Frisco Chronicles Endorsement: City Council Place 2

by | Apr 17, 2025 | Campaign Donations, Campaign Finance Reports, Citizens Input, City Boards and Committees, City Council, Elections, Politics

As part of our commitment to keeping Frisco residents informed and engaged, we sent a candidate questionnaire to all three individuals running for Place 2 on the Frisco City Council. Using the contact information provided on the official candidate website, we reached out to each candidate via email, offering them an opportunity to share their views on issues that matter to our community.

Who took the time to respond? Only one candidate — Burt Thakur — replied to our questionnaire. We appreciate his willingness to engage with the voters and provide thoughtful responses to the questions submitted.

Unfortunately, Tammy Meinershagen and Sai Krishnarajanagar did not respond to our outreach. By choosing not to answer these citizen-submitted questions, they passed on an opportunity to directly address the concerns and interests of the very people they seek to represent. Tammy must be too busy selling her performing arts center and keeping Catchup Daddy in line. As for Sai, we have no idea what he would be up to – maybe getting another ear pierced.

For Whistleblower, being accountable to your constituents matters, and two of the candidates made it very easy for us to say The Whistleblower Team Proudly Endorses Burt Thakur!

**Please note we have not altered the candidates’ responses. If you would like a copy of their questionnaire, email us.**

Full Name: Burt Thakur

Campaign Website: www.burt4frisco.com

Social Media Links: Facebook https://facebook.com/burt.thakur.for.frisco.city.council

Occupation and Background: Data Center Commissioning Engineer. I have also worked in power generation in operations. I am a U.S. Navy veteran and I served during 9/11 and was deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I am a graduate of the Naval Nuclear Power School.

Why are you running for the Frisco City Council? I’m running because I love Frisco and our residents. As taxpayers, we deserve careful stewards of our money, with elected leaders who make wise decisions. My infrastructure experience, coupled with established relationships with government leaders will help guide smart growth decisions and accelerate high velocity decisions for all Frisco residents.

Community and Development

What are your top three priorities for Frisco’s growth and development? 1. Lower Property Tax 2. Create Good Paying Jobs 3. Safe Streets – Proactively Fund Police & Fire and fix traffic

How do you plan to balance economic growth with maintaining community character? We must support and foster small business growth – as one small business owner told me, ‘Burt, i wish the city council was as excited about our business as they are about the flashier ones they are getting!’ There’s something to be said about going down main street and seeing ‘mom and pop’ shops and thriving businesses in the Railway district. By poor city planning with road construction, many of these businesses are struggling to get customers and now are having a difficult time making their lease payments. I’ll never forget the first night my wife and I drove through downtown and fell in love with Frisco and envisioned growing old here. We couldn’t believe we found our dream home , and we got to live in a city with a small town feel. I believe in growth – but I believe in sensible growth. I do not believe it is prudent to compete with Dallas or Ft. Worth – if we wanted to live there, we would have purchased a home there! I argue that instead of Universal Studios which will bring 25,000 people a day and disrupt our traffic among other issues or a poorly funded $380 Million Performing Arts Center – how about ensuring basic needs? Many want an animal shelter, a place for mental health help, a building for veterans groups, community center for parents with special needs children, or more recreational and athletic facilities. How about covered parking in school areas for protection from hail? For sensible economic growth, how about businesses which make money – like power plants, high tech manufacturing, data centers, start-up incubators, high tech research?

What is your stance on residential and commercial zoning changes? What I am against is subverting the intent of zoning changes to benefit private interested in city councils. For example, Irving approved a zoning change which paved the way for a casino resort near their stadium site. Ultimately, there are several bills in the Texas legislature which could remove the ability of local governments to control zoning. As this is uncharted territory, I have been researching different methods to potentially ensure we have more control at the local level – and therefor you, the voter, on helping guide zoning.

How will you ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with growth? We must upgrade our infrastructure. This includes water and sewer, substations and power transmission, internet and fiber lines, our roads as well. This is why it is imperative to ensure the basics are met before jumping into capital projects which impact our infrastructure.

Density continues to be a hot discussion for Frisco Residents. Cheney even did a video on Density seven years ago when running for Mayor. He said in that video that the resident’s ultimate concerns was the concept of density and what the ultimate build out population number should be.

At build out, the city’s comprehensive plan allows a maximum capacity of up to 350 thousand residents (building with maximum density). He then said in his campaign video that is not what people move to Frisco for, and he believed that to maintain quality of life, the population target goal should be around 280,000. He continued, we need to build out with world-class level developments with more open space, less multi-family all over the city, and an overall less dense environment. The last two years Cheney has changed his tune and said, “Density is a political dog whistle used at election time for political mailers.” What is your stance on Density? I agree with Mayor Cheney from 7 years ago.

Fiscal Responsibility and Budgeting

What would be your approach to managing the city’s budget while ensuring essential services are maintained? I’d call for a detailed budget analysis to identify inefficiencies and prioritize funding clearly toward essential services such as police and first responder services (safety), essential services, infrastructure, sanitation, and required community programs. I’d implement performance-based budgeting using specific KPIs to evaluate and optimize the effectiveness of expenditures, encouraging modernization and digitization as much as possible to improve efficiency and reduce costs. I’d look for areas where we could utilize AI services to reduce level of effort and costs. Additionally, I’d pursue EDC projects which create large economic possibilities (power plants, high tech manufacturing, data centers etc.), competitive grants, and carefully balanced tax policies to maintain economic attractiveness. To foster transparency and public trust, I’d engage citizens through community-driven budgeting and clear communication. I’d also attempt to engage county, state and federal leaders to discuss what initiatives are funded for collaboration and inclusion into programs if we have qualifying projects and needs

Do you believe Frisco’s current property tax rates are sustainable? Would you support any changes
including cuts, increases or adjustments to the current property tax rates? Why or why not? I would try to lower Property Taxes. One method is to increase sales tax through new businesses which also have the potential of generating significant income (as described earlier) – thereby increasing sales tax revenues and reducing reliance on property taxes. We should also determine where we can create cost-saving measures within city operations like streamlining services and adopting efficient technologies, can decrease expenditures. We can also work to determine if we are paying for redundant services or if there are opportunities to combine services while we prioritize essential services. I’ll be advocating for increased county, state and federal funding to supplement local revenues. Another potential way could be through more effective management of unspent or unused bonds (according to our city website we have more than $150 Million). When bond funds remain unused or projects are completed under budget, these surplus funds can be strategically redirected or repurposed to pay down existing bond debt or fund upcoming projects which require new borrowing. The bonds can also be returned if feasible (or possible). Reducing the city’s overall debt obligations or avoiding additional debt issuance lowers annual debt-service payments, directly easing the burden on taxpayers and creating room to decrease property tax rates. Additionally, carefully monitoring bond expenditures and ensuring funds are allocated efficiently prevents unnecessary financial burdens, helping to maintain fiscal responsibility and taxpayer affordability in the long term.

What are your funding priorities for public safety, education, and infrastructure? For public safety – I’d prioritize proactive as opposed to reactive funding and staffing for a well-equipped police and fire department and first responders, investing in advanced training, modern technology, as well as better traffic studies and mitigations for traffic jams so we can maintain response times with the arrival of potentially 25,000 people from Universal Studios. For education, I’d work with the respective governing bodies and trustees to see what help they require and how we in the council can help find support for local schools to ensure adequate resources for modern classrooms, more school resource officers, innovative educational technology, and competitive teacher salaries. Infrastructure funding would target long-term sustainability and growth through investments in road expansions, improved traffic management systems, reliable utilities, and enhanced broadband connectivity—key elements in attracting high-tech employers and supporting future growth.

How would you plan to handle Frisco’s increasing debt and financial obligations? I would adopt a strategy rooted in transparency and fiscal discipline. By carefully prioritizing debt issuance exclusively for critical infrastructure and economic development projects, we can strategically control expenditures and reduce reliance on taxpayer-funded debt. Transparent financial reporting and open communication with the community will ensure residents clearly understand how funds are used and why debt decisions are made, fostering public trust. Simultaneously, leveraging unspent bond funds or surplus reserves to pay down existing debt will directly reduce the property tax burden. Creating an attractive economic environment through competitive taxation policies, targeted incentives, and streamlined permitting processes will draw investments from innovative sectors, generating higher-paying jobs and diversifying the local economy.

In December of 2021, the Mayor, Jeff Cheney had to vote in a rare tie breaker vote in regard to an employee Health Clinic operated by Premise Health. At the time, city staff shared the results of a survey which collected responses from 684 of 1,239 city employees. Out of those 684, a total of 89.75% said they were likely or somewhat likely” to use the clinic for urgent care needs. Only 64.7% said they were likely to “somewhat use” the clinic as their primary care provider.
Estimated expenses in the clinic’s first year total over $1.44 million, according to the proposed five-year budget. Those expenses include salaries, insurance, management/implementation fees and equipment purchases. The clinic’s fifth-year budget is listed at more than $1.31 million. It was projected that the clinic will operate at a loss in its first three years. The estimated cost for the first five years was $6.28 million. At the time there was a concern about how many years it could take to break even on the investment and how many employees would use the option. At the five-year mark if the clinic is still not breaking even would you support closing the Employee Wellness Clinic or continue to operate at a loss? I need to learn more about this issue. From reading the question, I’d like to determine the cost-benefit of this project. I’d like to learn where the money is being spent, and what opportunities exist to make this a profitable business. If there isn’t a way to make it profitable, and there is no need for this clinic, I would like to know what the exit strategies are for this clinic, and if it would be something that an organization like the Veterans Affairs would be interested in operating.

Should the city be in the business or running an Athletic Center, Performing Arts Center, or any other type of business model that mirrors a commercial business which has annual operational costs paid for by tax dollars? I do not like public-private partnerships which use our hard-earned tax dollars for operations and maintenance costs.

Transparency and Accountability

How will you ensure transparency in your decision-making process and open communication between the city council and residents? I’ll make myself available to residents. I’ll hold monthly townhalls, and attempt to visit various groups around our city on a regular basis . In addition, I will ensure my team releases all meeting minutes and I will make it a point to keep a weekly update of what work I performed at the end of the week. I believe it is important to ensure we complete projects which matter to people and, with accountability, you , the voter get a weekly update of the status of the various projects I’ll be working on and executing. This also allows me to solicit help from the members of the community who have good ideas on execution. In addition, many people have expressed their frustration on applying to various boards and being rejected. I don’t know the cause of this, and I’ll investigate – this process should be transparent, and should serve as a potential opportunity for us to raise the bar for serving on a board by having clearly defined requisites and a definable interview process where we can track metrics

Currently only the city council meeting is aired live, however many residents believe they should have access to live meetings for the different boards and commissions as well as well as the published minutes of the meetings should be more detailed as to what was discussed.

A. Do you support more increased public access to city council meetings, boards and commission meetings? Absolutely – we should have transparency and an opportunity to be informed in what various boards/commissions are proposing.

    B. What steps would you take to improve access to meetings, meeting minutes and public records? I would introduce a motion to approve all meetings are streamed as well as meeting minutes available to the general public.

    What is your definition of conflict of interest? If there is a possibility of favoritism for a company one owns or works for or if there is a significant opportunity to make money from a vote. Basically, if there is a potential abuse of power due to business interests which the politician has with their vote.

    Do you support implementing a stricter ethics policy that puts a check on the influence of money in local politics which would require council members to recuse themselves from votes that could benefit donors who contributed more than $1000 or $2500.00 to a political campaign? Yes

    Do you believe active members of the city council should be on the front lines advocating as “private citizens” for Propositions on the ballot during local elections? No – as an elected official, one has an enormous influence on the electorate. In essence they are the target of a lobbyist for a cause. While I am a firm believer in our 1st amendment rights , a politician masquerading as a private citizen when it is convenient for them to push an agenda is morally questionable.

    Community Services and Quality of Life

    What are your plans for enhancing public parks and recreation on Frisco’s East Side of the DNT? I the last city Council Meeting, the Parks and Recreation Open Space Master Plan was discussed. This included Shepherds Glen Park which will increase amenities for residents in east Frisco. Additionally, the Cottonwood Creek Trail Extension will extend the existing trail. Many residents I have spoken to like my idea of seeing if we can build an arboretum. This is something that I’d love to explore as a councilman and determine its feasibility

    How do you plan to address traffic congestion across Frisco? I want to see what opportunities exist for smart infrastructure and leveraging AI-driven solutions. This could include integrating intelligent traffic management systems powered by AI algorithms to optimize traffic flow, dynamically manage intersections, and predicting congestion patterns in real-time, significantly reducing wait times and improving commuting efficiency. With Universal Studios bringing potentially 25,000 people a day, or the World Cup, we need to figure out solutions quickly. Expanding road capacity strategically, coupled with smart signaling technologies, could enhance overall traffic management. This would be in addition to the initiatives currently being worked on in city council.

    Do you think Frisco has a public transportation need? From what I’ve read in Frisco’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan, it emphasizes enhancing mobility and exploring alternative transportation modes to accommodate future growth. If our population keeps growing at the rate proposed in the plan, I think we would need better public transportation provide mobility options for residents without personal vehicles, and support economic development by connecting workers to employment centers, and also potentially reduce traffic.

      How will you engage with and listen to diverse voices of the community? By making myself available. Look, I don’t and won’t know everything. I will attempt to meet many members of our city, and I’ll hold monthly townhalls. I will also attempt to come to many events hosted by our vibrant communities. My office will have an open door policy for the residents of Frisco. Also, once a week, I’ll have coffee at a local business, and I’ll post those times and will broadcast a livestream where I’ll take questions from those who are unable to attend.

      Public Safety

      What measures will you take to ensure Frisco’s Police and Fire Department remain well-funded? My approach will focus on prioritizing public safety within the city’s budget planning, I want information to flow to the council as well – concerns and issues should never be punitive. I want to ensure Frisco remains one of the safest cities in the country so guaranteeing consistent and adequate resources for staffing, advanced training, and cutting-edge equipment is a top priority of mine. I’ll advocate for strategic fiscal policies that secure dedicated funding streams and explore alternative revenue sources to supplement city resources. Additionally, regular assessments and transparent evaluations of departmental needs including review of surveys will be conducted, ensuring funding allocations and departmental needs align effectively with public safety priorities. By actively communicating with residents about the critical importance of these investments, we will maintain strong community support for sustainable funding, thus safeguarding the high-quality services provided by our first responders.

      For years the Frisco Firefighters Association has taken to the citizens input pulpit asking for more staffing (specifically going from a 3 Man Truck to a 4 Man Truck). Turnover has been high recently with Firefighters taking retirement and then going to work for other cities who are more supportive of their First Responders.

      Do you support increased staffing and moving to a 4 Person Truck? Yes

      What will you do to start repairing the relationship with our first responders to stop the turnover, so they stay here in Frisco, and we don’t lose that much needed experience and wisdom? I will actively engage in open and ongoing dialogue to clearly understand their needs, concerns, and ideas. We can work on improving compensation packages, expanding to national searches for attracting a larger talent pool, benefits, and career advancement opportunities. I want to ensure we are properly investing in comprehensive mental health and wellness programs to ensure their wellbeing. By cultivating a supportive environment built on respect, trust, and consistent communication, we can retain experienced personnel, preserve institutional knowledge, and enhance morale, ensuring that our community benefits from their invaluable expertise and helps to preserve a safe Frisco.

      As Frisco continues to grow, do you believe Frisco’s current policies on crime prevention and emergency response are sufficient? Why or why not? While our police, fire and first responders have an incredible program, which is the envy of other mid size cities, there is only an upside in continuous investment in technology, personnel training, new skills as well as determining better community engagement and policies. As these departments see a need for growth opportunities, I want them to know that they will have an advocate for their expert opinions on what needs to be driven in the city council for maintaining Frisco’s safety.

      Would you support removing Animal Services “out” from under Public Safety and turning it into its own department? Yes

      Residents have been advocating for an animal shelter (instead of the partnership with Collin County) and the city keeps stalling, saying they are open to one with a public-private partnership. Do you believe Frisco should have its own Animal Shelter and Education Center? Do you believe it is a city service, or should it be a public-private partnership? Yes and this should be a city service.

      Closing Statements

      Is there anything you would like us to know about you that we have not asked? Here’s a fun fact – I’m a Jeopardy! champion, and I appeared on the last televised episode with Alex Trebek before his death.

      What is the most important issue facing Frisco, and how do you plan to address it? Frisco residents should vote no on Propositions A, B, and E to protect both their financial interests and democratic rights. Propositions A and B would commit the city to substantial financial obligations—including $160 million in new bonds—for an extravagant performing arts center, potentially burdening taxpayers and risking future property tax increases if projected revenues fall short. With numerous comparable venues nearby, this costly investment is unnecessary and not aligned with recent calls from residents for fiscal prudence. Proposition E, meanwhile, would significantly diminish voter power by allowing the City Council to appoint replacements to vacant seats without voter input, potentially leading to political favoritism and reducing democratic accountability. Voting “no” ensures Frisco maintains responsible financial management and preserves citizens’ fundamental right to directly elect their representatives

      Do you have any final messages for the voters? I would love to get your support dear reader. If you like my positions, please make sure you vote. Please tell 10 of your friends to vote for me as well. This election, more than ever, will determine Frisco’s futur. Please vote for Burt Thakur for Frisco City Council, Place 2.

      Meet The Candidates: Place 4

      by | Mar 9, 2025 | Campaign Signs, City Boards and Committees, City Council, Elections, Frisco ISD, Gopal Ponangi, Politics

      In Frisco, there is a permission process for running for office.  What do we mean by permission process?  Let us share: if you are interested in running for city council, you need to let Mayor Cheney know, and he will notify his henchwoman, Lorie Medina.  Medina will then let you know if you have permission and if you are qualified enough to run for office.  Suppose you don’t have the support of Cheney and Medina, otherwise known as the leaders of the established Frisco cabal. In that case, they will make it very difficult for you by turning to their developer friends to fund the campaigns of the “Cabal Approved” candidates. 

      How do we know this?  It is what we have been told by several previous candidates who ran for office against the Medina Machine!  If you want to run for office in Frisco, you must have their blessing, and they will give you the “pathway” to the dais of the council.  But first, one must pay their dues, of course, or they will be told, “It’s just not your turn yet!”

      It makes you wonder why any rational human being would want or try to run for office in Good Ole Frisco!  Maybe they believe in things like community service and making a difference. Maybe they think local government should be more than a rubber stamp for developers. Then again, maybe—just maybe—they’re the rare type of person who enjoys the thrill of fighting voter apathy that plagues our elections.  Either way, this time around Frisco residents have choices, and it is up to them to get off the couch, stop making excuses, and vote for change.   Otherwise, you will once again find yourself asking why your city council makes decisions without your input.  Remember, you had a chance to care. You just didn’t.  Let’s look at who is running for Place 4!  To be fair, we will go in order of their names on the ballot.

      First up is Joshua Meek, whose filing application states he is a Real Estate Professional!  According to his website, he is “Your Local Real Estate Expert” – just what we need, another Realtor!  According to another site, Meek Industries, of which he is the Founder and CEO, they are a diversified holding company with a mission to acquire and grow attractive investments that generate sustainable cash flow.  What?  It does not list any partners, investments they are involved in, etc.

      According to his political website, he has attended 133 Frisco City Council Meetings.  Have you ever wondered who is that guy who sometimes wears a baseball hat and sits right behind the podium where everyone speaks to the council – that is Meek.  He was appointed to the Frisco Community Development Corporation Board and has been involved in several notable projects.  It touts he is a community leader, who over the last 14 years served in a variety of Frisco organizations and community positions including, Frisco Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Visit Frisco Board Member, member of the Frisco Rotary Club, Leadership Frisco class graduate, and Citizens Police and Fire Academy graduate.

      What is Meeks Platform?  Well, it says he wants “THRIVING PARTNERSHIPS” and touts our success is due to those partnerships with DEVELOPERS, school districts, healthcare systems and higher educational institutions.  He goes on to say these partnerships must be PRIORTIZED as we finalize Frisco’s buildout.  Truth is he is the young Cheney who is all about development and developers from what we can tell.

      Next up he wants to “Pioneer Innovation” and somehow relates that to public safety.  He believes that integration of technology and artificial intelligence can further enhance the high-quality performance of Frisco’s first responders.  Personally, I don’t think AI can fight a house fire or stop an armed robbery the way our actual first responders can!

      Lastly, he wants to “Leverage Economics” and he will continue to lower the tax rate by leveraging the use of sales tax revenue. That way Frisco CDC and EDC are able to create funding sources to help strategically fund parks, projects and attract employers that many other communities.   What caught our attention was his comment “By continuing to invest in Frisco as a destination location” but do Frisco Residents want to be a destination location or a community.  He also forgot to mention the CDC or EDC will fund a big Performing Arts Center that the cabal wants.

      Next up Jared Elad whom we have nicknamed “The Beard” from his yellow signs popping up!  His application lists his occupation as a small business owner.  According to his website, he came from a modest upbringing in Tennessee and Oklahoma and got a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University.

      He began his career as a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch and later worked at Wells Fargo and BB&T/Truist as a Financial Advisor and Vice President. In 2024, he went independent to better serve his clients. Elad is married to Stephanie Elad (FISD Board Member) and has two daughters.  Jared currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Villages of Stonelake HOA.

      Jared Elad’s website goes on to say he wants to Eliminate excess spending, Lower taxes, Accomplish the budget, and be Dependable to the community.  Get it ELAD! He touts we need fiscal responsibility with transparency, and he wants every taxpayer dollar spent efficiently, and wants to cut out wasteful expenses with a focus on projects that bring true value to “FRISCO RESIDENTS.” 

      Elad’s site also goes on to say he will support Public Safety, and he is dedicated to partnering with Frisco PD and Fire to ensure they have the resources, training, and equipment needed to serve and protect all Frisco residents effectively.  He is for Community Friendly Development & Growth that supports economic vitality while not forgetting that it needs to align with the needs, concerns and wants of “FRISCO RESIDENTS.” 

      Lastly, Jared Elad has some cute pet videos and displays his support for Frisco Pets on his Facebook page.  For the pet lovers, he had declared he is for a new pet shelter to ensure the safety and well-being of Frisco pets.  As soon as he displayed his support for pets, the first comment came from an infamous Cabel supporter, Jake Petras, who stated he would also love a pet shelter and asked how we would fund it.  Funny because we have seen many posts where Petras attacks pet people and the idea of a shelter, so we have to assume the cabal has him at work again being their mouthpiece to put other candidates running on defense or at least try!

      Next up we have Jerry Spencer, and his application states he is an investor.  He has lived in Texas for 76 years and over 20 years in Frisco.   We could not find a website for Spencer, but we did find a Facebook page, but it was also limited to information.  We sent a message asking if he had any platform ideas he wanted to share for our article.

      Spencer responded that he lives on the east side of the tollway in Plantation.  He would like to see Frisco shift the focus from sports, tourism, and being a destination city and broaden our economic base with a much greater emphasis on attracting emerging technology and 21st century industries such as AI, robotics, drone technology, autonomous driving, medical research, etc.  

      Spencer would like to also put a focus on regional cooperation with our regional partners in both Denton and Collin County.  He believes Frisco has a Lone Ranger mentality, and he would like to see us have a regional performing arts center where we pair up with Plano, McKinney and Allen.  There are 235,000 people in Frisco, but more than 750,000 in those four cities. The per capita costs of an arts center drop dramatically when spread over four cities.  He said working together would be a better solution.

      Next, we have Gopala Ponangi, whose occupation is listed as a Business Owner.  He has lived in Texas for 24 years and spent 21 of those years in Frisco, Texas.  Gopal is married with two daughters and has a pet Shih Tzu named Coco.  He is a small business owner with an emphasis in Digital Marketing for Financial Services and Real Estate. If Gopal’s name sounds familiar it should, as he has served on the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees, Place one.  His website at the time said, “Education is my passion, and I will strive to give my best to our students and the community.”

      According to his website for Place 4 City Council, he says he is proud to be an active member of Frisco, leaving initiatives through nonprofits with a focus on Education, Healthcare and the Fine Arts.  His bio states he is the Past Director of the Frisco Economic Development Corporation. He also was a founding Co-Chair of the Mayors Adhoc Committee for the Frisco Indian Affairs which has now taken the shape of the Multicultural Committee under Frisco Boards and Commissions.  He touts on his website how he has served on several committees through FISD.

      As for his Vision for Frisco, he would like to focus on more local jobs through smart, responsible growth.  He would also like to see an improvement in traffic and will work to prioritize smart traffic solutions to keep Frisco moving forward.  He is committed to Public Safety and will prioritize funding to ensure our first responders have the necessary resources to protect citizens.

      After reviewing Gopal’s website, we had two questions.  First if he is passionate about education then why is he running for city council?  Second, he states he served on a lot of boards which made us wonder how he had the time?   If you investigate his attendance for some of these boards, he boasts about it appears he was absent at 99% of the meetings.  If he can’t show up for boards/committees/meetings, etc. then why would we think he will show up for city council meetings and all the duties that come with that role.

      Lastly, we have Sangita Datta, and her application states her occupation as a financial specialist, having lived in Frisco for the last 6.5 years.  We assume Datta is a Frisco Socialite because we constantly see her at events, and she has helped each of our current council members campaign during election cycles.  According to her website, she is committed to making Frisco a better place to live, work, and grow.  Her service journey began in Mother Teresa’s house in Kolkata, where she learned the meaning of life, compassion, and giving back to the community.

      Datta’s platform includes promoting economic growth and fiscal responsibility through attracting quality jobs and supporting local businesses, using city resources wisely to keep taxes low, and fostering an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive.   Secondly, she stands for enhancing a family-friendly community life by investing in parks, playgrounds, and community spaces and supporting initiatives that help working parents maintain Frisco’s reputation as a great city.   Hmmm, we have initiatives that maintain our city’s reputation.  Do tax dollars pay for that?  Datta also wants to ensure safety and preserve Frisco’s unique character.  After reading her site, we are not sure how preserving the city’s character affects safety, but hopefully, we have time to learn during the debates.

      She believes her experience serving on the City of Frisco Parks & Recreation Board, Ambassador for the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, as Treasurer for the Indian Association of North Texas, and as an Ambassador for the Frisco Inclusion Committee will help her while serving on City Council.  Datta also graduated from the Leadership Frisco, Citizens Police Academy and completed the City 101 programs.

      That rounds out your choices for Place 4!  Meeks reminds us of a young Cheney Real Estate mogul in training.  Elad is a marketing genius with “The Beard” and we are excited to learn more about him in the debates. The pet-friendly Frisco will most likely gravitate to Elad because he has openly said he supports an animal shelter.  Gopal is the obvious Cabel plant as he “supports the arts” meaning a Performing Arts Center.  Proof that Gopal is one of the implants in his kickoff photos with Keating and Pelham. 

      We would like Gopal to explain his attendance record for previous positions he has held and tell us how it will be different this time.  In our opinion, Datta should be madder than a wet hen that those she supported for years are not showing her the same respect she has shown them over the years.  We need more clarification regarding her platform, and we are concerned her relationships with the current council means she will stay “inline” with what the Cheney Machine wants.  However, we could be wrong, maybe there has been a clear line drawn in the sand of friendship.  As for Spencer, we just don’t know enough about the person or platform to offer an opinion. The Whistleblowers want change – however that comes!  We want independent individuals who will make their own decisions and not follow the gravy train of the current council members.

      There’s no place like home!

      by | May 19, 2024 | City Boards and Committees, City Council, Mayor Jeff Cheney, Politics

      The other night our grandkids were over, and we thought we should introduce them to the classic movie, The Wizard of Oz.  In The Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy found the man behind the curtain, pretending to be the great Wizard of Oz, the spell of the Wizard was broken. The great and powerful wizard was exposed. He was simply an ordinary man, who was just able to perform some clever tricks. The trouble with fantasy is that, for some, the line between delusion and reality is blurred for those people who simply don’t deal in the truth. I am talking about those people with fantastical perceptions of themselves that are so great, that after a while, their fantasies become their reality.

      After the movie was over, we played a game of Jenga.  We told them, you must be careful because the game looks easy, but the truth is you must have patience as you carefully remove pieces of wood while hoping the tower does not topple over.  I told them the game requires observation, strategic thinking, and sometimes a bit of intuition.  Seeing young kids hold their breath while each piece of wood comes out, then mesmerized in the moment to see if the tower will topple is greatness.

      As we played, I continued to think about the movie the Wizard of OZ and how it describes our city council.  Mayor Cheney is the man behind the curtain, the great Wizard of Oz.  While people in Frisco put him on a pedal stool, he is really an ordinary man who can pull some clever tricks past the residents.  As you continue to read you will find each council member fits a character’s persona.  As we played Jenga I realized we use the same skills in the game of Jenga every other week as we look over the upcoming agenda for the Frisco City Council meetings.  We often find behind every agenda, there is a “hidden agenda”, but you will not find it unless you delicately navigate through the list of items and understand their implications.  We find ourselves asking what is the underlying motive or objective behind certain proposals, discussions, or agenda items?  Much like in the game of Jenga, if you are not careful you may miss some things that could be very important for the tower to continue to stand.

      The next morning, we sat down to look over the upcoming agenda for Frisco City Council meeting.  We first noticed under “Individual Items” that both John Keating and Angelia Pelham will take the Oath of Office for their elected places.  Then we noticed right after that they plan to nominate the new Mayor Pro-Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro-Tem.  In our opinion, the political clique who are like characters in the Wizard of OZ, will probably nominate to keep positions the same.  That means Pelham, or Glinda the Good Witch and Keating, who is obviously the Brain-Seeking Scarecrow, will retain their titles since they are the two top Wizard of Oz Enforcers. 

      As to why the others would not be nominated, well that’s easy.  They hate Brian Livingston who they treat like the Wicked Witch of the West, since he supported candidates outside the political clique in the last two elections.  Laura Rummell, or the Cowardly Lion, is known as the go along to get along girl and she won’t fight any nomination for fear of getting on the bad side of the political clique.  Tammy Meinershagen who is the prefect Dorothy, is too busy writing a poem for why we need a $300 million dollar performing arts center.  Lastly, Bill Woodard, the heartless Tin Man, just pulled out all the stops to create a larger divide between the city and the Frisco Firefighters.  Probably would not be a good choice if they wanted to “find healing” as Pelham would say with the rank and file of the Fire Department.  

      After the May General Election every year, appointments to the City Council committees are brought to the City Council for review. City Council members may be appointed and reappointed to the various committees at the discretion of the Mayor and City Council.  That is why the regular agenda item 34 stood out which is consider and act upon appointments to City Council Committees.  If you remember last year, Brian Livingston was stripped and removed from every committee he served on by the great Wizard of Oz, Mayor Cheney. It was a punishment for going outside of the political clique we told you about above. 

      The current appointments to each committee are:

      Budget and Audit Committee: Deputy Mayor Pro-Tem Angelia Pelham & Council Member Laura Rummel.

      Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition: Mayor Pro-Tem John Keating.

      Frisco Square Management District (FSMD) Board is composed of three (3) City Council members and two (2) representatives from the developer per the Local Government Code. The board members currently serving are Mayor Jeff Cheney, Council Member Bill Woodard, and Mayor Pro-Tem John Keating.

      Governance Committee: Council Member Bill Woodard, Council Member Tammy Meinershagen, & Deputy Mayor Pro-Tem Angelia Pelham.

      Legislative Committee: Council Member Laura Rummel, Council Member Tammy Meinershagen, & Mayor Pro-Tem John Keating.

      North Central Texas Council of Governments Emergency Preparedness Planning Committee: Council Member Tammy Meinershagen with Council Member Laura Rummel as her alternate.

      North Central Texas (NCT) 911 Project: Council Member Tammy Meinershagen with Council Member Laura Rummel as her alternate.

      North Texas Commission is represented by Mayor Jeff Cheney.

      Park and Trail Naming Committee is represented by Council Member Bill Woodard.

      Regional Transportation Council is represented by Mayor Pro-Tem John Keating.

      Animal Advisory Committee is represented by Council Member Laura Rummel.

      Frisco Veterans Advisory Committee: Mayor Pro-Tem John Keating, Council Member Laura Rummel, & Council Member Tammy Meinershagen

      On Tuesday, the city council can do one of two things.  First, they could choose not to appoint or reappoint current appointees. Secondly, they can review it and make new nominations to the committees “IF THEY CHOOSE.”  What do you think they will they choose to do?  Will they do the right thing and put Mr. Livingston back on the committees or continue this petty behavior?  Is Brian Livingston still considered the Wicked Witch of the West by his fellow council members for having independent thought? 

      If they shun Mr. Livingston again who ran unopposed for his seat in May 2023, then they are essentially telling the 14,282 voters that came out to vote for him “YOUR OPINION DOESN’T MATTER!” Just for a point of reference, that is 2922 more votes than Mayor Cheney received the same year. It is also telling the 41,128 residents who voted for Livingston in 2020 that their opinion doesn’t matter.  In 2020, Livingston faced two opponents, if you add together the votes of those 2 opponents, they still were 11, 192 votes short of Livingston. Now compare that to the other seat on the ballot in 2020 which Laura Rummell ran for. He had 24,773 more votes than her.

      Lastly on the agenda we noticed items 23 – 26 which have to do with the Boards and Commissions.  Apparently, they are changing the names of some of the committees. The Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) will now be the Hike-and-Bike Advisory Committee.  Bill Woodard, the heartless Tin Man, must be so excited over the change since he is known as the Hike-Trike-&-Bike guy. Then the Frisco Arts Board and Public Arts Program will be renamed to the Frisco Arts and Culture Advisory Committee.  We suspect this may have something to do with the “new performing arts center” the city is trying to sell residents. Item 25 will modify certain provisions governing the Parks & Recreation Board. Lastly, the Urban Forestry Board will be changed to the Frisco Natural Resources Advisory Committee. It’s no big deal they are changing the names we just find it the timing interesting that’s all.

      It is time for us to click the heels of our red shoes and chant “There’s no place like home!”  We encourage you to look at the agendas and enjoy the game of Jenga the city plays with us. The city hopes we are not paying attention to the pieces of wood they are moving around but the Whistleblower Team is always paying attention.  It will be interesting to see if Pelham and Keating keep the Mayor Pro-Tem and Deputy Pro-Tem titles. 

      It is clear Cheney is setting up the path for Angelia Pelham to be our next Mayor at the end of his term.  I wonder how Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Brain-Seeking Scarecrow, or the Heartless Tin Man feel about that?  We would encourage the other council members (minus Cheney) to think about that fact that Brian Livingston is a pretty popular councilman to his base that elected him.  None of them have come close to the accumulated votes he has received over the years so it will be interesting to see what path they all take on the yellow brick road Tuesday night.