Fate Tribune Presents: Unveiling the Local City Council Candidates’ Platforms
As the city gears up for the forthcoming elections, the fate of our community lies in the hands of those who aspire to lead it. With fervent anticipation, the Fate Tribune reached out to the contenders vying for seats on the local city council, asking them to present their platforms to the public in the Fate Tribune.
Two of the candidates, Codi Chinn and Mark Hatley, heeded the call. Recognizing the paramount importance of transparency and accountability in governance. These candidates, driven by a steadfast commitment to the welfare of our community, have embraced the opportunity to articulate their visions, values, and plans for the future.
It’s imperative to note that the statements presented are directly from the candidates’ campaigns and have not been redacted or edited in by the Fate Tribune.
Another candidate, Cinnamon Krauss, expressed interest in providing her campaign materials. However, Mrs. Krauss was unable to provide her statements in time for publication, even though we went out of our way to delay publication and also gave her an additional time extension.
Additionally absent from this publication are the platforms of Heather Buegeler, John Hamilton and Adam Jones. These candidates have chosen the cloak of silence over the call of civic engagement. Despite both public and private invitations, they have regrettably opted to withhold their platforms from public scrutiny, leaving constituents in the dark about their intentions and convictions. What kind of candidate would pass up the opportunity to reach thousands of citizens with an unedited direct message? Surely none that would be deserving of your vote we would argue.
Codi Chinn – Place 1
As a proud Texan, born and raised, and a resident of Fate who has passionately called this place home since 2015, I’m stepping forward to serve you on the Fate City Council Place 1. My journey to this moment has been unconventional, fueled by a deep love for our community and a fierce desire to protect and enhance the place we call home.
My husband, a 100% disabled Purple Heart recipient and former tank commander, and I chose Fate for its small-town charm, the tight-knit community, and the promise of excellent education through the Rockwall ISD for our children. For years, we reveled in the peace and beauty our town offered, especially the serene lake views that became a backdrop to our family’s happiest moments. But, as the world changed around us, especially during the pandemic, so did my perspective on how our community was being led.
Suddenly, I found myself in the role of teacher to our three wonderful children, navigating the complexities of remote learning while juggling work from my home salon. It was during this time I discovered issues in our children’s curriculum that alarmed me, pushing me into the realm of civic engagement—a realm I never imagined I’d step into. My background as a double major in History and Political Science from Texas A&M, with a focus on foreign policy and Islamic history, provided me with the analytical skills to understand the broader implications of these local decisions. Yet, it was my role as a mother that drove me to act.
My entrance into public advocacy began with school board meetings, where my husband and I, both previously non-political, voiced our concerns over the direction of our children’s education. What I encountered was a bureaucracy more concerned with preserving its image than addressing the needs of its students and parents. This disregard for community input and the overt bullying tactics used by current council members against those who dare to challenge the status quo convinced me that change was not just necessary; it was imperative.
In January 2023, a pivotal moment came when the city council considered granting a special exemption for a registered sex offender near a local school. This, alongside other community concerns—like the unchecked development invading our privacy, the lack of support for small businesses, and the blatant disregard for voters’ voices on critical issues—highlighted the urgent need for leadership that truly represents the people of Fate.
As a hair stylist for 20 years and a small business owner, I’ve had the privilege of listening to countless stories from the heart of our community. These stories, combined with my personal experiences and the challenges our family has faced, have galvanized me to run for city council. My campaign is not about political ambition; it’s about bringing our community’s voice to the forefront, ensuring our safety, protecting our values, and fostering a transparent, responsive government that serves its people first and foremost.
I am Codi Chinn, and I am running to be that change. Despite the intimidation and opposition from those comfortable with the status quo, I stand ready to fight for what is right. I believe in our community’s strength, in our shared values, and in our ability to come together to shape the future of Fate. This election is just the beginning. Together, we can transform our council, hold our leaders accountable, and ensure our city remains a place we are proud to call home.
Join me on May 4th. Let’s make our voices heard and take the first step toward a brighter future for Fate.
Mark Hatley – Place 5
Lindsay Roberts Stoller had asked questions of all the candidates on another page. Will also post my answers here . Thank you for the questions Lindsay!
Lindsay, I would be happy to respond.
My name is Mark Hatley and I am running for the Fate City Council Place 5 on May 4, 2024.
1. Do you support additional high density residential housing? Why do you support or not support it? (I’m not talking about Lafayette Crossing, but beyond that into the future) _______________
My answer is no. I do not support any further high density housing at this time.
For well over a decade here in Fate, residential has been built well out of proportion with infrastructure, schools, and retail to balance the lifestyle of Fate. We already have over 2,000 rental community, multi-family apartments, townhomes, cottages, and bungalows, that have been approved to move forward in Fate. With all that mass density, we will need retail, police/fire, schools, roads, etc. to maintain and upkeep our infrastructure.
Developers always bring lopsided proposals with 70% to 80% residential and 20% to 30% retail.
Right now with all of the tax revenue we receive and with all the property taxes of the mass amount of residential we have that only accounts for 11% of the cities revenue.
The small amount of retail we have accounts for 33% of our revenue which is 3 times as much. Retail will help us with the added revenue we need to hire the much needed additional DPS officers and Fireman in which we are already behind due to the density push by our current City Leaders.
School expansions need time to catch up for our children in Fate. There are already portable buildings on campuses. Fate should not overcrowd the schools any further! Population has grown much too fast! Yet, the much needed infrastructure, schools, retail, fire/police are not growing to meet the needs of the high density growth.
_______________
2. If elected, will you listen to the citizens of Fate and show respect to them, even if you don’t agree with them.
_______________
Of course. I listen even if I disagree. That is the only way we can build a city in the image the citizens who pay the taxes and utilize the services desire for their day-to-day needs.
_______________
3. Why are you running for City Council?
_______________
I have spoken before the Fate City Council many times on various issues, (please note that you are held to a 3 mint minute speech before the Council), and along the way, I have met many, many people who feel the same as I do – not only do they feel that they are not being heard, but their comments on issues are completely being gnored and dismissed. We have seen in recent developments that the city is hiring people to lobby on behalf of the developers against anyone who does not agree with a given project. In the light of information posted yesterday, a particular person was hired by the city on behalf of the developer to try and discredit those not in agreement with the proposed project while pretending to be merely a concerned citizen(s).
A lot of the citizens have concerns, but due to working out of the area, such as having family obligations, etc., do not have the time to attend City Council meetings, however, they do need their voices heard! This is why we elect representatives who should be in the position to represent the will of the people, not just the local government staff and City Council members, the developer’s, etc.
When a large group of citizens tell the City Council what they want and expect as their elected “representatives” – those leaders should listen!
That is their job and if elected that WILL be mine, to listen and vote in the best interest of you, our Fate citizens, and not just what the city leaders or what a few members of the City Council insist we follow their plans for the City.
FATE CITIZENS MUST BE HEARD!
The City continuously states, “we had to vote as we did to do what’s best for the city.” This response s used much too frequently as an excuse to vote on something that is not popular with the residents of Fate. It is an overused repeated excuse!
For example, if the City was voting against several vocal people asking to have the city write everyone a check for $10k to use some extreme case. In that case, of course, that is not in the best interest of the city, but all to often, our current City Leaders use it as an excuse to push their agenda of a differing opinion regarding the direction Fate should take and the City Council’s opinion is in the minority.
_______________
4. Why should people vote for you? This is only about the person answering, please don’t drag anyone through the mud. — with John Hamilton and 5 others.
_______________
In addition to the above, I have a proven track record. Along with my wife, and a handful of very dedicated volunteers, we successfully gathered the required signatures for a Referendum, since the City Council refused to vote on time and time again in recent Fate history. Fate was the only City in Rockwall County that did not have an Over 65 and Disabled Property Tax Freeze in place! By gathering more signatures than needed (741 verified Fate registered voters), the Petition forced the Council to vote because they knew the Referendum would have passed during the ballot election last November. The Petition to Freeze the Over 65 and Disabled Fate Property Tax aligned Fate with many other cities in Texas and across the nation to become a part of our Texas Constitution.
I have continued to advocate for a large, and I believe a majority group, that is not happy with the direction of Fate. I agree undeveloped property owners have property rights, however, I believe a homeowner directly affected by new development should also have property rights as well, and I believe they are not being heard or protected.
New development has to fit the wants and needs of Fate as a whole. The Citiy’s “Comprehensive Plan” was not built with a Citizen’s Advisory Board, but rather was stacked with at least 10 of the 16 with current and former City Council members, former City Attorney and numerous soon to be P&Z members – not just average Fate citizens.
With that Board in place, the Fate Comprehensive Plan was passed by the City Council unanimously in Oct. 2021, during the pandemic. That Plan needs to be categorically overhauled, scrapped, and redrawn by a Fate Citizens Board choosing the Fate Forward direction – not City Leaders.
I’m running not because I alone can change this, It will take two election cycles to elect enough votes on our current City Council to gain 4 or more votes to put us on the path to getting the retail we need, DPS, firefoghters, schools, roads, etc. and we are running out of I-30 property to build that high revenue, generating fundamental business that we need so deservedly to become solvent for the future and not continue to be forced to spend our sales tax revenue on Rockwall and Royse City.
If I have the privilege of receiving your vote, I will he [be] your VOTE, your VOICE.
The City of Fate s [is] ours and it should be our choices as to h how we move Fate Forward – not developers and not outside planners like Strong Towns (from Minnesota and a company called Verdunity, who Fate paid $315k to design our city as Strong Towns movement advocates) who utilize city planning to push social agendas disguised as economic policy.
Please like and follow me on my Facebook page @Mark Hatley for Fate City Council Place 5.
If you are interested in supporting me, we will be having yard signs available mid next week.
If elected, it will be my honor to work for you, listen to you, and representative you as your next Fate City Council Place 5 member.
Thank you for your questions.
San Angelo, TX – San Angelo’s battle over massive data centers has moved from City Hall chambers to the ballot box, and two council members could soon have to defend their seats before voters angry about how the city has handled the projects. What began as a fight over water, power, development and transparency is now a full-blown political revolt, with recall efforts targeting Council Members Harry Thomas and Joe Self.
And the controversy comes at an interesting moment for Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered state regulators to conduct a comprehensive audit of data centers moving through the state’s electric grid interconnection process, saying the review must be completed before any data center project moves forward. ERCOT subsequently told Fox News Digital that Abbott’s directive “effectively pauses all data center projects” while the state reviews their demands on the grid.
That means the questions being shouted at San Angelo City Hall are no longer merely local complaints from residents opposed to a particular development. Texas officials are now asking some of the same questions.
Abbott directed the Public Utility Commission of Texas and ERCOT to examine pending data center projects and gather information, including projected annual and peak electricity demand, water consumption, water sources, and whether facilities intend to generate some of their own electricity. ERCOT reported that roughly 90 percent of the 474 gigawatts of large-load interconnection requests currently under review are associated with data centers, more than five times Texas’ record peak electricity demand.
Back in San Angelo, the San Angelo Data Center Citizen Coalition has been pushing its own accountability campaign.
A petition seeking the recall of Council Member Harry Thomas, who represents Single Member District 3, was submitted July 15 with more than the required signatures. The city clerk later certified the petition after determining 53 signatures were sufficient, clearing the way for a recall election.
Following public comment, the City Council voted 6-1 to call the recall election.
Thomas has maintained that he has no intention of resigning.
“I weigh every decision I’ve ever made on behalf of the 100,000 citizens in San Angelo,” Thomas said after the petition was submitted. “Every time I vote, I vote for all the citizens. I have no plans to resign from my position.”
Self is now facing his own recall effort.
The coalition submitted an affidavit seeking Self’s recall and subsequently collected the signatures necessary to move forward. On Aug. 6, Self issued a statement saying he supports residents’ right to seek a recall but rejected what he described as misinformation about his involvement with data centers.
“I have not signed any non-disclosure agreements,” Self said. “I have not benefited financially. I have not voted in favor of a data center.”
Self said the council has instead voted on regulations that would apply if a data center is established in San Angelo.
That distinction between approving a specific project and approving regulations governing potential projects has become one of the central arguments in the political fight. San Angelo officials have considered rules addressing land use, water and wastewater issues as the city confronts proposals for large-scale data center development.
The proposed Skybox project has become particularly contentious. City officials have described it as a potential $7.2 billion investment, while opponents have raised concerns about water consumption, electricity demand, infrastructure, noise and transparency surrounding the development process.
The political consequences are spreading beyond San Angelo.
Residents in Temple and Granbury have also launched recall or charter efforts amid disputes over data center development. In Temple, opponents have cited concerns about land, water consumption and heat generated by facilities. In Granbury, activists gathered signatures seeking recalls involving the mayor and most members of the City Council.
Art & Culture
McKinney Approves Controversial Islamic Center After Marathon Meeting That Exposed Deep Divisions
McKinney, TX – After nearly six hours of emotional testimony, shouted applause, boos, and police intervention, the McKinney City Council unanimously approved plans Tuesday night for a new Islamic center, closing another chapter in a debate that has simmered in Collin County for years. The vote may have been unanimous, but it certainly wasn’t uncontroversial.
Just before 11:30 p.m. on August 4, the council voted 7-0 to approve the site plan for the McKinney Islamic Association‘s proposed campus on roughly 5.5 acres at Virginia Parkway and Crutcher Crossing. City officials repeatedly emphasized that the decision before them was not whether Islam should have a place of worship in McKinney, but whether the submitted site plan complied with existing city ordinances and development standards. According to council members, the property’s current planned development zoning already permits religious assembly, leaving the city with little legal discretion to deny an otherwise compliant application.
The approved project includes a roughly 15,000-square-foot sanctuary, a classroom building of approximately 10,000 square feet, a 7,000-square-foot multi-purpose gymnasium, parking, and related site improvements. The McKinney Islamic Association says its current facility, where it has served the community for decades, can no longer accommodate its growing congregation.
The meeting itself became the story.
More than 150 people registered to speak, forcing city officials to delay the start of the regular meeting while names were entered into the system. Supporters and opponents packed the council chambers, overflow rooms, and hallways, creating an atmosphere that multiple local news outlets described as tense and, at times, hostile.
Opponents raised a mix of concerns.
Some focused squarely on practical issues, including increased traffic, parking shortages, neighborhood compatibility, and whether a campus serving large numbers of worshippers could comfortably fit on the site. Others voiced broader objections rooted in concerns about Islamic doctrine, Sharia law, and the changing cultural landscape of North Texas. Congressman Keith Self, whose district includes McKinney, spoke against the proposal before public testimony began, warning of dangers he associates with extremist interpretations of Islam.
Supporters argued that the project involved a long-established congregation simply seeking room to grow. They pointed to constitutional protections for religious liberty and rejected accusations directed toward the association as prejudice against Muslim residents. Veterans, longtime community members, and faith leaders urged the council to evaluate the application based on municipal law rather than religious disagreement.
Former McKinney Mayor George Fuller received one of the night’s harshest public receptions after speaking in support of the project. He was booed by portions of the crowd, and according to WFAA, police escorted him from the building after a woman reportedly shoved a sign reading “Don’t Sharia My Texas” into his shirt while he exited the meeting.
Despite the emotional testimony, council members repeatedly returned to the same legal conclusion, the site plan either met the city’s development requirements or it did not. Planning and Zoning had already recommended approval in July, and council members indicated denying a compliant application would almost certainly expose the city to litigation it was unlikely to win. Previous proposals involving substantially larger facilities required rezoning and were rejected, but the revised plan fits within the property’s existing zoning framework.
The approval does not authorize immediate construction. The project must still complete platting requirements, undergo a traffic study, and obtain building permits before construction can begin.
Below is the list of the current city council that voted 7/0 to approve the project.
| Member Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Cox | Mayor | |
| Rick Franklin | Mayor Pro Tem – District 4 | |
| Justin Beller | Council Member – District 1 | |
| Patrick Cloutier | Council Member – District 2 | |
| Geré Feltus | Council Member – District 3 | |
| Ernest Lynch | Council Member – At Large 1 | |
| Michael Jones | Council Member – At Large 2 |
Fate Council Dropped Case Before Reviewing
Fate, TX — An ethics investigation commissioned by the City of Fate concluded that former Councilwoman Codi Chinn violated the City’s Code of Ethics before the City Council voted earlier this month to discontinue the matter, according to documents obtained by Pipkins Reports through an Open Records Request.
The report, prepared by attorney Laura Mueller of the law firm Baker, Robertson & O’Brien, found that the allegation against Chinn was “substantiated, but with mitigating factors.”
The Executive Summary states:
“After investigation, my determination is that allegation of a violation of the Ethics Code is substantiated, but with mitigating factors.”
The report concludes that Chinn violated Section 2-309(10) of the City’s Code of Ethics after directing City employees to provide their concerns to her in writing.
“After reviewing the Charter, the Code of Ethics, and reviewing all of the evidence, my conclusion is that Ms. Chinn violated Section 2-309(10) of the Code of Ethics when she directed employees to provide information to her in writing.”
Mueller also concluded that mitigating circumstances should be considered because Chinn immediately informed City Manager Michael Kovacs about the employee concerns and because the employees ultimately submitted their written complaints directly to the City.
Council Ends Investigation
The ethics complaint summary report was scheduled to appear on the July 6 City Council agenda for executive session discussion.
Instead of going into Executive Session, the Council waived deliberative privilege and discussed the matter in open session where they ultimately voted to discontinue the ethics proceedings and drop the matter, before being presented with the findings from Mueller.
The Council did not impose any sanction against Chinn.
The following day, Pipkins Reports requested a copy of the complaint and the investigative report, and received it through an Open Records Request.
Investigation Details
According to the report, investigators interviewed Chinn, Councilman Mark Harper, City Manager Michael Kovacs, and other witnesses.
Regarding the allegations, Mueller wrote:
“In my interview with Ms. Chinn and Mr. Harper, we discussed the allegation. I questioned Ms. Chinn about her conversations with city employees and with Mr. Kovacs.”
According to the report, Chinn stated that city employees approached her seeking assistance and that she intended to present their concerns to the City Manager after compiling the information.
However, the report states that employees instead prepared a letter addressed to the City Council. Chinn then instructed them to provide the letter directly to the City Manager.
The report also summarizes Kovacs’ account of the events.
“Mr. Kovacs stated that he received the letter outlining the employee issues directly from an officer, but with the understanding that the information was given to him at the direction of Ms. Chinn.”
Previously, it was reported that Chinn provided a copy of an, “anonymous letter”, that she claims was provided by DPS officers to her. Chinn further states that she sent the letter to Michael Kovacs … who then forwarded it on to the rest of the Council. This report also states that Kovacs told investigators he had warned Chinn against communicating with employees in that manner.
Pipkins Reports continues to investigate this aspect of the situation … as the conditions shed new light on the events that have transpired with regard to the termination of DPS Chief Lyle Lombard.
Meanwhile, the city council’s decision effectively ended the ethics proceeding against Chinn without imposing any sanction or issuing any formal determination of its own regarding the investigator’s findings. While the Council possessed the authority to discontinue the matter, the decision also brought the ethics process to a close despite an independent investigation concluding that a violation of the City’s Code of Ethics had occurred.
For the complainant, Darcy Gildon, the Council’s action marked the end of a process that resulted in no public accountability beyond the release of the investigative report which Pipkins Reports has now provided.
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