Mayor David Billings and Councilman Mark Harper Caught in Alleged Deception Over Zone Change Support
Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire
Fate, TX – The Fate Tribune began an investigation into comments made by Mayor David Billings and Councilman Mark Harper over zone changes reveals potential deception within the City Council. Our Open Records Request (ORR), submitted on December 13, 2023, aimed to scrutinize claims made by Billings and Harper regarding widespread support for zone changes since September 1, 2023. The response we received on December 18, 2023, starkly stated, “No records exist. Your request has been closed.”
Refusing to accept this as the final word, the Fate Tribune probed deeper, requesting all emails and public comment forms for the same period. The findings cast doubt on the narrative presented by Mayor Billings and Councilman Mark Harper. Public records indicate that officially, Nineteen emails and sixteen public comment forms opposed the proposed introduction of apartments, directly contradicting the Council’s assertions of substantial support. There was no record of a single email in support provided to any Councilmen.
Councilman Harper faces heightened scrutiny due to his statements on Facebook. Initially boasting about receiving 50 supportive emails (immediately revised to “about 30” when confronted), our investigation now exposes his claims as false. Adding to the intrigue, after our ORR was submitted, Councilman Harper [may have] deleted his comments on Facebook, a move [that if true, would] raise eyebrows and intensif[y] concerns about the integrity of this councilman. {Reference correction below.}
Mayor Billings’ assinine assertion that the lack of vocal support is equivalent to a broad based community support, further exacerbates the situation. Aparantly, a room full of angry citizens and a stack full of email in opposition represents, in Mayor Billings mind, a “minority” of the community. Somehow, without any evidence, Billings is able to ‘mind read’ the actual will of the community, and feels he must act accordingly.
But the facts are that the Fate Tribune’s comprehensive request for all emails or letters expressing support for zone changes since September 1, 2023, yielded no records, intensifying skepticism regarding the credibility of the City Council’s proclamations. Not a single person of the community, except for members of the City Council, have shown any official support for additional multi-family housing in Fate, TX.
It is important to recognize that the City Council did vote, unamiously, to reject the zone change proposed by Petro-Hunt… but at the same time they left the door open for the developer to return. So, as Fate residents grapple with uncertainty about the decisions shaping their community’s future with the current council, the Fate Tribune pledges to persist in keeping the public informed and holding elected officials accountable.
Voices of Concern: Fate Residents Speak Out Against Zoning Changes
Among the 35 comments the City received in opposition to the zone change and apartments, a few seem to stand out from the rest. While we are choosing not to publish the email in their entirety in order to protect their privacy (even though the email is public record), we feel abliged to publish a summary of their general comments.
Kathy D., urged the City Council to reconsider the proposed zoning change, advocating for the allocation of prime land solely for commercial use. In her email, she suggests a vision akin to the Allen Premium Outlet Mall, emphasizing the potential economic benefits and increased tax revenue for Fate.
Keith W., expresses deep concern about the potential approval of a zoning change that may contribute to what he perceives as the degradation of Fate’s character. Referencing a previous development called Prose, he implores the City Council not to vote in favor of the proposed zoning change by Petrohunt, emphasizing the need to preserve the community’s charm.
Jordan D., a recent transplant to Fate, shares his experience of moving to escape the impact of apartments in another city. He highlights the adverse effects on property values and infrastructure and advocates for maximizing real estate for commercial developments that would draw visitors and revenue into Fate.
Denise and Tom voice their strong opposition to building apartments across from Chamberlain Crossing. They stress the need for strictly commercial use in that area and express concerns about the potential negative impacts of apartments on traffic, property maintenance, and the overall quality of life in Fate.
Tom C., also a resident of Williamsburg, adds his voice to the chorus of opposition, requesting the City Council not to accept the zoning change to mixed-use development. He raises concerns about the strain on infrastructure, potential decreases in property values, and the perceived differences in pride of ownership between apartment dwellers and single-family homeowners.
These emails are but a few that reflect a growing sentiment among Fate residents who fear the consequences of increased residential development and are urging the City Council to prioritize commercial projects that align with the community’s character and needs. As the Fate Tribune continues its investigation, these voices will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the ongoing discourse surrounding future attempts at zone changes in Fate.
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CORRECTION: Mark Harper has advised us that he has not deleted his comments from Facebook. For reasons unknown to us, we continue to be unable to view those comments. However, in the interest of fairness we will accept his assertion and present that our original reporting may be in error with this regard.
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.
Granbury, TX – A Granbury political fight that escalated into a criminal prosecution has ended with a jury refusing to convict Eva Royer, a Hood County Republican Party official who was arrested after questions arose over the address she used when filing to run for Granbury City Council.
Royer was found not guilty after facing charges of perjury of certain election procedures and election fraud stemming from her 2024 City Council candidacy, according to reporting by Erin Anderson of Texas Scorecard. The verdict closes a case that had already raised uncomfortable questions about how aggressively local government pursued what began as a dispute over residency.
The case began after Royer filed to run for Granbury City Council Place 5 in August 2024. She listed a Granbury address and stated that she had lived within the city for approximately two years and nine months. City officials later questioned whether that address was actually her primary residence.
Royer withdrew her candidacy before a scheduled City Council meeting could determine whether she met the city’s residency requirements. That could have been the end of the matter.
It wasn’t.
In April 2025, Granbury police arrested Royer on one count of perjury of certain election procedures, a state jail felony, and one count of election fraud, a Class A misdemeanor. She posted bond and was released the following day. The charges were based largely on allegations that she used a Granbury property as her residence even though officials believed she primarily lived elsewhere.
The prosecution focused heavily on three locations: Royer’s Granbury property, a home in Pecan Plantation belonging to her former boyfriend, and a Dallas condominium.
The state presented evidence that Royer’s vehicle entered and exited Pecan Plantation regularly. A security director testified that Royer had a guest pass connected to the vehicle, but also acknowledged under questioning from defense attorney Rob Christian that regularly visiting a boyfriend does not necessarily make someone a resident. He further testified that a guest tag indicated the person was not a resident.
Prosecutors also pointed to the fact that Royer’s Granbury property had been approved for short-term rental use. But testimony established that a short-term rental permit did not require the property to be rented for any particular number of days. In other words, having a permit to rent a house does not automatically establish that its owner doesn’t live there.
Then came the homestead exemption argument.
Hood County Chief Appraiser Jeff Law testified that Royer had not claimed a homestead exemption on the Granbury property. Her attorney countered that the property was owned through Royer’s LLC, making her ineligible for the exemption under the circumstances. Royer’s driver license also listed the Granbury address.
The trial also produced testimony about the investigation itself, including the use of license plate reader technology (FLOCK) to locate Royer. Texas Scorecard reported that her former boyfriend’s license plate had been placed on a “hot list” because of his association with Royer. Police eventually arrested Royer after locating her with Bolton.
And there was considerably more.
Defense questioning raised issues involving city officials, police leadership and communications concerning the prosecution. According to Texas Scorecard’s trial coverage, Granbury Police Chief Mitch Galvan acknowledged providing incorrect testimony during earlier proceedings and acknowledged that text messages concerning the case had not initially been produced despite court orders.
Royer’s acquittal ends the criminal case, but it leaves questions about how the dispute escalated to that point. Why was so much pressure brought against her over the address she used on her election paperwork? Why did multiple officials at the City of Granbury become so deeply involved in pursuing the matter after she had withdrawn from the race? And given the issues raised during the trial about the investigation and the handling of evidence, are there additional questions about how and why the case was pursued? Those questions remain unanswered, and whether there is a deeper problem within Granbury’s political or administrative structure is something that warrants further examination.
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.
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