Most cities and corporations use executive and senior-level search firms to hire the best of the best for important positions. According to open records, Affion Public appears to be one of the City’s go-to firms for executive and senior-level searches.
More importantly, recent 2026 recruiting activity shows Affion Public actively handling City of Frisco searches, including the Assistant City Manager search. A “Careers in Government” listing also identifies Affion Public as the recruiting firm for a City of Frisco executive search. The use of outside search firms is confirmed by the city’s website which reads, the city’s personnel policy uses outside search firms for executive, senior professional, and management positions when its normal recruiting process doesn’t quickly produce suitable candidates.
One important distinction: they don’t appear to handle most ordinary City jobs. The city generally recruits those positions directly through its own HR department and online application system.
Questionable Hiring Search
Back in April of 2026, when the city announced Fire Chief Lee Glovers retirement, Frisco City Manager Wes Pierson told Local Profile, “He will begin searching immediately for the next chief.”
According to information provided to Frisco Chronicles the City of Frisco hired Clear Career Professionals to conduct a nationwide search for the next Frisco Fire Chief. Frisco Chronicles knows the city likes to do things the “The Frisco Way” when it comes to operations. That is why Clear Career Professionals was a surprise when Affion Public was the city’s go-to-firm for years.
The fact is, a change in vendor can be perfectly legitimate, but the reason for the change may still be worth public scrutiny, leaving Frisco Chronicles with some important questions.
Question 1: Will the search be nationwide? Clear Career Professionals website describes it as a Texas-based professional recruiting and consulting firm. So, why not use a nationwide search firm? Will they publish the top 5 finalists for the job and hold a community meet and greet?
Question 2: When did the “SEARCH” start? Frisco Chronicles has not been able to determine the “TRUE” start date when Clear Career Professionals started the search process. Remember Wes Pierson said in April 2026, he will begin searching immediately for the next chief. The Clear Career Professionals website shows they posted the position on August 15, 2026.
Frisco Chronicles wants to know why the position was not posted on the Texas Commission on Fire Protection’s website? We did a search on August 22, 2026, and there is no job listed for City of Frisco?
Clear Career Professionals, a Texas-based firm, should know to post the job on the Texas Commission on Fire Protection if they have search experience in Fire Service Organizations. Why the delay in posting it to TCFP Careers? Frisco Chronicles did a new search today and guess what we found .. the job is now posted.
Question 3: Was the city aware of any potential relationships that could be an issue when choosing Clear Career Professionals? According to Frisco Chronicles sources inside the city a few have raised concerns about the selection of the firm, its leadership, and relationships involving people connected to the Frisco Fire Department.
At the bottom of the job posting, it lists the names of Michael Boese – President of Clear Career Professionals and Daniel T. Kistner as a Vice President. Immediately we wanted to know if Daniel Kistner doing the search was related to Frisco Fires Assistant Fire Chief, Kelly Kistner. From what we found there is NO FAMILIA RELATIONSHIP between the two gentlemen, however Kelly Kistner’s name will come up again in our investigation.
The Relationship Puzzle
Frisco Chronicles is going to put together a puzzle for you of these relationships. Daniel Kistner (search firm) previously served as the Assistant Fire Chief for the City of Garland. Les Stephens also began his career at the City of Garland. Why does that matter? If our source is correct in that Les Stephens is the front runner for the job, Frisco Chronicles wants to know if Daniel Kistner picked Stephens because he is the most qualified or because of a 30-year friendship. Was Stephens chosen because he was the best candidate or because he is Kistner’s buddy?
Remember the name Kelly Kistner, the current Assistant Fire Chief in Frisco, well we have learned he worked for Les Stephens (leading candidate), previously when he was with the San Marcos Fire Department. The source says they are good friends and that Kelly Kistner is allegedly quietly advocating for the Former San Marcos Fire Chief Les Stephens.
Does the relationship between Daniel Kistner and Les Stephens have anything to do with why Clear Career firm was chosen? Frisco Chronicles has not independently established that the recruitment firm was selected specifically because of any relationship with Les Stephens, nor have we established or believe that Kelly Kistner has attempted to influence the selection process. However, the influence of relationships is a legitimate public-interest question in Frisco based on its history.
Question 4: Is Les Stephens, the Former Fire Chief of the San Marcos Fire Department a front runner in the search?
Les Stephens career speaks for itself. He spent 15 years with the San Marcos Department and has been recognized as Texas Fire Chief of the Year and inducted into the Texas Fire Service Hall of Honor. He seems well respected by others in the Texas Fire Services industry. Frisco Chronicles also learned the Les Stephens applied for the Frisco Fire Chief position in 2023 before they appointed Goofy Glover as the new Chief. Stephens later withdrew his application because he worked out a deal with San Marcos to stay on as Fire Chief.
Residents, taxpayers and possibly some fire fighters would like to know where he stands on the new 24/72 or 48/96 work model? While San Marcos already works on a flex schedule we have been told by a San Marcos local that Les Stephens did not like the flex models as much his Assistant Chief. So, where does Les Stephens stand on some type of flex work model?
Can Les Stephens rebuild a department as described in the 2011 Climate Report? He is walking to a department that was led for years by bad leadership, then in 2012 new leadership came in but the bad leaders still on the payroll worked against him behind the scenes and after he left, they brought back the leadership, being Lee Glover, who was mentioned in the 2011 Climate Report as part of the problem in the department.
When Glover was named Fire Chief in 2023, internally the department fell back years hurting our front-line firefighters. Ordering more bulky apparatuses which have a hard time maneuvering our city streets and traffic. Promotions were handed out based on friendships and not actual qualifications. The act of managing by fear and intimidation came right back up to the surface.
Does Les Stephens have what it takes to rebuild a department that is 2 to 3 times the size he has ever managed? A 2020 article by KXAN discussed how Stephens would like to hire 33 new firefighters to keep up with growth at the time in San Marcos. The article states, “Right now, the department staffs a minimum of 17 firefighters per 24-hour shift (though a typical shift is 22 firefighters).” Compare that to Frisco who needs a minimum of 62 per shift.
We would also like to know the plan Les Stephens has to rebuild the fire fighter’s relationship with the city management and city council members which has been in turmoil for several years now. Our city leaders know when to show up for a selfie with the department, but they don’t actually know how to stand up for the fire department
It sounds like Les Stephens is the front runner because he aligns with what Wes Peirson wants which is the same reason San Marcos maybe happy to see him go… As an Anti-48/96 Fire Chief.
If Les Stephens is the new fire Chief – we will welcome him. However, I would still like to know if he was chosen because he is the best of the best, because he has solutions to Frisco’s issues, that he will be a voice for our firefighters and residents. I hope he is not leading the pack because he has relationships with the recruiting firm and an Assistant Fire Chief already in the city and he will be a YES MAN FOR WES PIERSON.
Final Thoughts
We have hired a city manager with no experience running a city the size of Frisco which was a mistake. Now the city is considering hiring a Fire Chief who has never managed a fire department of this size. The concern with that is Frisco operates ten stations (62 minimum staff) and staffs eight engine/quint companies, three truck companies, a heavy rescue, HAZMAT/EOC unit, seven ambulances and a squad around the clock over 64 square miles.
Compare that to San Marcos which operates six stations and describes six fire districts covering about 39.9 square miles. Its website says it has three engines and three quints, with a minimum of three firefighters on each apparatus. Stephens would be walking to a considerably larger and more heavily resourced operation.
ISO Comparison
Frisco has maintained an ISO Class 1 rating since 2000. That puts Frisco among the very highest-rated fire departments nationally and in Texas. Stephens in San Marcos maintained a Class 2 in most of the city, with some areas classified 2X or 10 because of distance from hydrants or stations
EMS
One of the bigger changes is EMS. Frisco’s Fire Department operates its own EMS apparatus. Its current configuration includes seven ambulances staffed around the clock. San Marcos is different. The city’s website says that while ambulances are housed at San Marcos fire stations, San Marcos-Hays County EMS operates the ambulances.
Current Challanges
Les Stephens on paper looks like a great candidate for a Fire Chief but maybe for a slightly smaller department. Frisco Chronicles is having a hard time believing the city conducted a Nationwide Search for a Fire Chief and Les Stephens is the supposed front runner.
The operational challenge alone is enough to be concerned, but these Chiefs have never dabbled in internal city politics in a place like Frisco. From this point of view, it appears Wes Pierson the YES MAN to the council is trying to hire his own YES MAN to himself in a Fire Chief.
Lastly, taxpayers have the right to know if Frisco is conducting a genuinely open nationwide search, or is the search process simply being used to formalize a decision that has effectively already been made? Those are two very different things. The city should be able to answer that question with documents, not assurances. Frisco taxpayers are paying for the recruitment process. Frisco firefighters will work for the person selected for many years to come. The next Chief could influence everything from department culture and staffing to scheduling, recruitment, retention and the future direction of the department.
If the process is clean, transparent and competitive, the city should have nothing to hide. If it isn’t, the public deserves to know before the name is announced, not after.
As for my money, I am betting the city will hire Kelly Kistner, another yes man as the new Fire Chief. That would be another failure to add to Wes Pierson’s list.
UPDATE: A source told us David Jones out of Addison was a top runner for the job. Frisco Chronicles wrote about it however we have heard directly from David Jones via Facebook who said he is in no way involved in the hiring process for a new Frisco Fire Chief. We removed his name from the front runner paragraph above.
Disclaimer This article is written as opinion, commentary, and personal interpretation based on publicly available records, meeting observations, agenda materials, and information I have 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 the 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.
While the search is on for the new Frisco Fire Chief you can be sure that Frisco Firefighters are advocating for a Chief who supports 4 persons staffing and the 48/96 Model. What is the 48/96 model? We asked ourselves the same question we heard them speak about it at citizen’s input.
The Frisco Firefighters Association has been pushing the Frisco Fire Department to move from its current 24/48 schedule to 48/96 schedule. For context, 48/96 means 48 hours on duty followed by 96 hours off which equals essentially two consecutive 24-hour shifts and then four days off.
Meanwhile, City Manager, Wes Pierson has been very upfront he is against the 48/96 model. City Manager, Wes Pierson has been very upfront he is against the 48/96 model and after Fire Fighters talked about it recently at Citizen Input his response this was an HR issue that needed to be discussed privately.
What is the 48/96 Schedule?
Across Texas, fire departments have been moving toward the 48/96 model in recent years. Locally here in DFW McKinney, Richardson, Flower Mound, Lewisville, Carrollton, Denton, Allen, and Grand Prairie all operate on a 48/96 model.
Just this year Mesquite went shifted to the new 48/96 model. Mesquite officials also say the change was overwhelmingly well received, and they have not seen a drop-in service.
Then there is Plano. It is the FWB understanding that Plano is moving in the opposite direction from the traditional schedules. It is transitioning from 24/48 to 24/72, with the transition occurring over several years and additional firefighters being hired to make it possible.
The Frisco Chronicles investigation found evidence that departments like College Station, Sugar Land, Pearland, New Braunfels, Round Rock, Waco, Midland Beaumont, Odessa, Abilene, Brownsville, Klien, San Angelo, DFW Airport, Tyler, McAllen, Longview, Wichita Falls, Woodlands, Bryan, Conroe, Georgetown, Pearland, and Temple also have adopted the 49/96 model.
So, why is Frisco Management so opposed to it?
Models of Proof
College Station is particularly useful for this investigation because it measured the results after implementing 48/96 in November 2024. The city reported an 11.8% decrease in accidents, 28.7% decrease in unscheduled absenteeism, 48.5% increase in training and 93% approval among personnel.
Longview provides another excellent before-and-after example. It had operated 24/48 since 1972, then switched to 48/96 on January 9, 2025, initially as a one-year test. By 2026, its firefighter job posting states that the department is operating on 48/96 model because it helps long term with recruitment.
Should Frisco Switch To the 48/96 Model?
The 48/96 schedule is not simply a scheduling preference. It is a question of what kind of fire department Frisco wants to build for the next generation. A 48/96 schedule would give firefighters 48 hours on duty followed by 96 hours off, creating longer recovery periods and a more predictable work-life balance. For a department asking its firefighters to work one of the most demanding jobs in public service, that matters. Fatigue affects morale, family life, retention and, ultimately, readiness.
Frisco has grown into one of the largest and most sophisticated cities in North Texas. Its fire department should not be stuck treating staffing practices as something that cannot be questioned simply because “that is the way we have always done it.” Apparently, even fire schedules are capable of becoming sacred cows.
The question for city leadership is straightforward: if other departments can successfully operate under a 48/96 model, why shouldn’t Frisco at least seriously evaluate it? There would be legitimate issues to work through. Staffing levels, overtime, coverage, response times, training requirements and budget impacts would all need to be examined. A schedule change should be based on data, not slogans. But Wes Piersons simple refusal to examine the option is just as irresponsible as adopting it without understanding the consequences.
New Fire Chief = Fresh Start
And this is where Frisco’s next fire chief could have an opportunity to make a real difference. A new chief inherits more than trucks, stations and personnel. He or she inherits a department with a culture, a history and firefighters who have spent years watching decisions made above them. The next chief has the opportunity to listen before dictating, to bring firefighters into the conversation and to demonstrate that morale is not merely something mentioned in speeches or employee surveys.
If the 48/96 schedule can improve quality of life, recruitment, retention and morale while maintaining adequate coverage, it deserves a serious look. And if it cannot, firefighters and taxpayers deserve to know exactly why. The next fire chief could make that decision one of the first signs that a new chapter has begun: listen to the people wearing the gear, examine the evidence, and make the decision based on what works best for Frisco.
Wes Piersons Biggest Failure
What Wes Pierson fails to understand is that a strong fire department isn’t built solely with new stations and expensive equipment. It is built by keeping good firefighters, giving them a voice, and making sure they are rested, respected and ready when the alarm sounds. For Frisco, the 48/96 question may be about a schedule. But the bigger question is whether city leadership is willing to rethink the way it does business when the people doing the work tell them there may be a better way.
Wes Pierson has already shut down 4 Person Truck Staffing which the Fire Fighters have been asking for. Both Pierson and several of the current city leaders claimed it would bankrupt the city – yet just this week the City of Celina approved 4-person truck staffing due to the city’s growth. Many North Texas Cities have 4-Person Staffing – yet only Frisco would be affected negatively by it. At least that is what our current YES MAN City Manager, Wes Pierson and several sitting council members want you to believe even though they have NO FIRE SERVICE EXPERIENCE.
For transparency purposes, Frisco Chronicles has never like nor trusted the new City Manager, Wes Pierson. Why? Remember Pierson came to Frisco after serving as the City Manager for the Town of Addison from 2016 to 2020. According to GovSalaries.com his annual wage was $294,102. Residents of Frisco are being asked to trust a man who previously managed “A TOWN” with a population of 17,247 people that covered approximately 4.4 square miles with a growth rate of .3% annually with what is best for Frisco’s future. Compare that to Frisco which covers 69.19 square miles with a tollway dividing the city and has a population of 245,057 and is growing at an annual rate of 3.42%.
Frisco Chronicles firmly believes Wes Pierson has no idea what “A CITY” like Frisco could possibly need and has no experience to rely on in his career history to help him in those situations. That is why good staff over the last two years have left, that is why the HR department has been a disaster. It is clear he was brought here as a “YES MAN” for the former mayor and current council. If he treats City Employees, the way he treats citizens with his nose up in the air and snarky attitude no wonder the exodus is happening.
Disclaimer This article is written as opinion, commentary, and personal interpretation based on publicly available records, meeting observations, agenda materials, and information I have 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 the 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.
Read More: 48/96 Work Schedule Presented by: Engineer Todd Marty Firefighter/Operator Tim Swaner Firefighter/Operator Micah Rader. 48/96 Work Schedule. What is the 48/96?. 48 hours on/96 hours off Something different Something progressive. The 48/96 and the Fire Service. https://www.slideserve.com/ronnie/48-96-work-schedule#google_v
Recently, the City of Frisco announced the retirement of Fire Chief Lee Glover, bringing an end to a 35-year career with the Frisco Fire Department.
According to the City, Glover joined the department in 1991, when Frisco had just seven paid firefighters. He worked his way through the ranks before becoming Interim Fire Chief in September 2022 and being appointed Fire Chief on June 19, 2023. The City of Frisco announced his retirement on April 7, 2026, with his final day scheduled for August 3, 2026.
On the surface, it is the familiar story of a longtime public servant riding off into retirement. But there is considerably more history here. And after more than three decades inside one of Frisco’s most important public-safety departments, there are questions that deserve answers.
Lee Glover Timeline
1991: Joined the Frisco Fire Department.
2011: Frisco conducted an Employee Climate Survey examining conditions within the Fire Department and its leadership.
January 2012: The climate report documented serious concerns regarding morale, trust, intimidation, retaliation and fear within the department. The report also identified concerns involving senior leadership, including then-Assistant Chief Lee Glover.
September 2022: Glover became Interim Fire Chief.
June 19, 2023: City Manager Wes Pierson appointed Glover Fire Chief after a selection process involving five finalists.
April 7, 2026: The City announced Glover’s retirement.
August 3, 2026: Glover’s final day with the City of Frisco
Turn Back Time: The 2011 Climate Report
We have written extensively about the history of the Frisco Fire Department and the concerns raised about its leadership. The 2011 Employee Climate Survey remains particularly important because it was not simply a disgruntled employee complaining about a supervisor. It was a formal examination of the department’s workplace environment.
The report described serious problems involving trust, respect, morale and the relationship between firefighters and department leadership. It characterized the culture as one involving intimidation, retaliation and fear. It also reported that a significant percentage of respondents said they would leave the department if they could.
Our previous reporting noted the report identified Lee Glover as part of the senior leadership structure under then-Chief Mack Borchardt. The question that naturally follows is simple: What changed between 2011 and 2023 that convinced city management that Lee Glover was the right person to lead the department?
That question became particularly relevant when Glover was named Interim Fire Chief in 2022.
The 92.5% Question
When Glover became a finalist for the permanent Fire Chief position in 2023, the Frisco Fire Fighters Association conducted a survey of its membership.
According to the survey previously reported by Frisco Chronicles, 220 of 233 firefighters responded, and 92.5% said they did not want Glover to become the next Fire Chief. The survey also reported that 91.4% did not believe Glover had improved morale or restored trust during his time as Interim Chief.
Despite those numbers, City Manager Wes Pierson selected Glover. At the time, Pierson said Glover’s experience, knowledge and leadership made him the best fit for the department. That decision deserves scrutiny, not because an employee association should automatically determine who runs a municipal department, but because a 92.5% vote against a leadership candidate is an extraordinary number.
So the questions remain:
What did City Manager Wes Pierson know about the survey before selecting Glover?
Why did City Manager Wes Pierson believe the concerns expressed by the firefighters were not sufficient to disqualify Glover?
Did the City conduct any independent investigation into the concerns raised by the firefighters before making the appointment?
Did City Council members know about the survey results before Glover was appointed?
And perhaps most importantly: What did the City of Frisco do to determine whether the problems identified in the 2011 climate report had actually been resolved before putting Glover into the leadership role as Fire Chief?
Fast Forward: May 18, 2026
The City announced Glover’s retirement on April 7, 2026. Approximately six weeks later, on May 18, Frisco Police responded to Glover’s residence following a 911 call. We filed a Public Information Request seeking the police records associated with that call and incident.
The records we received were heavily redacted. The Case Report Summary identifies Alvin Glover Jr. as a subject and Jamie Glover as the reporting person.
The report states that Frisco police responded to Glover’s residence at approximately 7:41 p.m. on May 18, 2026. According to the report, Jamie Glover identified herself as Alvin Glover Jr.’s wife and told officers that he had recently become increasingly aggressive following a change that is redacted from the report.
The report also states that Jamie reported that Alvin had been displaying certain signs since “recently retiring,” although the specific information is redacted. Officers subsequently made contact with Alvin Glover inside the residence. The remainder of the report contains additional redactions.
A supplemental report was also included in the records provided to us. There is an important distinction here.
We know a police response occurred. We know the City’s records identify the individuals involved. We know portions of the report describe concerns involving Glover’s behavior.
We do not know everything that happened because significant portions of the records were withheld or redacted. That leaves questions.
What Happened After the 911 Call?
According to sources familiar with the incident, Glover was experiencing a serious personal crisis and was transported to a hospital following the police response.
Sources have also alleged that the incident involved suicidal behavior and that Glover may have had a weapon in his possession before officers arrived. Those allegations have not been independently verified by Frisco Chronicles and should not be treated as established fact without supporting documentation.
We are also told that Glover did not return to his normal duties following the May 18 incident and that his next public appearance connected to the department was associated with his retirement in August.
If that account is accurate, it raises some obvious questions:
What happened between May 18 and August 3? Was Glover placed on leave?
Was he using accrued sick leave, vacation, administrative leave or another form of paid leave?
Was he still designated as Fire Chief during that period? Was he performing any official duties? Was he receiving his regular salary? Who was running the Fire Department during Glover’s absence?
Did the City conduct any internal review? These are not questions about someone’s private medical history. They are questions about the administration of a taxpayer-funded public agency and the use of taxpayer-funded compensation.
Was Glover Treated Differently?
This may be the most important question of all. Firefighters work in an extraordinarily stressful profession. Mental health, trauma, substance abuse, family crises and other personal struggles can affect first responders just as they can affect anyone else.
The City should have policies governing how employees, including department leadership, are treated when they experience a personal or medical crisis.
So we have to ask: Are those policies applied equally to everyone? No. The proof is in the previous pudding.
Are rank-and-file firefighters given the same flexibility, leave options and confidentiality that are available to department leadership? No. The proof is in the previous pudding.
Has the City ever placed another firefighter or senior officer in a similar situation on paid leave while maintaining their position?
What are the City’s policies when a department head is unable to perform the duties of the position? Well history shows they terminated the Assistant Fire Chief Cameron Kraemer who was out on medical leave for PTSD and mental health issues.
Who had authority to designate an acting chief and did they formally appoint an acting Chief after May 18, 2026?
If not, why not? Those questions can and should be answered without disclosing someone’s private medical information.
The Mack Borchardt Connection
There is another piece of this history that cannot simply be ignored. Mack Borchardt served as Frisco’s Fire Chief for decades and later became Special Assistant to the City Manager. The City’s current staff directory still lists Borchardt as Special Assistant to the City Manager and states that he served as Fire Chief from 1981 to 2012.
Borchardt’s transition out of the Fire Chief position has been discussed extensively in connection with the 2011 climate report. He was terminated by the city then rehired by then City Manager George Purefoy (long time good ole boy friendship) who made him a “Fire Consultant Liaison within the City Manager’s office. He received a hefty salary and city vehicle. The 2011 report raised significant concerns about the department’s leadership culture at the time. It also identified concerns regarding the senior leadership structure surrounding Borchardt.
Glover was part of that senior leadership structure. Yet years later, Glover ultimately became the Fire Chief. That creates a legitimate question about whether the City actually addressed the problems identified in 2011 or simply changed the name on the office door.
City Management’s Role
There is another issue that deserves examination. The City knew about the 2011 climate report, knew about the concerns surrounding the department’s previous leadership structure, and knew that 92.5% of responding firefighters surveyed did not want Glover to become Fire Chief. With all that knowledge and information what led City Manager Wes Pierson to reach the opposite conclusion?
The City has said Glover was the best fit for the job. Fine. Then show taxpayers the work. What criteria were used? Who conducted the interviews? Who evaluated the finalists? What were the scoring criteria? What concerns were raised about each finalist?
Who recommended Glover? Were references checked? Were prior complaints or investigations reviewed? Was the Fire Fighters Association survey discussed during the selection process? And did Pierson or anyone else in city management conduct an independent assessment of the concerns raised by members of the department?
These are reasonable questions when the person being selected is going to oversee one of the City’s largest and most important public-safety organizations.
Retirement or Something More?
Now we come back to the original question. Why did Lee Glover retire?
The city announced his retirement on April 7, 2026, nearly four months before his final day. The official announcement described it as the conclusion of a 35-year career and praised the department’s accomplishments during his tenure.
That may be exactly what happened. But the timing of the May 18 police response, followed by questions about Glover’s absence from the department, makes it reasonable for taxpayers to ask whether there was more to the story.
Was the retirement entirely voluntary? Was Glover ever asked to retire?
Was he facing an internal investigation? Was he placed on leave?
Was he medically unable to return to duty? Did he decide that retirement was the best option?
Did city management encourage or negotiate his departure? And were any agreements, benefits, payouts, leave balances or other financial arrangements associated with his retirement?
The Bigger Issue
This story is not really about whether Lee Glover had a personal crisis. If the allegations about the May 18 incident are true, that is a deeply personal matter, and nobody should use another person’s crisis as entertainment. The issue is whether the City of Frisco has one set of rules for ordinary firefighters and another for those occupying the corner office.
That is the issue taxpayers should care about. The Frisco Fire Department has grown enormously since Lee Glover joined in 1991. The city now describes the department as having 265 sworn personnel and 34 civilian employees. That is a massive public-safety operation.
The person sitting in the Fire Chief’s office has enormous responsibility. The public therefore has a legitimate interest in how that position is filled, how leadership problems are handled, how employee complaints are investigated, how leave policies are applied and how taxpayer dollars are spent.
The questions surrounding Lee Glover do not begin with the May 18, 2026 police call. They go back more than a decade. The 2011 climate report raised questions about culture and leadership.
The 2022 appointment of Glover as Interim Chief raised questions about whether those problems had really been resolved. The 2023 appointment of Glover as permanent Chief raised even more questions after the Fire Fighters Association survey reportedly showed overwhelming opposition. And now the circumstances surrounding his final months with the City raise another set of questions.
Maybe there are perfectly reasonable answers to all of them. If there are, the City should provide them. Because transparency should not depend on whether the person involved is a firefighter, a department head, a city manager or anyone else on the public payroll.
Frisco taxpayers deserve to know whether the rules are actually applied equally. And after years of controversy surrounding the Fire Department’s leadership culture, that is not an unreasonable thing to ask. It is the minimum.
What Is Next Next we will address the issues with hiring the new Chief of the Frisco Fire Department. We will examine some relationships and ask why the city is using a new company to do the search. Is Wes Pierson looking for the best candidate or the best candidate who agrees with him on the operations of the department.
This is Pierson’s first time working in a major city. He previously worked in Addison, which is 4 square miles and before that Corpus Christi before their growth boom. The leads us to ask does he have the background to make such a large decision. Sources inside say there is a lot of doubt when it comes to his decision-making process with the Fire Department. Stay Tuned for part two!
Disclaimer: This article is intended to report on matters of public record and public interest. If additional information becomes available this article may be updated accordingly.
This article is written as opinion, commentary, and personal interpretation based on publicly available records, 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.
Tomorrow is election day! If you have not voted in the special election, tomorrow is the last day for you to get out and vote but there are some things you should know before you go!
On September 23, 2025 Ann Anderson announced on Facebook she was going to run for the next open City Council seat. She continued she was ready to be a strong, thoughtful, and collaborative voice for our city. Her campaign would be about unity, progress and shared purpose. Her slogan is One City, One Community, One Frisco!
The next post came on October 27, 2025, where Ann Anderson posted her intention to run for Frisco City Council Place 1, since it was being vacated by John Keating. While campaigning, Anderson made several statements or claims that do not sit right with Frisco Chronicles. Let’s dive into them:
Claim:Former Corporate Executive and successful Small Business Owner
Forgot to follow the law and file her campaign finance report updates for June 2024, July 2024, January 2025, and July 2025. It was not until Frisco Chronicles pointed it out in one of blogs that she was out of compliance that Ann noticed. The next day she filed updated campaign finance reports. View them here.
Funny thing, her most current campaign finance report does not show how she paid for her hit piece postcard. How much did it cost? Who paid for it? Why is it not listed on her campaign finance report?
A corporate executive and successful business owner would understand the importance of filing legal paperwork on time (not two years later). If you can’t file your campaign finance reports on time then how do you plan to help run a city of 250,000 plus people.
Claim: Public Safety is a top priority
On January 9th, Ann posted a National Law Enforcement Appreciate Day Image and then a few hours later made a second post attacking our former Fire Chief over a biased report from 3+ years ago. Anderson is not endorsed by any public safety entity or official.
Her opponent Mark Piland is endorsed by the Frisco Fire Fighters Association, Frisco Police Officers Association, and Denton County Sherrif Tracy Murphree.
Claim: Anderson claimed she was against the Fire Fighters propositions for civil service and collective bargaining.
According to the Frisco Police Officers Association in her interview (for their endorsement), she told them she supported Civil Service and voted for it. If that is the case, then why did she tell residents at forums she was against it?
Claim: Anderson said she is glad we lost the AT&T Corporate Relocation and glad they went to Plano.
Ann Anderson spoke in favor of Universal Kids Theme Resort which brought low paying job to Frisco. Yet NO to AT&T which is ranked 32nd on the Fortune 500 rankings of the largest United States corporations, with revenues of $122.4 billion at the end of fiscal year December 31, 2024.
Why would someone on our city council be against high paying jobs and a Fortune 500 company coming to Frisco?
Claim: Anderson claims she is ACCOUNTABLE only to Frisco Residents – not special interest group.
A Facebook post on 2/10/2020 reads, “It was with great pleasure that Thor & Ann Anderson endorse Jeff Cheney for his re-election!”
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Ann is endorsed by many Cheney loyalists such as Donna Schmittler, Renee Sample, Dick Peasley, Laxmi Tummala, Mike Simpson and many more. The “Cheney Club” is a special interest group so to speak and those in it are loyal to the establishment!
Claim: Anderson claims she is a Republican and she is proud to support Democrats.
Ann has stated multiple times she is a Republican. She claims both the Collin County GOP and Denton County GOP were rigged for her opponent.
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The endorsement by the Collin County GOP and Denton GOP were not rigged. Both groups were aware of Ann Anderson’s multiple endorsements for Democrat candidates for both city council and FISD school board.
While Denton went ahead and endorsed without interviewing the candidates they did so because they previously supported Mark Piland, because he is involved in the Denton GOP and attends meetings and events, and because they were fully aware of Ann Andersons endorsements for Cheney, Gopal Ponangi, Renee Sample and many others who are not in line with the Republican party principals.
Collin County interviewed both candidates and they both were at the same meeting when the vote was taken. Her opponent won it fair and square.
While claiming it was rigged suits her narrative, Anderson has provided no proof of any such “rigging” going on.
Claim: Vote 4 Ann Facebook Page “Likes” a Facebook page maintained and written by Bill Woodard (Establishment).
Bill Woodard has always been good at telling Frisco Residents how stupid they are and how they don’t understand how local city government is run. His election page was turned into a watch dog page where he tells us how to think and how to support the establishment candidates.
This is the same man who orchestrated the Vote No campaign against the Frisco Firefighters yet took endorsements and money from them when he ran for election.
Woodard always supports the establishment and Cheney line so who would expect anything other than that from his site.
Claim: Anderson supports the Frisco Rail District businesses
In a post about Brooklyn Cutz and his business revenue being down 50% since construction began Anderson writes in the comments, “My guys usually go to the shop in our neighborhood. I would have thought Brooklyn’s regulars would have continued to go and he wouldn’t feel the pinch of the construction as much as other businesses.”
Ann’s comments don’t support small business. Assuming construction would not hurt a barber shop? How did she expect the regulars to get there when he had no sidewalk and no nearby parking? To say she “thought” his business would not feel the pinch of the construction shows how deaf she is to real world problems, residents and businesses.
Election Day
So here we are, on the eve of Election Day, standing at the ballot box equivalent of the final scene in a courtroom drama—lights low, jury restless, closing arguments echoing in the room. Ann Anderson’s campaign branding promises One City, One Community, One Frisco, but as we’ve walked through the record, the claims, and the contradictions, what Frisco residents are left with is less unity and more confusion. Accountability isn’t a slogan; it’s a paper trail. Public safety isn’t a hashtag; it’s who stands with the people who run toward danger when the rest of us run away. And transparency isn’t yelling “rigged” when you lose—it’s proving it when you say it.
Ask yourself, why does the city, its leadership and their followers hate one candidate so much? Maybe it is because Piland knows how the city operates and wants to change it for the better and that terrifies them!
Tomorrow, you don’t just vote for a name—you vote for credibility, consistency, and whether Frisco continues down the well-worn path of establishment politics with Ann Anderson or demands something better and a change with Mark Piland. Ask the uncomfortable questions. Read the fine print. Follow the money. And most importantly, show up. Because if history has taught us anything, it’s this: the people who complain the loudest after an election are often the ones who stayed home or had the most to lose. Don’t be that voter. Frisco’s future deserves better than blind loyalty and bumper-sticker politics. See you at the polls.
Anyone who tells you they look forward to each election cycle and the Frisco Chamber Forum is either lying, blind or deaf! Each year we watch it live, hoping it will be an independent, and we are always disappointed, and this week was no different!
If you watched the Frisco Chamber Candidate Forum this week, then you saw Tammy Meinershagen’s opening statement. In case you missed it, Meinershagen said, “This re-election has been the hardest thing I have done in my entire life. I am very grateful for the love and support of my husband, 3 daughters, my friends, my supporters who have walked in this journey with me, and I am thankful for many of you who have had open, honest, and healing conversations.
There is more that unites us than divides us. But what is happening in Frisco is not okay. This is not our Frisco. Doing secret recordings, having multiple fake profiles, anonymous blogs, attacking family members, this is not right. And despite being attacked, and my family being attacked, I’m still here. I’m here to fight. Fight against the dirty tactics, fight for Frisco, and I believe all of us need to come together and refuse to accept this as the new normal of choosing our Frisco leadership. We need to choose better. I believe that tonight you’re going to hear more empty promises, performative politics, and sound bites.
I’m here to talk about my record and what I’ve actually done for the citizens of Frisco and for our city through my time here. I look forward to earning your vote and sharing more about my time here in Frisco.”
While Tammy stands proudly and proclaims she is here to fight against dirty tactics and this being the new norm of Frisco, behind the scenes her supporters are doing exactly that! Don’t let Toxic Tammy fool you, she is holding up to her statement that she is here to fight! Fight for her control to govern by using her own supporters or any means necessary including committing dirty acts she talked about in her opening statement, all while acting coy and innocent, “oh poor me the victim.”
Incoming! Meet the Political Porch Pirate!
Like political cloak-and-dagger a mysterious car drives slowly through a neighborhood on the hunt for a specific political porch. The car has arrived at its destination, then parks at the house next door. A mysterious man walks up the front steps of the home and begins to approach the front porch. The Ring Doorbell shows him laying down an envelope, then he quickly turns to leave ascending down the front steps. Who was the mystery man? What did he drop off? What could be in that envelope? Is this the only home that received that envelope?
Guess what, we know! SMILE FOR THE CAMERAS
Who is the mystery man delivering envelopes all over town? We had several people send us Ring Doorbell footage and security camera footage and after careful examination ….
Meet Brian Thomson, a resident here in Frisco who worked the polls every day for Tammy Meinershagen at Frisco Fire Station 7. Brian is a long time Tammy supporter and according to Been Verified has an asset listed similar to the car in the video.
“Political Poison Pages: Unpacking the False Burt Binder”
What is in the envelope? We call it the Burt Binder, by that we mean a hit piece against Burt Thakur! The first page talks about how Burt defies the TX GOP Platform with public union support. A COMPLETE LIE! Tammy’s team is crumbling due to the Frisco Firefighters Association and Frisco Police Officers Association endorsing Burt Thakur and Jared Elad. The only way to counter that is to use scary words like “union supporter” in a last-ditch effort to scare them before early voting. At no time has Burt said he supports unions, but he has said he supports our public safety departments. He believes that through conversation and getting back to the table and addressing the primary issue of staffing would alleviate many of the problems. Keep in mind both departments have done “staffing studies” that we have published right here on Frisco Chronicles that at the time showed The City of Frisco was below standards in both departments. These men and woman put their life on the line to save us, our homes, our pets, and they are not asking for a raise. They are asking for more staffing! Burt has said he supports more staffing so that we can be where we need to be to keep citizens safe and our police and fire fighters safe. How is that supporting “unions?”
Next the front page of this binder lists a political action committee that we are not listing here because we have been able to find ANY LEGAL FILINGS FOR THIS PAC. For now, we have to believe this is a FAKE PAC and question if this group is even legit? The binder has a certain look to it that we have seen before, and we have a pretty good guess of who designed it! One of Tammy’s greatest supporters! We won’t say their name because we are not 100% sure but we are 99.99999% sure.
The second page talks about how Burt ran for Congress. Okay, and? John Keating ran for the Texas House of Representatives in 2015. That’s right, he ran for District 33 in 2016 which covers Rockwall County and parts of Collin County. At the time he ran he touted how he was proud to establish the $5Billion Dollar Mile – what happened with that, oh yeah Lake Lebanon was born after the developer went belly up. Guess what, Keating lost by 99 votes! So, if Tammy and her supporters are saying Burt is not qualified because he ran for Congress then how is John Keating qualified? He was endorsed in his 2016 bid for District 33 by every major REPUBLICAN and still lost by 99 votes. If you have all the support and still can’t win, should you be qualified to be sitting on city council?
The false binder then discusses how Burt auditioned for a TV or was on Jeopardy. Being an actor, appearing on a game show, or having an IMDb page makes you inept and not qualified to run for office? Hey Matthew McConaughey – you can’t run for Texas Governor! Hey Dr. Mehmet Oz, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clint Eastwood, Al Franken, and Donald Trump – according to Tammy supporters and this FAKE PAC you are all inept and unqualified to run for government offices.
The next page says Burt’s campaign manager is a Hard Democrat and we reached out to him, and he said he is his own campaign manager. He has many supporters on both sides of the isle (Tammy said that too at the Forum this week) and he appreciates all their help to win so he can serve the people of Frisco. Let me understand, it is okay for Tammy who claims to be a Republican, to be supported by HARD…HARD DEMOCRATS, and that is, okay? It is also okay Meinershagen to pander to the Republican Base that she is a conservative and yet not one conservative candidate or group has come out to endorse her.
Campaign of Harassment
In what can only be described as a masterclass in political desperation, supporters of Tammy “Toxic Tapes” Meinershagen have gone beyond spirited campaigning and crossed the line into something far more disturbing — a coordinated, relentless campaign of harassment and intimidation against her opponent, Burt Thakur. It started with whisper campaigns and online trolling but quickly escalated into full-blown digital and real-world stalking. Facebook pages, comment sections, and community groups have been littered with copy-paste attacks, baseless accusations, and character assassinations aimed at discrediting Thakur.
But it didn’t stop there. Someone—clearly with too much toner and not enough integrity—dropped off phony binders filled with lies and distortions at private homes of Thakur supporters. A juvenile stunt meant to mirror past political smear tactics. These “binders” had all the hallmarks of a hit job: half-truths, wild speculation, and outright fabrications. And as Election Day draws near, things will get uglier. One resident email to us described it “more like a mob than a campaign” that has resorted to stalking, slander, and intimidation tactics. Frisco deserves a campaign, not a crusade—and voters have every right to demand better than this.
“Tammy’s Greatest Hits: Now That’s What I Call Hypocrisy”
Tammy’s opening statement completely goes against what her supporters are doing! Does she want us to believe she does not know the porch pirate deliveries? Does she want us to believe she did not know what Jake Petras would do at the polls while holding her Vote For Tammy sign? Tammy has one problem: she is full of lip service and zero accountability for her actions and the actions of her campaign or the supporters of her campaign. Her hot mic moment exposed her cold heart! Even amid full proof truth, her supporters will still fight till the fat lady sings that she is INNOCENT! INNOCENT! Tammy is a well-experienced politician who knows how to play the game now! A vote for her is a vote for continued corruption within our city. As for Brian Thomson, please email us the filings for your PAC.
Have you ever wondered what the relationship is between The City of Frisco and the Frisco Chamber of Commerce. Despite the cozy public image, they often present together at ribbon cuttings and business luncheons, they are legally and structurally separate entities. The Chamber is its own entity and has a foundation which is a private, nonprofit organization. What does all that mean? Simply put, they are not a department or arm of the city government.
The Chamber has a board of directors and its own funding, which is primarily from membership dues and sponsorships. While the Chamber claims to be independent they often collaborate on economic development, public policy and community events. City officials and Chamber leadership often sit on the same committees and advisory boards.
Every election cycle, the Frisco Chamber Government Affairs division takes a strong and proactive stance on governmental issues. Locally they focus on business-friendly initiatives and educating and informing local voters. Per there website, “The Frisco Chamber does not endorse candidates but plays a strong role in encouraging voters to know the candidates and issues and make informed decisions. The Frisco Chamber does this through candidate forums and communication efforts.”
We would argue that they do “endorse” without “endorsing” candidates. We would also argue they do limit what they want to inform voters about. When it comes to candidates they are not as “fair-and-balanced” as they claim to be. Want the proof?
Compare those three situations and tell me what is the difference between them?
At the Chamber Forum in 2023, where Mark Piland ran against Mayor Jeff Cheney, the Chamber team specifically asked Mark Piland about a false story that was planted in the DMN by the city to destroy his character just before early voting again. They went as far as asking Piland about a direct quote in the article. The point of this question was to push votes towards Mayor, Jeff Cheney!
In 2024, we wrote about the Frisco Chambers “Election Fix” in our blog. There were two propositions on the ballet for Civil Service and Collective Bargaining. They never wanted to go this route, but they felt the city had given them no choice after years of denying staffing issues that put their lives at risk each time they report to a fire. The Frisco Chamber invited Safety First Frisco PAC run by Councilman Bill Woodard to the Forum and gave him 10 minutes to speak about why citizens should Vote Against the Propositions. What about the Firefighters, were they given the same time? No, they Frisco Chamber did not invite them. The night of the event two of the Frisco Firefighters Association board sat in front row and the Chamber could have seen the oversight or mistakes they made and allowed them to speak the same courtesy, BUT THEY DIDN’T!
The Frisco Chamber also sent out two email blasts, one in March, and one April before the election to local business and members advocating on the issue to Vote No! Local resident, James Nunn took to Facebook and wrote, “The Frisco Chamber of Commerce just sent an e-blast to their membership advocating a “no” vote on a local issue relating to the workforce of the City of Frisco. This is another example of the Chamber pandering to elected (and formerly elected) officials in Frisco. This action alienates part of the membership and effectively removes the Chamber as an independent voice on local issues.”
Fast forward to 2025, Tammy “Toxic Tapes” Meinershagen, whose story was posted on Frisco Chronicles You Tube Page and then was picked up by the DMN, CBS11, WFAA, Fox4, and NBCDFW. Everyone should have been on pins and needles waiting for the Chamber team to ask the big question, that never was! In fact, not ONE question related to her “direct quotes or comments” on the tapes released were brought into question. They completely avoided asking her about the tapes, her divisive and hateful statements; instead, they focused on the increasingly divisive political climate created by individuals referring to supporters of other candidates.
Remember earlier, we asked you to compare these 3 situations and tell us the difference between them. What is it? The difference is the RULES!
They don’t play by their own rules on the Chamber website which is to “INFORM & EDUCATE” local voters on the issues. WHY? Why would they do that? The answer is $414,306.80! That is how much the Chamber has received from the City of Frisco for items such as seminars/schools/training, dues and subscriptions, travel/meal/lodging, food and provisions, and lastly promotional marketing from 2020 to present. They got over $95k of that in November of 2024! The Chamber “CAN’T BITE THE HANDS THAT FEED THEM!”
Want to know the biased board members and employees: click here!
The Frisco Chamber of Commerce is 1000% a biased organization to protect the city, and what the city wants! For them to claim anything other than that is an absolute fallacy of epic proportions. Now it is time for some fireworks, stay tuned!
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