18, 2026 executive session, the Fate City Council met behind closed doors to discuss two ethics complaints filed by Darcy Gildon, the Rockwall County Precinct 4 Chair and a known participant in the recall effort against Chinn. According to the posted agenda, the complaints involved Chinn and Harper, and were discussed in Executive Session with legal counsel.

After returning to open session, council members voted on two matters tied to the complaints. First, the council voted to establish jurisdiction over both ethics complaints, effectively allowing the process to move forward. Second, the council approved an extension of the original June 1 deadline for an initial determination, directing that a final report be received by July 6, 2026. The outside law firm Messer & Fort was identified as the investigating party.

On May 14, four days before the executive session, Chinn publicly posted portions of the complaint against her on Facebook. In the post, she wrote:

“I was transparent while in office and I don’t plan to change anything now that I’m not in office any longer.”

The complaint itself alleges Chinn violated the Fate City Charter and Code of Ethics by directly engaging with city employees, directing them to document complaints, organizing those complaints, and preparing to present them to council outside the authority of the city manager or a formal council vote. This is presumably all in association with the complaints and dismissal of DPS Chief Lyle Lombard.

According to the complaint posted by Chinn, she allegedly instructed employees to “write it all down, put it on a timeline,” later describing [her] plans to organize statements in a chronological way. Stating, “I’m going to have organized everything… put it together like in a chronological way… what everybody has said… kind of like mixed together, not just one person’s statement.” She went on to say, “I don’t want to just show y’all what the statements are… I need to have it presented in a way that protects their identity.” Shortly thereafter, an “anonymous” letter was sent to Chinn, she claims, that made accusations against Lombard.

The ethics complaint argues that those actions may have crossed the line from legislative oversight into unauthorized administrative or investigatory conduct.

The complaint cites Charter Section 3.09(5), which states council members shall interact with city staff solely through the city manager and shall not give orders to employees privately or publicly. It also references Charter Section 3.05(11), concerning council authority to investigate official conduct only after a formal council vote, and Code of Ethics Section 2-309(10), which bars officials from appearing to exercise administrative authority.

Chinn’s public release of the complaint has created another layer of controversy.

Although she had technically already been removed from office at the time of her Facebook post, there remains a serious legal and ethical question over whether confidential executive session-related materials or discussions remain protected after a member leaves office. Texas law generally imposes confidentiality obligations regarding certain executive session matters, but the boundaries become less clear when an official is no longer serving.

The city has not publicly accused Chinn of violating confidentiality laws, nor has any formal allegation regarding disclosure been announced.

The complaint against former Councilman Mark Harper was also discussed in executive session Monday night, though details surrounding that filing have not yet been publicly released in full. However, sources familiar with the matter say the complaint against him may also relate to his involvement in the dismissal of Lombard. Harper was accused by City Manager Michael Kovacs, of threatening to fire him, if he didn’t fire the Chief.

Former Councilman Mark Harper could not be reached for comment prior to publication. Darcy Gildon also could not be reached for comment.

The investigation now moves into the hands of Messer & Fort, an outside legal firm retained to conduct the review. The firm is expected to provide findings to the city council by July 6.

For many residents, the dispute has become less about technical charter language and more about the increasingly bitter political divide that has overtaken local government in Fate. Supporters of the recall effort argue ethics enforcement is necessary to restore trust and proper governance. They seek to remind citizens that the root of all this controversy lies with Chinn, and her actions regarding the dismissal of Chief Lombard. Critics, meanwhile, view the complaints as the latest phase in a long-running political purge aimed at silencing dissenting voices.

FATE, TX — The Fate City Council voted last night to censure Councilman Mark Hatley following a contentious ethics hearing that exposed deep divisions among elected officials.

The censure stems from two ethics complaints alleging Hatley improperly disclosed confidential information tied to internal discussions about the potential firing of former Department of Public Safety Chief Lyle Lombard. According to testimony, Hatley shared details with local journalist Michael Pipkins of PipkinsReports.com, including references to recorded conversations with City Manager Michael Kovacs.

The complaint was filed by outgoing councilman Scott Kelley, who played a central role throughout the proceedings and ultimately did not recuse himself and voted in favor of censure.

Monday’s meeting included a formal evidentiary hearing where Hatley, represented by attorney David Dodd, presented a defense and attempted to question fellow council members. The process, however, was repeatedly constrained by legal warnings from City Attorney Jennifer Richie, who advised council members not to answer questions related to Lombard’s termination due to ongoing litigation. That guidance, issued numerous times during the hearing, limited testimony and narrowed the scope of cross-examination.

The council ultimately split along familiar lines. Kelley was joined by outgoing councilman Mark Harper and recalled councilwoman Codi Chinn in supporting the censure. Mayor Andrew Greenberg and Councilman Rick Maneval opposed it, creating a 3–2 divide before the deciding vote was cast. Councilwoman Martha Huffman ultimately sided with the majority, breaking what would have otherwise been a tie, and would have quashed the censure.

Under Texas municipal norms, a censure is a formal statement of disapproval by a governing body against one of its own members. It carries no direct legal penalty, meaning Hatley retains his elected position and voting authority. However, such a reprimand can damage political standing, limit influence within the council, and shape future electoral prospects…if the electorate so decides.

The underlying controversy traces back to the dismissal of Lombard, which has since evolved into a broader legal dispute involving claims of wrongful termination. During Monday’s hearing, repeated references to that litigation underscored the complexity of the case and the limits placed on public disclosure. Richie’s guidance, aimed at protecting the city’s legal position, effectively curtailed testimony that might have clarified key details. Critics argue this dynamic left Hatley unable to fully defend himself against the allegations.

The political context surrounding the vote is difficult to ignore. This was Chinn’s last meeting, as she was recalled from office by the voters, in part due to her involvement in the Lombard matter. Kelley, who initiated the ethics complaint, participated fully in the decision-making process knowing that this was his last meeting. Harper has also been linked in prior discussions about leadership conflicts within city administration, and for he as well, this was his last meeting. Meanwhile, all three have supported recall efforts targeting Hatley, Greenberg, Maneval, and Huffman, for additional recall, along with two new councilmen who will take their seats at the next meeting.

From a procedural standpoint, the meeting reflected a council operating under significant strain. Testimony was fragmented, legal cautions were frequent, and the final vote appeared to follow established political alliances rather than shifting based on evidence presented during the hearing. Even Hatley’s legal representation struggled to gain traction within the constraints imposed by the city’s legal posture.

Opinion

The battle for power in Fate is very real. What unfolded Monday night was not merely an ethics hearing; it was the visible culmination of an ongoing political battle inside Fate’s leadership. When a complainant votes on his own accusation; when key witnesses are effectively shielded from cross examination; when you have councilmen under recall by the very people bringing charges against their opponents; the process begins to look less like a search for truth and more like a managed outcome. It’s cut-throat politics at its worst.

What’s changed due to this Hearing? Essentially, nothing. Hatley gets a political black eye, but that’s about it. The sides were already defined, and the votes exactly as expected. Councilmen whose terms were ending anyway are now gone after delivering one last poke in the eye to their opponents. And the City Manager, who is at the heart of this debacle because of his employee decisions, and his inability to stand up to influence from Council Members… is still employed.

For residents of Fate, the final result is an up-close view into how dirty local politics can get. It diminishes the desirability of the city to new residents, hurts economic growth, and the entire process gives citizens the perspective that their city government is completely dysfunctional.

Disclosure

The author of this article was referenced during the hearing as a recipient of information discussed in the ethics complaints. The reporting above is based on observations of the public meeting and review of the proceedings.

FATE, TX — The political battle in Fate has escalated significantly, as Vickey Raduechel, the City Secretary for Fate, has completed her review and verified that the recall petition signatures submitted against four of the city’s top elected officials are “sufficient”.

According to official confirmation obtained by Pipkins Reports, the petitions to recall Mayor Andrew Greenberg, Councilman Rick Maneval, Councilman Mark Hatley, and Councilwoman Martha Huffman have now been verified following their submission on April 6, 2026.

With the verification process complete, the petitions have cleared a critical legal hurdle, setting the stage for recall elections that could reshape the city’s leadership.

Verified Signature Counts

As part of the certification process, the City Secretary validated the number of signatures submitted for each petition to ensure compliance with the city charter requirement of at least 351 qualified voters.

• Andrew Greenberg, Mayor (contained 385 valid signatures)
• Richard Maneval, Council Member Place 4 (contained 366 valid signatures)
• Mark Hatley, Council Member Place 5 (contained 382 valid signatures)
• Martha Huffman, Council Member Place 6 (contained 353 valid signatures)

*Update: The City of Fate responded to our inquiry and provided the verified signature counts above.

From Petition Drive to Certification

The now-verified petitions mark the culmination of a 30-day signature collection effort launched in early March. Organizers, led by local activists Christopher Rains, and Ashley Rains, who is running for City Council, initiated the recall campaign in response to actions taken by the same officials against Councilwoman Codi Chinn. Chinn is already scheduled to face voters in the May 2nd, 2026 election.

As previously reported by Pipkins Reports , the effort quickly mobilized residents, with organizers establishing signing locations and conducting outreach across the community.

Supporters of the recall effort have framed it as a necessary check on elected officials, while critics have argued it represents political retaliation. The certification of the petitions now shifts the debate from signature gathering to the ballot box.

What Happens Next

Under the Fate city charter, once recall petitions are certified as sufficient, the city council is required to formally call a recall election. That process includes setting an election date and coordinating with election officials to place the measure before voters. It is likely that the recall election will be set for November 2026. Estimates indicate this recall will cost taxpayers up to $15,000.

Unless one of the targeted officials resigns—and the vacancy is filled by the remaining council prior to any election—there is a credible risk of a temporary governance breakdown if voters remove all four members at once, a scenario explored in prior Pipkins Reports coverage examining how a full-scale recall could leave the city unable to function.

The outcome of these efforts could result in a significant shift in the composition of the city council—and potentially the mayor’s office—depending on how voters respond.

This is an ongoing story. Pipkins Reports will continue to provide updates as recall election dates are announced and additional details become available.