Frisco Chronicles recently filed a few PIR’s and surprise, surprise the city has sent them all to the Attorney General for a ruling. The City of Frisco cannot have it both ways. City officials cannot stand before residents and promote transparency while repeatedly routing public information requests through the Texas Attorney General for a ruling on whether requested records must be released. When this happens, residents are left waiting, taxpayers are left wondering, and legitimate questions about what their government is doing remain unanswered.
PIR: Fire Station 9 – Mold Issues
Recently we were alerted by a city insider that Fire Station 9 which was recently constructed, have mold, moisture and mildew issues. We filed two separate PIRs for records concerning the construction of the station and the plans to remediate the mold. We also asked about any “temporary housing” needed and the costs of that since our Fire Fighters should not be sleeping in a mold infested fire station.
We paid for the PIR – $212.94
We paid $151.56 for the second one!
Then we get a letter from ARBH (Abernathy Roeder Boyd Hullett) Lawfirm telling us they have sent it to the Attorney General claiming Client Privilege and Homeland Security Act – claiming we are asking for access codes and passwords which is totally not true. They are also claiming that information relating to competition or bidding could provide and advantage to a competitor.
Just a reminder, TAXPAYER MONEY is being used to build and construct and now they don’t want to show us the bids and reasons for their decision.
What is the city hiding? The fact that we have Fire Fighters in a moldy station that TAXPAYERS just paid for? The fact that we have Fire Fighters sleeping in mold which is dangerous? What are they hiding? If you were going to fight our PIRs then why did you charge us almost $400.00 for the information?
PIR: Woodard Complaint
Recently Former Councilman Bill Woodard filed an ethics complaint against current councilman Burt Thakur. We filed a copy of the complaint, and they sent it to the Attorney General. Now the city is claiming Attorney-Client Privilege. They can withhold that and release a copy of the complaint and what was in the complaint but instead of being transparent they are now trying to claim OH IT IS A SECRET.
PIR: FIRE CHIEF RECRUITMENT
We filed a PIR over a month ago for copies of all public records relating to recruitment, executive search, evaluation, interviewing, selection and hiring process for the position of Fire Chief for the City of Frisco, including the search conducted by any outside recruitment or executive-search firm. We also requested a copy of each Applicant: Resumes/CVs. Cover letters. Candidate profiles.
The city is claiming the information we are asking for (1) contains highly intimate facts about employees’ affairs (i.e. personal financial, medical, family and/or related information) such that its release would be highly objectionable to a reasonable person, and (2) is of no legitimate concern to the public.
We have no issue with the city withholding what is allowed by law. We are not asking for an applicant’s financial, medical history or family information. The excuse the city uses has no legitimate concern to the public would be true if the Fire Fighters issues had not been so public the last few years. One of their biggest concerns has been leadership so it makes it very relevant.
Is what we wrote in our article Fire Chief Search – The Fix Is In true? I mean why would the city go to this extent to hide a resume unless there are no resumes, no search firm, and a process they allegedly may have circumvented?
Transparency Isn’t a Slogan. It’s an Obligation.
To be clear, the Texas Public Information Act allows governmental bodies to seek an Attorney General’s decision when they believe an exception to disclosure may apply. That process is legal. But the fact that a government can seek to withhold information does not mean residents should stop asking why. Which exceptions are being claimed? What specific harm would disclosure cause? Are these requests genuinely necessary to protect confidential information, or are they making public access to government records more difficult than it needs to be? Those are fair questions, and Frisco residents deserve answers.
The responsibility for transparency does not rest solely with city staff or the legal department. The mayor and City Council are the elected officials entrusted with overseeing city government and representing the people who pay the bills. They should be asking how often record requests are being referred to the Attorney General, how much taxpayer money is being spent on those disputes, which categories of records are repeatedly challenged, and whether the city’s approach is consistent with its public promises of openness.
If transparency is a priority, why isn’t the City Council demanding a clear accounting of the city’s public-information practices?
Residents should not have to fight their way through layers of legal review just to understand how their government operates. Public records belong to the public, subject to the legitimate exceptions established by law. Transparency should be the starting point, not a public relations slogan trotted out when convenient.
And here is the bigger problem: every time the city seeks to withhold records, the public is left to wonder what officials are so determined to protect from disclosure. That question alone does not prove wrongdoing, and a referral to the Attorney General does not automatically mean information is being improperly suppressed. But repeated referrals, particularly when they involve matters of substantial public interest, deserve scrutiny rather than blind acceptance.
Mayor and City Council, the question is simple: How can you credibly claim to lead a transparent government if residents continually have to challenge the government’s willingness to release public information?
Frisco Chronicles is not asking for special treatment, it is about accountability, access to public records, and a government that understands whom it serves. The city works for its residents, not the other way around.
In the May 2027 Election, ask candidates what Transparency means to them? Will they support putting meetings on camera for residents to see the recording? Will they push for the more records that are requested to be released. Transparency is not measured by how often elected officials use the word. It is measured by what they disclose, what they explain, and whether they welcome public scrutiny even when the questions are uncomfortable.
Lastly, who recommends a request go to the AG? If the City Attorney makes that decision, then we need to ask if that is a conflict of interest. The law firm makes more money off the city taxpayers for each one they recommend being sent to the AG. Why would the attorney’s office not push for everything to go to the AG’s for a ruling.
If Frisco’s government has nothing to hide, then it should have no reason to fear legitimate public scrutiny. The residents deserve a government that proves its commitment to transparency through its actions, not merely one that advertises it.
Disclaimer This article is written as opinion, commentary, and personal interpretation based on publicly available records, meeting observations, agenda materials, and information heard from community sources. Any statements involving motives, intent, conflicts of interest, contracts, relationships, or behind-the-scenes activity should be understood as alleged, suspected, or opinion unless directly supported by cited public records. Readers are encouraged to review any linked materials, attend public meetings, request records, and form their own conclusions. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as a final statement of fact about any person’s legal conduct, criminal behavior, or ethical violations.
Summer is over but the heat still has things percolating in Frisco. It is time to break down some events that happened over the summer.
Over the summer you may have seen the post from the Frisco Police Department regarding the Frisco Athletic Center Robbery. It was posted on July 1st and reads “On June 29, 2026, at approximately 8:00 p.m., Frisco Police responded to a robbery involving a firearm that occurred in the parking lot at the Frisco Athletic Center (FAC).”
The post detailed how the robbery occurred following a pre-arranged meeting at the FAC between two parties. One party apparently left in a blue and white Ford Bronco before officers arrived. Officers learned the Bronco belonged to a nearby resident and later located the Bronco at a fast-food restaurant a few miles from the FAC. Officers interviewed the people associated with the vehicle and learned the person with the handgun was not there.
The shocking part is when they announced that with the assistance of detectives and school resource officers, the preliminary investigation revealed that the individuals involved were juveniles enrolled in Frisco ISD. The post closed by saying, “All parties identified in the incident will be held accountable for their actions.”
You can imagine the community’s shock and concern when they learn JUVENILES ENROLLED IN FRISCO ISD were allegedly involved. In my gut something did not add up, and I had several questions.
What was the pre-arranged meeting for? Facebook Marketplace Sale? Drugs?
What fast-food restaurant did they find the Bronco at? There were no posts on social media asking why there is a police presence at a fast-food restaurant parking lot. Frisconians are nosey so there would be a post somewhere.
How did they immediately know it was juveniles and that they were enrolled in Frisco ISD?
We filed an open records request for all documents related to the case and agreed they could redact any information relating to the juveniles involved however they still sent out request to the Texas Attorney General to keep the info from the public. Why?
That was when I got an email from a parent who had several details on the incident because they were picking up someone nearby and when they saw the commotion they listened to the police scanner from 8pm to 8:36pm.
All of the following details are ALLEGED and have not been corroborated due to Frisco PD holding the incident documents from our Public Information Request.
Allegedly the 8PM MEET UP was a drug deal for Oxi! The Oxi dealer was supposedly driving a blue Bronco with a white top. The driver was a black male with an Afro, his passenger a black male with dreads in a red sweatshirt was carrying the oxi. The Bronco pulled up to the planned meeting spot, which happened to be right in front of the FAC which has cameras outside that supposedly captured the entire exchange.
Allegedly the BUYER walked up to the car (passenger seat side) and opened the backpack to pick up the goods and handed over a wad of cash. Supposedly the dealer counted the cash which was short of the agreed amount. A verbal exchange ensued, then the dealer pulls a gun and demands the backpack at gunpoint (ie. Armed robbery).
Supposedly the Bronco then drives off, and the kid (the buyer) goes inside and reports to the FAC staff he was robbed at gunpoint, and it was reported to the police. Duh!
According to the Frisco Chronicles tipster, based on the police scanner, Frisco PD immediately tracked the Bronco with FLOCK cameras and tracked it east on Wade, to south on Ohio, towards 121. It was announced on the police scanner the plates came back to a house on Lily Pad Lane (corner of 380 and 423).
These details made much more sense and are very different than the summary posted by Frisco Police Department. The questions are not going away simply because summer is over.
If the preliminary investigation truly established that juveniles enrolled in Frisco ISD were involved, then the public deserves to know what happened next. Were arrests made? Were charges referred to the Denton County District Attorney? Was the matter handled through the juvenile justice system? Or was this quietly turned over to Frisco ISD and left there?
And perhaps the bigger question is why the public version of the incident appears so thin when the alleged circumstances, if accurate, are anything but ordinary.
A reported armed robbery involving a firearm, alleged narcotics, juveniles, a pre-arranged meeting, surveillance cameras and FLOCK camera tracking is not exactly a minor parking-lot misunderstanding. Yet residents were given a carefully packaged summary and when Frisco Chronicles filed a PIR for the case file and underlying records, Frisco PD sought an Attorney General ruling rather than simply providing the releasable portions with juvenile information redacted.
That raises another question: What exactly is being protected?
To be clear, the allegations provided by our source remain allegations. We have not independently verified the alleged drug transaction, the identities of the people involved, the alleged weapon, or what was captured on surveillance video. That is precisely why public records matter. Journalism should not have to rely on a police scanner, a concerned parent and an anonymous tipster to piece together what happened during an alleged armed robbery in a public parking lot.
And this is where the phrase “all parties identified in the incident will be held accountable” deserves some follow-up. Accountable how? Accountability is not a slogan for a Facebook post. It is a process. It means determining what happened, identifying who was responsible, referring appropriate cases for prosecution, and allowing the public to understand the disposition of a serious incident without exposing protected information about juveniles.
Nobody is asking Frisco PD to publish the names of children. Nobody is asking for protected juvenile records. Frisco Chronicles is asking for the releasable facts.
What happened? What charges, if any, were filed? Was the case referred to the District Attorney? Was anyone arrested or detained? Was Frisco ISD involved? And what happened to the investigation after the initial police response?
Those are reasonable questions for a community to ask.
Frisco has spent years cultivating an image as one of the safest cities in America. There is nothing wrong with being proud of that reputation. But a “safest city” designation should never become a reason to avoid uncomfortable questions. If anything, a city that takes public safety seriously should welcome scrutiny and demonstrate that its system works even when the facts are embarrassing, complicated or inconvenient.
Transparency does not tarnish Frisco’s reputation. Hiding behind the reputation does.
So summer may be over, but this story isn’t. The public deserves the facts, not the polished version. And until those records are released or the appropriate authorities explain what happened to this case, there are still more questions than answers.
That is not accountability. That is unfinished business.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to report on matters of public record and public interest. If additional information becomes available, including the dismissal of charges, acquittal, or other developments, this article may be updated accordingly.
This article is written as opinion, commentary, and personal interpretation based on publicly available records, tipster information, meeting observations, agenda materials, and information we received from community sources. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as a final statement of fact about any person’s legal conduct, criminal behavior, or ethical violations. Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.
Frisco is one of the oldest cities in the metroplex and over the years we have not stopped growing! Every day you see more modern buildings going up and more new developments along the Tollway. From the PGA to The Star there is always something to do! BUT, WHAT ABOUT MAIN? WHAT ABOUT THE HEART OF OUR CITY?
Just beyond the glamour and stadium lights of Toyota Stadium sits a unique and historic downtown. The downtown Rail District is home to an eclectic group of independent, locally owned restaurants and businesses. The district boasts unique street murals and one-of-a-kind shops. This historically preserved area offers visitors a glimpse into the “Real Frisco,” not the Touristy Frisco. The Rail district is surrounded by residents who enjoy living in the area and is home to locally owned small-town businesses that have invested in our community for YEARS. Now, they need the CITY TO INVEST IN THEM!
Yes, downtown needed to be REVITALIZED, that we can all agree on. It has taken the city DECADES to come up with a plan, and now they are moving right along! HOWEVER, residents and local business owners are asking COULD THE CITY HAVE GONE ABOUT IT A DIFFERENT WAY? The impact on these small businesses has been devastating! These are locals who have invested in Frisco for years, paid taxes, and now they are in trouble because of REVITALIZATION. It is time for them to realize the impact on downtown businesses and that it is NOT NATURAL. It HAS BEEN CREATED by OUR CITY! KEY POINT: The trouble they are in is not because of the economy; it is the IMPACT OF THE CONSTRUCTION that is #DestoryingMain!
The people finally had enough. And no, not the “enough” where you write a passive-aggressive Facebook comment while sipping your venti latte—this was real, in-the-flesh frustration. Residents and small business owners lined up one after another at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Stepping up to the microphone, voices cracking between anger and heartbreak, to say what everyone driving down Main Street already knows: Main is broken, Businesses are broken, and it is time for the Council to stop pretending it’s fine.
Citizens Input: Main Street, or Main Mess?
FACT: Main is supposed to be the beating heart of Frisco. Instead, it’s looking more like endless traffic, crumbling infrastructure, and the ever-growing list of businesses just barely hanging on. Main isn’t thriving—it’s BARELY surviving.
The people who spoke didn’t come armed with consultants, shiny renderings, or buzzwords like “synergy corridors.” They came with lived experience: the store owner whose sales have dropped because customers don’t want to fight the chaos to park or try to cross the street without a Frogger-level survival plan. Main used to be a place you wanted to stroll on a Friday night.
LIMIT THE TIME
It started with Jeff Cheney looking for a motion to limit the time to speak from 5 minutes to 3 minutes (because there were more than 10 people). Keating, who hopes to be your next Mayor (remember that) was the first to motion to “CUT THE TIME,” which was seconded by Livingston. These are local businesses, and you can’t take 5 minutes to hear each one of them?
Next, Mayor Jeff Cheney did exactly what Mayor Jeff Cheney always does (side note: we are reaching out to the Texas Municipal League to see if our mayor may have violated the open meetings act), talking before anyone had taken the microphone to discuss an item NOT ON THE AGENDA! Why? He announced the city planned to allocate $500,000 towards Main, and they will hold a public discussion sometime around October 7th.
The Voices of Frisco Business Owners & Residents:
First Up: Erik Colberg spoke as a resident who lives in the Rail District
Lee Gonzales – Owner of La Finca Coffee & Bakery located at 7511 Main Street #150
Randy’s plea brought tears to the eyes of many sitting in the council chambers. Randy’s started his businesses here in 1993 and today Randy’s Steakhouse sits in the Old Victorian Style Home along Main Street that used to belong to Frisco native Vivian McCallum. The impact has devastated his business.
Steve Anderson – Music Services located at 6726 West Main St
Jason Taylor – Owner of Endur3Bikes located at 6699 Main St
Rich Vana– Chef/Owner of Heritage Table located at 7110 Main St
Samar & Luna Binat – Owner of La Suprema Market located at 6726 Main St, Ste 100
Taylor Lattery: Frisco Music Store
Scott Hoffner – Owner of Didi’s Downtown located at 7210 W. Main St
Local Frisco Resident: Paul Jessen
Local Rail District Resident: Brittnay Colberg
Council’s Response: Insert Shrug Emoji
Mayor Cheney (as usual) took his time to respond. The Texas Open Meetings Act states: The city council shall not deliberate on any item that is not on the agenda, and for such an item, members of council may either: (1) make a statement of fact regarding the item; (2) make a statement concerning the policy regarding the item; or (3) propose that the item be placed on a future agenda. As we have said before, we believe Cheney continually violates this during citizen input because he is not making a statement of fact, he is not talking about a policy he is pontificating his opinion.
As for the rest of the council, well, Keating wants a T-shirt! That will be good clickbait for his Mayoral Campaign website (once he announces his BIG secret)! As for the rest, the reaction was predictable. Council sat nodding politely, practicing their best “I’m listening” faces while probably drafting their next campaign slogans in their heads. Because what’s the use of listening if it is not a billion-dollar developer!
The Hashtag Heard Around Frisco
The people weren’t asking for magic. They weren’t asking for a monorail or a Disneyland Main Street redo. They were asking for action—basic, common-sense fixes, leadership, and accountability. Instead, what they’ve gotten so far is a year of excuses, construction delays, and much of the time businesses have been non-accessible.
#SAVEMAIN is more than a social media slogan—it’s a rallying cry. It’s the people saying: stop patting yourselves on the back for “economic development wins” when you can’t fix the most visible, most essential street in the city. If the Council won’t act now, when?
Frisco, the people have spoken. They showed up. They demanded better. Now the ball’s in Council’s court. They can either lead—or they can keep ignoring the obvious while the rest of us tweet #SAVEMAIN until our thumbs cramp. Because here’s the truth: the citizens already told you the answer. You just must stop pretending not to hear it.
Residents Should Be Asking…
Why now? For years, the councils have gone back and forth about the redevelopment of downtown Frisco. Why not do this during the Covid shutdown so businesses did not suffer twice?
When this started in June 2024 – what was the expectation for the future?
The businesses who are struggling from this construction – who is knocking on their door to “Buy or Save” their business?
What is a revitalized downtown without the heart of downtown – the businesses?
Stay Tuned for Part 2
Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief. It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary. Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical. Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.
When we dropped Part 1 about John Keating’s not-so-secret bid for Mayor, the inbox lit up like a Christmas tree in July. “Finally!” people said. “Someone’s talking about it!” Well, after a little digging, a little late-night reading of Texas law (because apparently someone has to), we have a few follow-up questions that deserve a big, neon spotlight:
Did our council members just break the law?
Let’s talk about the dreaded “Walking Quorum.” According to the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA), Section E, a quorum isn’t just when everyone’s packed into City Hall pretending to listen. Nope. TOMA makes it crystal clear that you can’t have a series of backroom, back-to-back, whisper-to-whisper communications about city business that add up to a quorum. Doesn’t matter if it’s by text, email, smoke signals, or gossip in the golf cart.
Section 551.143 spells it out: if you, as a public official, knowingly join even one of those off-the-books conversations, and the chain adds up to a quorum discussing city business? Congratulations—you’ve just committed a criminal offense.
ALL COUNCIL DECISIONS (LIKE MPT / DMPT) HAVE TO BE POSTED AND DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC. To be honest, I am not even sure if it is allowed in executive session – we are researching that further! Maybe the city puts it on the agenda under “Employee Deliberations” and the slip in the conversation that they should be having openly in the council meeting for the public to see. Who knows!
Have you ever wondered why when the council comes out of “Closed Executive Session” which seems to take a long time now how they never have any discussions on some key decisions. There was hardly any talk on the Dias about MPT/DMPT – they just went to a vote. Why? Because they had already discussed it! We believe our city council could be using “Executive Session” to hide important conversations that should be PUBLIC. It needs to be investigated by the authorities because right now it looks bad, very bad!
Now, what does that mean in real life?
Official #1 chats with Official #2.
Official #2 slips it over to Official #3. Boom. Illegal. That’s how the law reads.
And here in Frisco? We’ve got text messages. We’ve got John Keating saying he’ll “talk to Angelia.” Funny thing: we never saw those texts. Where’s the paper trail? Did they hop on a quick phone call instead? Did someone “forget” to turn over their emails?
Then we have Keating chatting up Laura Rummel about votes for Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem. We know this because Rummel submitted her text message in response to the PIR Request.
Question 1: Why didn’t John Keating turn over a copy of the communication with Laura Rummel. It clearly meets the PIR request. Laura Rummel turned it in!
Question 2: Where are the conversations between Keating and Pelham? Clearly, they were talking about Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem but neither of them turned in any copies of their messages or emails.
Now add Livingston to the mix, and suddenly we’re not playing with hypotheticals anymore—we’re at four. Livingston, Keating, Pelham, and Rummel. Keating led the charge, talking to Angelia and Rummel, and told Livingston he would talk to them. So, it was clear conversations were happening with Keating being the one bouncing around to the other three. That’s a quorum, folks.
And according to TOMA, that’s not just bad optics—it’s a violation.
Which leads us to a very simple question: How can someone who wants to run for Mayor not know the rules of the Texas Open Meetings Act? And honestly, how can any of them sit on the council and not know this?
If you’re going to lead Frisco, maybe start with knowing what you legally can and can’t do. Just a thought. But hey, we’re just the ones asking the questions.
Hopefully someone reading this knows the Texas Attorney General or Collin County DA because it should be investigated. Stay tuned—because something tells us this story is only starting to unravel.
Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief. It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary. Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical. Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.
In Frisco, secrets don’t stay a secret for long—especially when Frisco Chronicles can file a Public Information Request! Word on the street (and at every coffee shop from La Finca to Summer Moon) is that John Keating has his eyes on the mayor’s seat and plans to run for Mayor! The catch? He’s not exactly shouting it from the rooftops. Even with no formal announcement yet he is talking about it quietly behind the scenes with many different people. If you directly ask him, you get just a wink, a nod, but pay attention to his suspicious uptick in handshakes and photo ops.
Why the hush-hush? Maybe it has something to do with the City of Frisco – Home Rule Charter. Article V covers Nominations and Elections aka Filing for Office. Section 5.02 (2)(G) reads: The office of an incumbent elected city official shall become vacant when the person holding such office files an application to have his name placed on an official ballot as a candidate for any elective public office other than the one such person holds, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
What does all that mean? If John Keating announced he is running for Mayor, he would have to vacate his current seat on council / and his role as Mayor Pro Tem. John Keating is using his current role to have conversations about running for Mayor to gain support.
How do we know John Keating is allegedly running for Mayor? First, let’s travel back to the Tammy Tapes where Tammy says “Well, John sat me down and said he wanted to, you know, he’s like, I’m gonna be running for mayor. I’m like, I know John, I know. And he goes, there are rumors that you are running for mayor. And I said, “Well, those are just rumors.”
Whose Lying? Either Tammy was lying in that conversation, or John is misleading the voters now!
Recently we filed for the text messages between city council members talking about running for mayor, and the positions of Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem. We received messages from 3 council members. We know there is more because we have a copy of a message that was not included in the request from a source. Begs the question, which members of the council are holding their messages?
We compared the messages we received from John Keating and Brian Livingston. We received 16 pages of text messages from Brian Livington and only 2 pages from John Keating. We printed out both sets of messages, then we lined up the text messages that matched each other. The Result: We were able to determine the different parts of the message that our Mayor Pro Tem John Keating, withheld from the request. Everything below is from the Livingston text messages. Anything in “RED” was submitted by John Keating. Anything in “BOLD BLUE” is a question by Frisco Chronicles. Did Keating break the law by withholding parts of his conversation that clearly fit the PIR request and are subject to Public Information?
Tuesday, May 13
John Keating to Brian Livingston: “I had this sent to me last night.” Then it has a picture of the Frisco Chronicles blog called Tammy’s Hot Tea.
Brian Livingston: “Yep. Just checking that you saw it.”
John Keating: Any one can speculate if I’m running for Mayor; and I can say I’m “considering” running for Mayor, so ….
Frisco Chronicles: It appears John Keating, Mayor Pro Tem is using SEMANTICS to hold on to his current seat even though he has every intention of running for Mayor.
Blacked Out Image
John Keating: No, those are her words… There are other people who have said I’m running that I have never talked to…
Keating Continues: That’s like Dan saying he heard I said I’m running, or I told him I’m running, so therefore I’m running and need to resign… Doesn’t work like that for obvious reasons. Exactly what they’re doing now.
Keating Continues: I’m not that stupid, and have been over this more than once with Richard…
Frisco Chronicles: Richard Who? Richard Abernathy the CITY ATTORNEY? The City Attorney represents the CITY not John Keating and we hope the City attorney is not helping him break the rules of our city charter.
Brian Livingston: “HaHa” the comment
John Keating: I’m still “seriously considering” running for Mayor…! (Fireball Emoji)
Brian Livingston: I think you, Shona and Scott all missed a huge opportunity to separate yourselves from each other.
John Keating: I imagine you would support Shona, but I’d love to have you on my team!
Keating Continues:Scojo (Scott Johnson) has no chance. No money, and his ex will sandbag him the whole way…
Keating Continues:Shona is forgotten and out of touch. Coming back as Mayor after three years is asking a lot.
Blacked Out Image
Brian Livingston: They still think Tammy has a shot at being Mayor?
Keating: Thumbs Down Emoji to Livingston’s question
Blacked Out Image
Sunday, June 8 @ 9:15 AM
John Keating: Are you seeking DMPT / MPT? (stands for Deputy Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor Pro Tem)
Brian Livingston: xxx-xxx-xxxx for Jared and Yes, I would like to be MPT for my last year on council. I’m free for lunch tomorrow.
John Keating: Who would be DMPT? I’d support you for MPT, if either me or Angelica could be DMPT?
Keating Continues: I’m not sure where Laura lands with all of this, but under the circumstances, I’d expect her to get crushed next year…
Brian Livingston: I’d prefer you as DMPT and think that would be fun. But I have no problem with Angelia.
John Keating: And I am “seriously considering” running for Mayor, and would certainly love to have TX GOP support! As I’ve said before, I’d support you for county commissioner as Mayor…
Frisco Chronicles: Is this a violation of “Reciprocal Favors” in the City Charter under Section 2-302 Unfair Advancement of Private Interests? It says a city official may not enter into an agreement or understanding with any other person that official actionby the official will be rewarded or reciprocated by the other person, directly or indirectly. Keating clearly states that if Livingston endorses him and supports him for Mayor, then as MAYOR he would support Livingston for County Commissioner. That would be an “official action” in response to support.
John Keating: Let me bounce this off Angelia. She’s on vacation. I know she wants unity, and she’s definitely not on Team Tammy, Jeff, Lorie, Bill…Neither am I…! (smiling emoji)
Frisco Chronicles: Tell us how Angelia really feels Keating!
John Keating: Angelia is proposing MPT for her and DMPT for you, to show unity.
Brian Livingston: No, that shows the status quo.
John Keating: Agree
Brian Livingston: It’s my last year and I just turned the council.
John Keating: She knows I want to run for Mayor, and she will support me. I’m ok with her being DMPT, with you as MPT. I told her I would like to be DMPT until I announce, then I can resign my seat and DMPT, and she can take over…
Frisco Chronicles: It is not “considering” when Keating makes it clear repeatedly to other city officials that he is running – which is a violation of the CITY CHARTER!
Brian Livingston: She was part of kicking me off Budget and Audit, unity would be supporting me now. A split vote isn’t going to look good.
John Keating: I think the unity piece is in Angelia as DMPT, as much as I want it… It would show your magnanimity…
Brian Livingston: After that vote, let’s have dinner and talk about next year. My seat, mayor, etc. Maybe we can go somewhere in McKinney.
John Keating: or AZ…(smiling/laughing emoji)
John Keating: Angelia will take DMPT, but suggests we vote on DMPT first, make sure she gets it, then support you for MPT. You’ll get it either way, as I will promise to support you, so you have the 4 votes you need. More would be nice. Could be 6-0 for you upstairs and downstairs if we do this right…
Brian Livingston: I am fine with that. She not trust me? Have you reached out to Tammy? Should I text Gopal?
John Keating: She feels you villainize her and ran Redmond against her. She had nothing to do with Budget & Audit and couldn’t (not legible)
Brian Livingston: Odds that somehow, I get fucked over for MPT?
Frisco Chronicles: Livingston must have futuristic powers because he knew John, Angelia, and Laura were going to screw him overfrom what it sounds like.
John Keating: I think you’re good to go! Angelia and I are on board.
Brain Livingston: I’ll remember that. I promise.
John Keating: Thumbs Up Emoji
John Keating: And you, Jared, Burt, me support Angelia for DMPT…!
Brian Livingston: Done
John Keating: Brian: MPT & Angelia: DMPT
John Keating: I’d like to get your perspective on Mayor’s race next year. It seems pretty clear Jared P will endorse Shona, along with the Colberg’s several others. IMHO, bringing Will and Shona back is a bad idea!
Brian Livingston: I think right now it’s a dead heat. Nobody is doing anything to differentiate themselves. Probably between you and Shona unless someone jumps in and surprises us. You need to separate yourself from Jeff without going nuclear. Look mayoral and statesman like. Your biggest advantage is that you are a sitting elected official. Need to solidify GOP support. A lot can change in a year. We’ve just seen that.
John Keating: I am thinking about MPT, so we should talk. I’m thinking if I want to run for Mayor, I should be MPT. If I do run for Mayor and lose, this would be my last year…! I do want to be Mayor and would endorse you for county commish, that hasn’t changed.
Frisco Chronicles: I do want to be Mayor! John Keating again proves his word is useless. Everything is about him, only him and no one else matters
Keating Continues: I am surprised to hear about the social media stuff. Not sure what’s driving that or why this would happen now…? Is there another Whistleblower article???
Frisco Chronicles: How would Livingston know if there is another Whistleblower article coming? He has nothing to do with Whistleblower!
Brian Livingston: Nope people just started calling me saying Jeff unfriended them so I looked on Facebook.
Friday June 13 @ 11:24 AM
John Keating: At the same time, I want to honor my commitment to you, and distance myself from “Team Tammy”…
Frisco Chronicles: Clearly, John Keating does not understand the term “honoring my commitment,” and of course, he wants to distance himself from “Team Tammy.”
Brian Livingston: I’ll be honest, I was taken aback by that text. This is my last year no matter what and I think I have earned the MPT. While I like and respect you, that would definitely change our political relationship at this point.
John Keating: I’m concerned about Shona running for Mayor and what level of support she will get. It seems pretty clear JP will support her. I don’t want to look foolish supporting you for MPT, and then you endorse her. Not a good look for me…
At a US Army luncheon…
Frisco Chronicles: Welcome to the Keating Show, where everything is about … Keating!
Brian Livingston: I think you should do what you think is best. I’m not going to trade an endorsement for MPT as that is unethical (not saying you suggested that in any way). Most of my thoughts about this don’t need to be texted and probably not even said. Just remember you gave me your word in front of Burt. Have a Happy Father’s Day weekend.
Frisco Chronicles: This is the best statement in the whole text thread. Livingston makes clear it is borderline unethical – but that is the Frisco Way!
John Keating: Yes, agree. Happy Father’s Day!
Monday, June 30th @ 2:30 PM
Brian Livingston: Rumor is that Tammy is going to run for your seat when you announce for Mayor. You have picked someone already?
John Keating: Rob Altman has asked about it. I’d like to get TX GOP support for me and him, maybe for Ann Anderson – she wants to run for your seat… I’m obviously not supporting Tammy for anything…
Brian Livingston: Colberg may step in and if she does, I’ll probably support her. No idea for what seat. I just want us to have a head start on Tammy.
John Keating: LR is pissed about DMPT
Black Out Image
Brian Livingston: Also, you and Altman will need to work on Elad and grassroots since you supported Gopal. Plenty of time just can’t waste it.
Black Out Image
Brian Livingston: Between us, I get really flexible on things after getting MPT.
Frisco Chronicles: Ding, ding, ding – Brian Livingston is correct. It was on the agenda! It doesn’t take a genius to know that.
Let’s Break It Down
Is John Keating Running For Mayor? Yes! He has made that clear to Tammy Meinershagen (which she repeated), he has made it clear to Brian Livingston (based on text messages). Then we have his statement “She (referring to Angelia Pelham) knows I want to run for Mayor, and she will support me.” If you have made it clear to Angelia Pelham that you are running for Mayor, she should be calling for you to step down. Is she bending the rules for you?
Residents should be calling on the City Attorney, City Manager and City Council and enforcing the City Charter that requires him to step down!
Is John Keating Mayoral?No! When you represent our city (even in private) you should hold yourself to a high standard. Talking shit about current and former council members and previous employees is inappropriate. Saying Shona Sowell is forgotten, out of touch and asking a lot to come back after three years is disgraceful especially when you know the reason she chose to step down was to focus on her personal health and her battle to beat breast cancer. Just one thought, Mr. Keating at least she had the courage to step away.
Saying Scojo (aka Scott Johnson) has no chance because he has no money, and his ex will sandbag him, is also disgraceful. Whatever Johnson did in private is none of our business, unlike YOU, MR. KEATING, who got caught in a community public pool on a holiday weekend with a woman who was not your wife! Wouldn’t it be interesting if Keating’s EX ever got the guts to sandbang him? Gloating that his wife will sandbag him is the pot calling the kettle black! Also, it is not MAYORAL, nor are posts like joking around about getting naked.
Then let’s talk about your comments on Laura Rummel, “under the circumstances, I’d expect her to get crushed next year…” What circumstances are you referring to Mr. Keating? While we don’t disagree with you, we are not running for office. Have you said this to her face? Probably not! Two-faced statements are not very becoming of a Mayor.
Keating’s behavior over the last several years has been far from Mayoral! Then he wants to sit on this thrown and judge others – is that who want leading the city?
Keating wants the local GOP support. Keating knows how to hob knob with the establishment liars, but both theCollin and Denton GOPs are more “grassroots” republicans. Keating has endorsed democrats and donated to democrats, which is a HUGE party NO-NO! He has done nothing over the years to establish a relationship with the grassroots republicans. He is the definition of what many call a RINO!
Quid Pro Quo Offer. When John said he was “seriously considering” running for Mayor and would love to have Livingston’s support, and in return he would support him as Mayor for Denton County Commissioner, he violated the City Charter again. The City Charter (Ch 2, Sec 2-302) clearly states (2) Reciprocal favors: A city official may not enter into an agreement or understanding with any other person that official action by the official will be rewarded or reciprocated by the other person, directly or indirectly. Keating said if you support me, then AS MAYOR (which is an official capacity) he would support Brian. That is probably why Brian quickly responded that his text was borderline unethical!
Closing Thoughts
Keating’s playing the “mystery candidate” card. By keeping it quiet, he avoids early scrutiny, dodges critics who’d love a head start, and keeps potential rivals guessing. Think of it as political poker: he’s hiding his hand until the pot’s just right. But let’s be honest—Frisco isn’t buying the act. When a politician suddenly cares it’s not out of pure civic joy. It’s campaigning in disguise.
Keating is lying to VOTERS and we have said it before this council runs with Rules For Thee, Not For Me! Is it MAYORAL to lie to residents about your plan to run for Mayor so you can continue to hold on to your seat on council? Is it MAYORAL to negotiate the Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem positions?
At this point, we are asking the City Manager and City Attorney to have John Keating step down because clearly, he is running for Mayor. It is not “considering” when he makes it clear to multiple people he is running. It is a violation of the CITY CHARTER – it is time for the CITY OF FRISCO to do the right thing!We are also calling on the City Attorney, City Manager, and City Council to respond to the PIR’s in full. Did Keating violate the law by leaving quite a bit of his conversation out of the response that fit the PIR request? Why would he do that? Is he trying to cover something up? Is that Mayoral? Also, we would like to know if his comments violated the city charter section on “Reciprocal Favors?”
Stay tuned—because the only thing more entertaining than the race itself will be watching how long he can keep pretending he’s not in it.
Disclaimer: This blog includes satire, parody, and comic relief. It contains summarized accounts created solely for humor and commentary. Any resemblance to real events is either coincidental or intentionally satirical. Reader discretion — and a sense of humor — are advised.
Back in November you may have read our blog, Frisco – The City That Burns Bodies where we told you about local residents taking to Citizens Input at the November 21st city council meeting to discuss their concerns about the new Ridgeview West Memorial Park Crematory owned by Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow, Inc.
Even though the Texas Open Meeting Act states “the governmental body (AKA City of Frisco) MAY NOT DELIBERATE on any item from public comment that is not on the agenda the city continues to break the rule, meeting after meeting. The Act clearly states what they can do which is (1) make a statement of fact regarding the item; (2) make a statement concerning the policy regarding the item; or (3) propose that the item be placed on a future agenda.
At the city council meeting that night Cheney opens Citizens Input by acknowledging the large number of citizens who are there to speak. Then he continues, “so the speakers have the benefit of understanding all the facts the staff has a prepared a presentation,” followed by Jonathan Hubbard, Assistant Director of Development Services who took to the podium. Then RICHARD ABERNATHY, THE CITY ATTORNEY speaks about the regulation and omissions from a crematorium, and this is where the problem begins, but we will get back to that.
Next Cheney asks Jonathan to confirm that this crematory was approved before the neighborhood was ever contemplated and that all this information has been available to the public on the city’s website since it had been approved. STOP, JEFF CHENEY! REGULAR PEOPLE who are considering buying a home don’t go research the city’s planning and development that has been approved nearby over the last 10 years. As far as the city website, it is NOT USER FRIENDLY for the REGULAR PEOPLE to find information and most are not going to pay $90 for a PIR. Hell Sir, most people don’t even know what key words to look for in the search tools to find such information.
All in all, after opening citizens input at 40:09, the city held the floor over 10 minutes to “school residents’ which ended at 51:13. FYI, that is not a statement that is called a full presentation to pre-empt citizens at public input. Then NOT SHOCKINGLY, Bobblehead Bill Woodard mentions they have over 10 cards for public input and in response to the city’s policies and to be respectful of everyone’s time, he proposed citizens input should be cut from 5 min per person to 3 min per person.
THAT’S RIGHT FOLKS, they don’t want to hear from you the CITIZEN who Cheney says is at the top of theCITY’S ORGANIZATIONAL CHART! They can use up 10+ minutes of Citizens Input, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE BREAKING THE OPEN MEETING ACT BY HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT AN ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA, but you SIR/MADAM need to hurry up and get it done in 3 minutes or less.
At Frisco Chronicles we have told you over and over about how the city likes to school or educate us stupid citizens, we have told you about how they are breaking the open meeting act, we have told you how they are withholding PIR requests and delaying PIR requests. Just last week we told you how the city HR Department forged documents and spent $88,000 to do a needless investigation.
Well now, let’s get back to earlier where we mentioned a problem with the City Attorney, Richard Abernathy speaking. Why is it a problem? The City Attorney is DOUBLE DIPPING and has a major conflict-of-interest. What could that CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST BE? Well, did you know his firm represents THE CREMATORY! Yep, HOLD YOUR TOUPEE’S FOLKS, the city attorney’s law firm Abernathy, Roeder, Boyd & Hullett located on Redbud Blvd in McKinney represented Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow, Inc., A Texas Corporation in a lawsuit against The State of Texas in 2021. While the case is closed today, the fact that they represented the corporation in which the citizens are there to speak against probably means HE SHOULD HAVE RECUSED HIMSELF! Whose interest is he looking out for? Not the citizens! His job is to protect his clients, which in this case are the City of Frisco and Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow, Inc.
Frisco Residents should be beyond angry at this point, they should be done right pissed off! The city continues to waste tax dollars, put developers before residents, break rules and treat citizens as if they are stupid. When will it stop?
Other References
NBCDFW: Controversy over new crematorium in Frisco
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