A group of McKinney residents has launched a recall effort targeting Mayor Bill Cox and three city council members one week after the council unanimously approved a site plan for a new mosque.
The affidavit, filed this week with the city, names Mayor Bill Cox along with council members Justin Beller, Geré Feltus and Ernest Lynch. Organizers cited a “loss of public confidence” in the officials’ ability to represent residents, according to filings submitted to the city and reported by The Dallas Morning News.
The recall follows the Aug. 4 City Council vote that approved a site plan submitted by the McKinney Islamic Association for a new sanctuary, gym and classroom building. The meeting lasted more than four hours and drew a large, often contentious crowd. City staff said the plan complied with existing zoning rules and did not require a variance or design exception.
John Aselton, who is helping organize the recall, told The Dallas Morning News the effort reflects broader concerns about city spending, transparency and infrastructure projects, including airport expansion and a proposed amphitheater. He said the campaign is not limited to a single issue.
Under McKinney’s city charter, organizers have 45 days from the affidavit filing to collect signatures. They must gather approximately 5,800 valid signatures from registered McKinney voters — equal to at least 30 percent of the votes cast in the last regular municipal election — by 5 p.m. on Sept. 26 to trigger a recall election.
In a statement, Mayor Cox said residents have “every right to make their voices heard and to participate in the processes available to them.” He added that upholding the law and constitutional principles remains a fundamental responsibility.
The three council members targeted by the petition did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Dallas Morning News. The remaining three council members are not named in the recall and face re-election next year.
If the required signatures are verified, a recall election date would be set later.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
