Recall Revenge? Mayor and Three Councilmen May Face Retaliatory Recall in Fate
FATE, Texas — The political temperature in Fate, TX is getting hotter. A new recall effort, this time targeting four of Fate’s top elected officials, has been launched by local residents who say the city’s leadership crossed a line when they pursued the removal of a fellow council member.
According to statements circulating among Fate residents and online posts from local activist Christopher Rains, petitioners have begun the first formal steps to recall Mayor Andrew Greenberg, Councilman Mark Hatley, Councilman Rick Maneval, and Councilwoman Martha Huffman. The effort comes just months after the same officials were involved in advancing a recall petition against Councilwoman Codi Chinn, whose recall is already scheduled to be on the May 2026 ballot.
According to documents filed with the city, Rains submitted the paperwork on March 9th to start a 30-day window in which the organizers must gather enough signatures from registered voters in Fate to force recall elections against the four officials. For this election, the magic number is 351 verified signatures, according to city guidelines. There is a separate petition for each member.
Rains, who has been active in the local political dispute, announced the development in a public message on Facebook.
“As promised, after several weeks of work, the petitioners affidavits for the Recall of Mayor Greenberg, Councilman Hatley, Councilman Maneval and Councilwoman Huffman have been filed with city officially kicking off the phase two, signature collection,” Rains wrote.
In the past week, organizers have been setting up locations where residents can sign the petitions, while also encouraging interested voters to contact organizers directly through an email account established for the effort.
“As we push forward, we have 30 days to collect signatures from the public,” the statement continued. “We have all witnessed the different things that have taken place since last May. Now we can remind the city council that the job is to work for the city of Fate and its residents, not their own agendas.”
The previous affidavit against Chinn reached the minimum required signatures in less than 7 days. As previously reported by PipkinsReports, officials certified the petition against Chinn, paving the way for voters to decide her political fate during the May 2026 election.
That earlier effort galvanized some of Chinn’s supporters, with some arguing this new recall is a legitimate accountability measure against those who sought to undo an election, while others view the move as political revenge on behalf of a Councilmember who may be recalled for ‘Conduct Unbecoming,’ which critics define as repeatedly insulting constituents on social media.
Pipkins Reports received a copy of the new “Affidavit of Petitioners’ Committee” late Monday afternoon from the city. The documents reveal that the organizer of the petition is Christoper Rains, whose spouse, Ashley Rains, is running for Fate City Council – Place 2, and is also a member of the Petitioners Committee.
There are four separate Affidavits, one for each councilman being recalled. They are essentially identical, with the only exception being that one person signed on as a committee member for all affidavits except for that of Martha Huffman.
In addition to the Rains’, the other committee members are: Chrystal Powers, Les Darlington, Amanda Archer – Damle, Kaylyn Cowan, Mario Ramos Jr., Michael Brandon Vines, Brenda Rekieta, Brittany Otten, Daniel Otten, Nikki Robinson, Avah Helton, Amanda Oldfield, and Juan Avila.
Lance Megyesi signed on for Greenberg, Hatley & Maneval, but not for Huffman.
[Image of petition against Mayor Greenberg. Other petitions are similar as noted above.]
Side Note: In an unusual twist, the Affidavit copy that we received from the City of Fate had no redactions. This is a matter we will need to investigate further, as this action appears to be a change from previous documents we have received. Pipkins Reports has taken the proactive step to redact all persons’ addresses, as we have done previously.
Recall petitions are not unprecedented, but they are uncommon in most Texas municipalities. However, a recall effort critics characterize as retaliatory is so rare that we could not immediately find a comparative example. Texas law allows cities with charter provisions permitting recall to remove elected officials before their terms expire if voters determine the officials have lost the public’s confidence.
In Fate’s case, the situation has become particularly unusual because the political weapon may soon become pointed in both directions.
At this time, it remains to be seen whether the new petition effort will gather the number of signatures required to trigger recall elections. Still, the effort signals that the dispute inside Fate’s political community is far from over.
*This is an ongoing story. Follow Pipkins Reports on Facebook or X for updates.
Pipkins Reports has received the following press release from Fate City Council Candidate, Lorna Grove. We present it here without editorial comment or review. We offer this service to any/all candidates for public office.
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FATE, TEXAS —Fate resident and legal professional Lorna Grove has announced her campaign for Fate City Council, pledging to bring experienced, steady leadership focused on responsible growth, fiscal responsibility, and community unity.
Grove brings more than 35 years of experience as an in-house paralegal specializing in commercial real estate development contracts and licensing. Through that work she has spent decades reviewing development agreements and negotiating complex projects, and using that experience, she can help Fate ensure that contracts protect the community.
“Fate is at a turning point,” Grove said. “With only about 600 acres of land left to develop, the decisions we make today will shape our city for generations. Our residents deserve leadership that protects the character of our community while planning responsibly for the future.”
Grove says her campaign is built around priorities she has consistently heard from residents across Fate.
Responsible growth and thoughtful development remain at the top of that list. Grove believes development should enhance the quality of life for residents, not simply increase revenue. She supports strategic planning that preserves the charm of the community while encouraging businesses that bring value to residents and attract visitors to the city.
Fiscal responsibility is another key focus. Grove says the city must maintain a balanced and responsible budget while ensuring essential services are fully supported. She said she has spent the last year reviewing not only the current budget, but also the comprehensive plan and city charter, and plans to carefully review future spending to ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely and that the city remains focused on serving its residents.
Infrastructure and public safety are also central priorities. Grove supports continued investment in roads, water systems, and the city’s fire and police departments to ensure they have the resources needed to keep the community safe as the city grows.
Finally, Grove says the city must focus on bringing residents together.
“We are stronger when our community works together,” she said. “From downtown beautification and parks to family-friendly events and volunteer projects, there are many opportunities to build pride in our city and strengthen the connections between neighbors.”
Grove plans to release a series of campaign videos outlining the priorities she has heard from local residents and sharing her vision for the future of the city.
“The future of Fate belongs to the people who live here,” Grove said. “I’m running to help ensure we build a city our families can be proud to call home.”
Learn more about Lorna at LornaForFate.com
Media Contact – Lorna Grove
Lorna Grove Campaign
LornaGroveForFate@gmail.com
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Pipkins Reports has received the following press release from Fate City Council Candidate, Melinda McCarthy. We present it here without editorial comment or review. We offer this service to any/all candidates for public office.
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Fate, Texas — Melinda McCarthy is stepping up to run for Fate City Council, Place 3, bringing a commitment to family values, fiscal responsibility, and responsible growth to one of the fastest-growing cities in the region.
Fate is at an inflection point in its history. The decisions made in the coming years will determine whether the city strengthens its infrastructure, addresses traffic challenges, and manages development wisely — or allows growth to outpace planning. McCarthy believes now is the time to get it right.
“Fate is growing rapidly, and with that growth comes responsibility,” McCarthy said. “We must ensure our roads, infrastructure, and services keep pace, while protecting the quality of life that brought so many families here.”
McCarthy and her family moved to Fate in 2022 seeking the Texas quality of life and freedoms that had gradually eroded in the blue state they left behind. She previously served for 11 years as an elementary school teacher with a special education focus before dedicating the past decade to homeschooling her three children.
“I’ve seen how small tax increases — just one percent here and there — can slowly make a community unaffordable for young families,” she said. “As our city grows, we must be disciplined stewards of taxpayer dollars and continue expanding our commercial tax base so homeowners are not carrying the full burden.”
McCarthy has long been engaged in civic life. She currently serves as Republican Precinct Chair for Precinct 4D, has served on the event committee for the 2026 Lincoln-Reagan Day, and participates in the Rockwall Young Republicans to help encourage and mentor the next generation of leaders.
Civic participation has been a part of her life since high school, when she first volunteered in campaigns. She has consistently voted in primaries, runoffs, and municipal elections and believes strong communities depend on engaged citizens.
“I love raising my children in a town that feels patriotic, safe, and community-centered,” McCarthy said. “I want to work collaboratively with city leadership and staff to ensure Fate continues to grow responsibly while remaining affordable and family-friendly.”
If elected, McCarthy will focus on infrastructure improvements, traffic management, responsible development, fiscal discipline, and maintaining the strong sense of community that defines Fate. The campaign website is www.melindaforfate.com
The municipal election will be held on May 2, with early voting starting April 20.
For more information, contact:
Melinda McCarthy melindaforfate@gmail.com
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FATE, TX – Just two months after Councilwoman Codi Chinn publicly posted an unredacted recall affidavit that included citizens’ names and home addresses, she now refuses to release a similar document that would reveal her supporters. Her explanation for the change, however, appears to conflict with information provided by city officials.
The dispute centers on an “Affidavit of Petitioners’ Committee,” the formal document required to begin a recall process under Texas law. The affidavit lists the members of the committee seeking the recall, including their names and home addresses.
Earlier this year, such an affidavit was filed to initiate a recall election against Chinn. According to records obtained by Pipkins Reports, Chinn received the document through her city-issued email account and later posted the affidavit publicly on Facebook without authorization or redacting the listed addresses.
The disclosure drew widespread criticism from residents and local observers who argued that publishing citizens’ home addresses could expose them to harassment or intimidation. A police report later named Chinn as a suspect in a possible unlawful disclosure investigation, a matter previously reported by Pipkins Reports.
Among the individuals listed on that recall affidavit were Andrew Greenberg and several members of the Fate City Council.
At the time, Chinn denied wrongdoing and defended her decision to publish the document.
The political situation in Fate has since flipped.
Supporters aligned with Chinn recently filed their own recall affidavit targeting Greenberg along with council members Mark Hatley, Rick Maneval, and Martha Huffman.
When residents asked on social media whether Chinn would again release the affidavit publicly, she declined and suggested there was a key distinction between the two situations.
“… there’s one big difference between the email we received from the city secretary when it was notifying council about my recall and the one notifying us about the recall for Greenberg, Hatley, Maneval, and Huffman,” Chinn wrote online. “One came without a confidentiality disclaimer and the other did. I’ll let you do your ‘investigative journalist work’ to figure out why that is.”
So, we did. To verify the claim, Pipkins Reports contacted Fate City Manager Michael W. Kovacs to ask whether the city had changed the language used in emails sent to council members regarding recall documents.
Kovacs said it had not. “All City originated emails have always carried the notice below,” Kovacs wrote in an email response.
The notice warns recipient that the message “may contain confidential and/or privileged information” and it cautions against copying or disclosing the contents if the recipient is not authorized.
In addition to the standard email disclaimer, Kovacs also noted that council members have long received additional guidance reminding them that although elected officials may view unredacted documents in their official capacity, they remain subject to restrictions on disclosing confidential information. The additional disclaimer says, “As Mayor and Council Members you are entitled to see any document of the city without redaction of confidential information,” Kovacs wrote. “However, you are also bound to the restrictions against disclosure of any information deemed confidential by the Public Information Act.”
Kovacs added that the city recently moved the confidentiality language higher in the email to emphasize the notice, following consultations with the city attorney during a period that included several recall petitions and open records requests. (ie: after Chinn disclosed the document)
Public records law and city policy
Under the Texas Public Information Act, most government records are presumed public unless they fall under specific statutory exceptions. The law requires government bodies to withhold certain categories of sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, financial account data, and some contact information. While a citizen’s name and address may appear in some public filings, many municipalities (including Fate) adopt internal practices designed to limit the disclosure of personal identifying information when documents are shared publicly. This includes the redaction of addresses of the public.
Opinion and analysis
The facts of the situation are relatively straightforward.
When the recall affidavit targeted Chinn, she had no problem releasing the document publicly on social media with citizens’ addresses intact. When a similar affidavit surfaced targeting her political opponents, the same kind of disclosure suddenly became off limits.
Chinn has attributed that difference to changes in the email disclaimer language. The city manager’s explanation suggests the warning language was not new, but rather long-standing. Only the prominent location of the language changed.
So it would appear that Chinn’s response is a case of political convenience.
Ultimately, voters in Fate will decide how they view the episode. But the unfolding recall battle has already delivered one clear lesson. In politics, the standard you apply to others often returns to test you.
### Pipkins Reports has requested a copy of the Affidavit of Petitioners’ Committee from the City of Fate. When received, we will provide that information to the public … redacted of course, as we did previously.
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