Ethics Probe Into Former Fate Council Members Moves Forward
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.
La Marque, TX – Keith Bell, 53, the mayor of La Marque, was arrested Friday in Angleton on a warrant charging him with indecent exposure, a Class B misdemeanor. He was released Saturday after posting a $75,000 bond, with a judge ordering him to have no contact with the woman who reported the incident, stay away from her residence and stay away from the school she attends.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Bell was allegedly seen masturbating in the lobby of an office building in Angleton on Friday morning. A woman, whose identity is being withheld, reportedly witnessed the incident and contacted authorities, prompting Brazoria County Sheriff’s deputies to respond. The Chronicle reported that Bell was taken into custody and booked into the county detention center.
Those are allegations, not a conviction. Bell has not been found guilty of the charge, and the publicly available reporting does not identify an attorney representing him or provide a statement from Bell disputing the accusation.
The City of La Marque confirmed the arrest Friday, in a statement where they stated, “To the residents of La Marque, we recognize that this is a shocking and disheartening development during a period that has already brought significant uncertainty and challenges to our community. We understand and share your concerns.” City officials also emphasized that the alleged conduct occurred outside Bell’s official duties as mayor and said the city would follow its charter and applicable law while gathering verified information.
Bell’s arrest does not automatically remove him from office. The city said Saturday that Bell remains mayor unless he resigns or is removed through the procedures established by the city charter and Texas law. City leadership said it had not communicated with Bell following his release, and Bell had not contacted city staff at the time of reporting.
This isn’t Bell’s first trip with controversy.
Bell has been involved in La Marque government for years. He served on the council for 17 years before becoming mayor, and he was sworn into the mayor’s office in January 2021. He was reelected in May 2024, defeating Joel Camacho with 63.57 percent of the vote, according to official Galveston County election results.
Bell also survived a 2022 recall election. More recently, he faced another recall effort in 2025, which Bell disputed as based on false allegations. That political history doesn’t establish anything about the current criminal case, but it does mean La Marque’s mayor has never exactly been a stranger to controversy.
Under Texas Penal Code §21.08, indecent exposure involves exposing the anus or genitals with intent to arouse or gratify sexual desire while being reckless about whether another person is present who will be offended or alarmed. A first offense is generally a Class B misdemeanor.
Fate, TX – The race to fill the vacant Fate City Council Place 1 seat vacated by the recall of Codi Chinn, will consist of four candidates. Randy Long, Stephanie Delaine Adams, Joshua Martin and Donovan Heinrich.
Randy Long is a serves as the Rockwall County director for True Texas Project, a conservative grassroots organization.
Stephanie Delaine Adams served 12 years on the Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees, including two years as board president from 2017 to 2019. She is now a Realtor.
Joshua Martin has lived in Fate for approximately six years and is a recruiting manager with QXO. He previously served as president of the Old Shepard Place neighborhood association in Plano.
Donovan Heinrich previously ran for Fate City Council, Place 5, in 2021, receiving 288 votes, or 30.48%, against eventual winner Jim DeLand.
More to follow on each candidate in the upcoming days.
Council
Refugio’s Government Meltdown: Mayor, Secretary and Three Council Officials Arrested in Two Days
Refugio, TX — It is one thing when a Texas mayor gets arrested. It is quite another when the mayor, city secretary and three current or former council members are all swept into the same criminal investigation within roughly 48 hours. That is what happened this week in Refugio, a small South Texas town where local government has suddenly become the subject of a Texas Rangers investigation and multiple felony charges.
Mayor Wanda Dukes and City Secretary Callie Shreckengost were arrested Wednesday on first-degree felony charges involving the alleged misapplication of fiduciary property valued at $300,000 or more, according to reporting by Crossroads Today and Texas Municipal Watch. The allegations involve the town’s Economic Development Corporation funds.
Then came Thursday.
Mayor Pro Tem Ixtlazihuatl “Lala” Vasquez, along with former council members Michael Rocha and Frank Hosey, surrendered at the Refugio County Jail and were arrested on third-degree felony charges alleging abuse of official capacity involving government property valued at more than $30,000 but less than $150,000.
The Texas Rangers reportedly told Crossroads Today that Thursday’s arrests stem from the same grand jury indictment that produced the charges against Dukes and Shreckengost. Texas Municipal Watch reported that it had not independently reviewed the indictment and was relying on Crossroads Today’s account of the Rangers’ statement.
Under Texas Penal Code Section 39.02, abuse of official capacity involves a public servant intentionally or knowingly misusing government property, services, personnel or other resources under that official’s control for an improper benefit or to harm or defraud another person. At the dollar range alleged in the Thursday arrests, the offense is classified as a third-degree felony.
The identities of the officials involved are not in question. Refugio County records list Dukes as mayor, Vasquez as Alderman Place 1, Rocha as Alderman Place 3, and Hosey as Alderman Place 4. Town financial records also identify Shreckengost as city secretary.
But there is still a great deal the public does not know.
Texas Municipal Watch reported that the specific conduct allegedly underlying the charges against Vasquez, Rocha and Hosey had not yet been independently confirmed, nor had the outlet confirmed their release conditions or upcoming court appearances. The underlying indictment had also not been obtained at the time of its Thursday report.
The town council has apparently recognized that it has a problem. Council members Robert Jaso and Dana Alsop issued an identical statement Wednesday saying the town was aware of criminal accusations against officials, could not comment on an ongoing investigation, and intended to take steps to protect municipal resources. They also said a special meeting would be held as soon as possible to consider whatever action might be necessary.
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