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.
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.
“Wag the dog” is an idiom describing the act of using a secondary, minor issue or diversion to distract attention from a larger, often damaging crisis. It is most often used in political and media contexts, where leaders allegedly fabricate, amplify, or emphasize a dramatic situation to steer public focus away from bigger scandals.
The Frisco City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, was, in my opinion, one of the biggest political messes in this city’s history. And my mission at Frisco Chronicles is to expose the shady stuff. So, let’s begin.
The Frosting
The public comments portion of the evening reached an all-time high. Everyone was talking about line item #25. The passion in the room was palpable. There were extra police, yelling, swearing, reporters, escorts out, and social media influencers. The tension was raw.
But like many others, I believe most people missed what was sitting in plain sight.
In case you missed it, or are still confused, allegedly this was really about Mayor Jeff Cheney’s Legacy Line Item. In my opinion, he will go down in the history books to save his best work for last. Perfect timing before his pending exit. Played and executed like a true maestro.
Remember this time last year, when the mayor’s cherry-tomato head almost blew right off his shoulders after that horrendous $340 million Performing Arts Center deal failed by voters, along with his cohort Tammy Meinershagen’s re-election? There were too many alleged questions about that deal and who may have benefited from it. In my opinion, Frisco was smart about that one and dodged a bullet.
Well, friends, the deals that allegedly moved forward Tuesday night make last year look like a cheap appetizer. That may also explain Mayor Cheney’s DEFCON 3 behaviors at recent Frisco City Council meetings, when he started getting pushbacks from other council members. More on that soon.
In my opinion, the best way to describe what happened is by comparing the consent agenda to a triple-layer chocolate cake. Everyone got fooled because they were only paying attention to the three visible layers: the Jain temple, the Hindu temple, and the mosque. What I believe many people missed was the ooey-gooey, ever-so-sweet, rich chocolate frosting on top, hiding the rest. That, in my opinion, was the real story.
Before we once again deep-dive into the alleged cabal rabbit hole, let’s not kid ourselves. Open your eyes wide. It is election time, and in my opinion, it is the perfect time to wag the dog and play on voters’ fears while the recipe for the sweet frosting goes unnoticed.
How does an alleged political machine best distract voters? Well, while people were fighting over Islam, Sharia Law, temples, and fear, here is what I believe was really going on underneath the pretty frosting.
The 16 Layers
You missed the other 13 of the 16 development projects. Based on my best guess, this may have represented a development package that roughly ranges between a $750 million to $1 billion dollars.
The Planning and Zoning Commission consent agenda included 16 separate cases totaling more than 300 acres of development across Frisco, which were then sent to Frisco City Council for a vote. Here is a brief overview of what I call the full boxed-up cake deal:
Railhead Phase 1: 8.8 acres with 3 office buildings, 2 retail buildings, and 2 parking garages.
Best Brains Addition Lot 3: 1.7 acres for a childcare center.
Park 25 Block C: 15.6 acres with 2 offices, warehouse, and distribution centers.
Centennial Pediatrics/Islamic Center: 5.8 acres with a place of worship.
Coit & 3537 Addition: 4.4 acres with 3 retail buildings.
FM 423 Lonestar: 14.8 acres with a temple, medical offices, restaurants, a convenience store, and drive-throughs.
Point East Industrial: 44.1 acres with 6 warehouses and distribution buildings.
Lebanon South: 5.7 acres with a temple and community center.
Park 25 Block C: 15.6 acres with 2 offices, warehouse, and distribution centers.
Four Corners Shopping Center: 4.4 acres with 2 hotels.
Grand Park Canal South: 4.8 acres with a childcare facility and restaurant/office space.
Frisco Fire Station No. 8: 4.3 acres with a City of Frisco stealth antenna.
Northeast Community Park: 70.7 acres with a City of Frisco stealth antenna.
Firefly Park Lot 4: 10.9 acres with a parking garage and professional office.
Prosper High School #2: 98.3 acres for a public school, Prosper ISD.
Best Brains Addition Lot 8: 2.3 acres with retail, restaurant, and office uses.
Total: 16 cases and more than 312 acres of Frisco development.
Only 3 of the 16 developments involved religious institutions. The rest included warehouses, hotels, offices, a 98-acre public school, City of Frisco infrastructure, retail, and childcare. In my opinion, this was a treasure chest of Frisco development, not merely a vote on three rubber-banded religious institutions.
That is the cake. Sixteen layers. But the public was only staring at the frosting.
The P&Z Questions
Back when this was approved by P&Z, Chairwoman Brittney Colberg was absent for the vote, and Sean Merrell recused himself. Why? Election-time strategy? A conflict of interest? Something else?
New council member and former P&Z Chairwoman Brittney Colberg currently operate a Title Company. According to publicly available information, the business appears to cater to luxury real estate agents and top producers. Their goal, to help growth-focused real estate professionals’ level up their businesses, strengthen brand reputations, increase market knowledge, become industry leaders, and increase revenue.
Frisco Chronicles must ask, is there a potential down the road for conflict here? If Colberg’s business benefits, directly or indirectly, from any of these deals then the answer could be yes. We have not discovered anything as of now, but we will keep our eyes peeled now that she is elected.
Current P&Z member Sean Merrell, is listed as a licensed professional engineer in Texas for BGE, Inc. He is also the past president of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Frisco Chronicles wondered, does BGE, Inc., have any active applications in Frisco? What about previous contracts with the City of Frisco?
Surprise, surprise … well not really, Frisco Chronicles found what appears to be a warehouse project involving BGE, Inc. This may explain why Sean Merrell recused himself.
The agenda stated: “Consider and act upon adoption of an Ordinance to repeal Ordinance No. 2025-03-16 and grant a Specific Use Permit for an Office/Warehouse/Distribution Center on one lot on 98.1± acres on the north side of SH 121, 1,015± feet west of Independence Parkway. Zoned Highway with a Specific Use Permit for an Office/Warehouse/Distribution Center and Commercial-2. Neighborhood #26. Zoning Case No. SUP25-0009. Applicant: BGE, Inc. (Development Services/JH)” Ordinance 2026-04-34.
Did I mention this was the same warehouse project that Richwoods and Lexington residents were concerned about backing up to their community? That’s right the one that filled Frisco Chambers just a few weeks ago with our Indian neighbors who spoke against the development while our council listened on deaf ears.
The Planning and Zoning Commission reviews and advances development items long before they ever reach City Council. Frisco Chronicles is wondering why were three completely separate projects, at three different locations, with different ownership groups and three different religions, allegedly bundled together under a single consent agenda line item?
I suspect a Christian church would not have been bundled in the same way. Could those projects have been separated and voted on individually? Probably. Was it poor organization? Doubtful, in my opinion. Political strategy? More likely, in my opinion. The epic wag the dog.
Create a distraction while other major development items quietly move forward.
The Council Meeting Moment
Who could see the forest through the trees, when the consent agenda came up? The only questions or pushback appeared to come from Councilmen Burt Thakur and Jared Elad. Both tried to bring up the many other items on the consent agenda that the public was clearly not focused on.
A motion to appeal was made by Councilman Burt Thakur and appeared to be ignored. There was no second motion. Instead, Mayor Cheney appeared to move the discussion into immediate executive session to consult with the city attorney. But why?
There does not appear to be a law requiring consultation with the city attorney to happen in private, away from the eyes and ears of voters and taxpayers. This proves Frisco Chronicles point that there is zero transparency, folks.
Mayor Cheney’s motion immediately received a second, and off they went behind closed doors. Just a guess but what followed behind closed doors may have been a heated discussion about the audacity of a couple of councilmen asking questions and suggesting an appeal. My guess is that the executive session was more of an attitude-adjustment session, the kind your mom gives you when you act up in a store and she walks you outside to the car for an understanding.
Mayor Cheney, in my opinion, was not about to let his alleged Legacy Line Item slip out of his sweaty red hands. Back at the dais, the consent agenda passed 6-0, despite Councilman Burt Thakur appearing not to have agreed with the direction things had gone. Yes, folks, this is what you voted for.
A city council can vote no on almost anything before it. Its primary responsibility is to protect the residents. In my opinion, threats of lawsuits over religious freedom became the wag-the-dog moment, conveniently burrito-wrapped into mega projects most residents were not paying attention to.
It is the opinion of Frisco Chronicles that the PANIC was not only about getting sued over the denial of a mosque but also may have been over the other 13 development deals not going through. Wake up, Frisco … You are being used!
Mayor Cheney does not care about mosques and temples. His track record shows he cares about cash, the deal, the development, and the legacy. This whole situation could not have been more perfectly orchestrated.
Do you really think it was just coincidental that the alleged Legacy Line Item was pushed through during one of Mayor Monopoly Cheney’s final city meetings?
The mayor yelled from the dais, “Stop making this political.” The audience pushed back, “No, you are!”
Councilwoman Angelia Pelham also appeared to join in with similar comments from the dais while defending Mayor Cheney. Ultimately, they were right about one thing: it was not just political. It was about development. The money. The deals. The legacy. The generational wealth. The frosting.
The frosting, folks, is the perfect camouflage for any cake. You really do not know what you are getting until you cut into it. Anything could be lurking under there: cheap angel food cake or the most luxurious and decadent dessert you have ever placed on your taste buds.
In this case, it was a 16-layer cake with top-shelf premier frosting used to camouflage the layers hiding underneath.
The Timing Questions
Conveniently and coincidentally, the appointment of the Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem was moved until after the elections. Additionally, the replacement of the open P&Z position was also delayed. With a contentious mayoral election happening, I believe they were not going to rock any of those boats until after the election. Just a guess but this was a political move.
Community Chatter Rumor Mill
This section includes rumors, community chatter, and allegations and Frisco Chronicles is not presenting these as proven facts. The reason for including them is because it helps explain the larger pattern that may deserve public scrutiny.
One source told Frisco Chronicles they have heard rumors that Jason Young, who recently won the Universal Liquor business, allegedly is a contender for the open P&Z spot.
Another source told Frisco Chronicles that allegedly, Lori Medina, may become Mark Hill’s new “Chief of Staff” if he wins the election. You may be asking, “Who is Lori Medina and why is she important?” Let’s look at Lori’s resume:
Lobbyist for Wilks Brothers who is building the billion-dollar Fire Fly Development near 380 and DNT
Former Chief of Staff for Mayor Jeff Cheney
Former Business Partner of former Councilwoman Tammy Meinershagen (star of the Tammy Tapes)
Current Campaign Manager or leader in the Mark Hill Campaign
Lori was also allegedly involved in a physical altercation with then-candidate, veteran, and South Asian candidate Burt Thakur
Lastly, Frisco Chronicles heard rumors that Jason Ford, current President of Frisco Economic Development Corporation, may allegedly step down or be forced out. His alleged replacement … Jeff Cheney.
Let’s face it, while all of this is alleged and rumors it does make sense. Greed is never satisfied and everyone knows Cheney does not want to let go of control on the development in Frisco. It is an addiction. Cake is good, and there is never enough cake.
Final Question
So, what was this about? Was it three religious institutions? Was it religious freedom? Was it fear? Was it development? Was it timing? Was it legacy? Was it money?
In my opinion, it was all the above. But the cake metaphor still says it best. The public saw three layers. I believe the real cake was sixteen. And the frosting was the distraction.
Appendix: For Reference Only
Frisco City Council Regular Meeting – Consent Agenda Items 19-25 on Tuesday, 5/19/26
19. Consider and act upon the approval of minutes. (CSO/KM)
A. Consider and act upon the approval of the May 5, 2026, City Council Work Session meeting minutes. (CSO/KM)
B. Consider and act upon the approval of the May 5, 2026, Regular City Council meeting minutes. (CSO/KM)
C. Consider and act upon the approval of the May 12, 2026, Special-Called City Council meeting minutes. (CSO/KM)
20. Consider and act upon authorizing the City Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement by and between Collin County and the City of Frisco to provide funding for the construction of Dallas Parkway PH5. (Engineering/WJ)
21. Consider and act upon accepting private donations raised by the Leadership Frisco Class XXIX toward the installation of shade structures at Hope Park at Frisco Commons Park. (Play Frisco/JC)
22. Consider and act upon adoption of a Resolution authorizing submittal of a Metropolitan Transportation Plan Policy Bundle, Round 6 application, to the North Central Texas Council of Governments for Transportation Development Credits. (Engineering/MD)
23. Consider and act upon adoption of a Resolution authorizing the submission of the FY25 Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use grant application through the Bureau of Justice Assistance by the City Manager or his designee. (Police/LT)
24. Consider and act upon award of Best Value Bid #2603-050, Downtown Garage and Plaza Cleaning Services, to Ambassador Services. (Administrative Services/DF)
25. Consider and act upon whether to direct Staff to submit a written notice of appeal on behalf of the City Council to Development Services, pursuant to Subsection 6.19 of the Zoning Ordinance and/or Section 4.02 of the Subdivision Ordinance, regarding action taken by the Planning and Zoning Commission on any site plan or plat. Any written notice of appeal must be submitted to Development Services. (Development Services)
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.
Frisco Chronicles has no issue questioning city leadership and department leadership because I believe someone must speak for the front-line employees. Why? It is the front-line employees in each department that do the day-to-day work which keeps our city great. Every time I hear from an “insider” it is the same story, different department.
We have heard about nepotism running rampant, leadership involved in sexual affairs, toxic work environments, and much more. The truth is our city needs a good “SPRING CLENAING” in top management and department leaders. Why? To protect our front-line workers who feel the brunt of their failed leadership.
The last two weeks we have received several emails related to City Manager, Wes Pierson. The emails talk about how Pierson leads with hostile and condescending behavior. One email noted he consistently speaks down to staff, direct reports, and his executive team. It went on to say his condescending behavior and communication style undermines the morale across all city departments. Residents have seen this behavior up front and center at city council meetings.
The emails also talk about how employees feared professional retaliation if they file a complaint with HR against department or city leadership. The minute a complaint is filed the city begins actions to end that employee’s employment through any means necessary. That includes making up issues or actions to use against the employee.
We know in a recent meeting with public safety officials he questioned if the Fire Department really needed “ladder trucks” which shows his operational ignorance. Clearly his questioning shows a lack of operational infrastructure needed for basic emergency response. His dismissive attitude towards critical public safety equipment poses a direct threat to our communities welfare.
One email talked about staff development and how Pierson actively blocks the implementation of employee progression and career development. The city constantly changes care development plans to hold employees back.
This kind of behavior from one of the highest paid city managers in the nation is unacceptable. There is a severe contrast between his massive compensation package and his refusal to invest in staff progression which behind closed doors is crippling city operations. One email said a third-party investigation into management practices is needed to protect city employees and residents. It is the only way to ensure responsible governance.
When I receive one email I take it as employee frustration, but when I receive 3 in one week from different employees, different departments then it tells me there is an issue at city hall. That issue starts at the top with Wes Pierson as he sets the tone that flows downhill.
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.
A few years ago, Frisco residents were divided on the idea of an Employee Wellness Center that supposedly would save taxpayer dollars and improve employee health outcomes. At the time, Frisco Chronicles and many residents, raised concerns because the clinic was projected to operate in the red for years before ever breaking even. Funny how “trust the process” always seems to come with a blank check.
So naturally, we decided to follow up.
We filed a Public Information Request asking for basic operational information for the following:
1. Annual Usage Statistics; Number of clinic visits by employees each year.
2. Employee Participation: Total Number of employees using the clinic each year.
3. Financial Performance: Annual revenue and expenses related to operating the clinic, including whether the clinic operates at a surplus or deficit each year.
4. Any additional reports or summaries detailing the clinics’ utilization, cost savings, or operational performance.
Asking for usage numbers, costs, financial performance, and general metrics. Not patient records. Not private medical files. Just the kind of accountability data taxpayers should expect when public money and public partnerships are involved.
Instead, the City of Frisco is now claiming much of the information is confidential. Premise Health, the private company operating the clinic, also argued the records should be withheld by the public.
That response raises even more questions. The public has the right to know where taxpayer dollars are going.
Since when did taxpayer-funded operations become private just because a corporation is involved? If a city contracts with a private company that operates on taxpayer dollars, then transparency is part of the deal. You don’t get to step into the public arena, collect public money, make promises to taxpayers, and then slam the door shut when someone asks for performance numbers.
Nobody is requesting employee medical files or protected health information. We fully support protecting patient privacy. But there is a massive difference between protecting personal health records and hiding operational data from the taxpayers footing the bill.
The city and Premise Health appear to be blurring that line intentionally.
How many employees use the clinic monthly? How much taxpayer money has been spent? What are the annual operating losses or gains? Has the clinic reduced insurance costs as promised? What metrics are being used to measure success?
Those are not invasive questions. Those are standard accountability questions.
And frankly, if the clinic is performing well, why fight so hard to keep the numbers hidden?
The public has every right to question why officials are circling the wagons over usage statistics and financial data. Transparency should not suddenly disappear because the answers may be politically inconvenient.
Government transparency in Frisco increasingly feels like a game of “public when convenient, private when questioned.” The city loves press conferences, ribbon cuttings, and glossy announcements when launching programs, but when residents ask for follow-up data years later, suddenly everyone discovers the word “confidential.”
Maybe the Employee Wellness Center is a success story. Maybe it’s exactly the financial sinkhole critics warned about years ago. Either way, taxpayers deserve facts, not carefully crafted legal objections designed to keep the public in the dark.
Read our original article and decide for yourself whether this is about protecting privacy — or protecting politics.
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 an age where information travels faster than verification, the line between opinion and journalism has never been more important—or more fragile. When a blog presents itself as a source of truth but operates without real journalism, the consequences can ripple far beyond a single headline. Readers trust what they believe is reporting. When readers know the blogger is a FORMER COUNCILMAN, they assume they can trust him – because our politicians would not lie, right?
Readers make decisions, form opinions, and sometimes even take action based on it. When that trust is misplaced, the damage isn’t just misinformation—it’s a breakdown of credibility across the entire information ecosystem.
At Frisco Chronicles, we believe that words carry weight. Calling something “journalism” is not just a stylistic choice; it’s a responsibility to the public. When that claim is misused—when speculation is dressed up as reporting or bias is masked as truth—it misleads readers and undermines the very foundation of informed communities. And in a city where residents are demanding transparency and trust, that’s not just careless—it’s dangerous.
On April 16, 2026, Former Councilman Bill Woodard published a blog speculating that little lies reveal big truths. He hinted to an important legal proceeding between Frisco Chronicles (me) and the Petitioner and explained he would get into that later.
Then Woodard makes a reference “What Court Documents Revealed” which immediately makes the implication that what is about to be written is based on facts revealed on the record. But is it factual, or staged to look factual?
Note: Anything in RED is directly cut and pasted from Woodards Blog. The rest is our commentary.
Woodard starts by giving context using words such as weaponize, strategizing, underhanded, political scheme, and secret recording. Then he drops the names of the Colberg’s and Sangita Datta. He then said what matters in this case is not just that the recording exists, but WHO was involved in how it was used. Woodard is wrong when he says what matters in this case is how the recordings were used. The Tammy Tapes have nothing to do with the petitioner’s claim of defamation or libel. However, his words probably put readers on the edge of their seat.
Woodard writes: Here is exactly what the text message shows:
It is an exchange between current Councilman Brian Livingston and Chris Fields.
– Brian forwards Chris a text from “The Colbergs.”
– Not “Brittany.” Not “Erich.” The Colbergs, plural. Both of them.
– Chris confirms he received the same message from “them”, detailing how to use the secret recordings against a sitting council candidate.
This is not speculation. This is actual documentation from court proceedings. The text establishes a direct connection between the secret recordings and both Brittany and Erich Colberg acting together.
Here is the PROBLEM with Bill Woodard’s article, he claims this is actual documentation from court proceedings and then posts a link to an image of a text message. I filed a PIR with Denton County Courts and the Court Reporter for all documents related to this case including submitted evidence and the transcript of the proceedings. When I received it, I reviewed everything in full detail. However, there was no copy of the text Bill Woodard posted. I went back to the court and specifically showed them what Bill had posted and asked for that evidence as well. You can read the response for yourself:
If the text messages were never entered into court evidence and they are not a part of the court record, HOW DID BILL WOODARD GET A COPY OF THE TEXT MESSAGE?
Why is this important, because he led readers to believe This is actual documentation from court proceedings which it was NOT! Speculation is he received the text from the Petitioner, her attorney Mr. Harbin, or maybe David Ovard (the PGA KING) who also wormed himself into this case and who works at Clark Hill with Mr. Harbin. However – none of it was from actual documentation from court proceedings.Bill Woodard LIED to his readers.
Dissecting Bills Words: Text between Councilman Livingston and Chris Fields
Woodard writes, “Brian forwards Chris a text from “The Colbergs.”
Woodard continues, “Not Brittany. Not Erich. The Colberg’s, plural. Both of them.”
The FACTS show, Brian forwarded a screen shot of just a text with no name, no phone number on it. There is no circle at the top showing who it was from or if both of the Colberg’s were on the text to Livingston, or what phone number it came from. Then in a second text, Livingston says “From the Colbergs” which means he implied it was from them “plural.”
The FACTS show Fields said, “they sent it to me as well” and he was probably replying in plural with that because Livingston made that implication in his text. As for Woodard’s claim, Chris confirms he received the same message he did not confirm that in court records. Chris said “I don’t remember that text, but that’s what he (referring to Erich) said yesterday” referring to their phone call. Mr. Martin then asked what he did with the text and Fields responds, “I didn’t do anything with it.” Mr. Harbin then shows him the text and asks Fields, does this look like an exchange between you and Livingston? Fields responds, “It definitely could be, I just don’t remember it.” A few questions later Mr. Harbin ask Fields again, “so does that refresh your memory that they sent you the text message?” Fields replies again, “Not really, I get a lot of texts.” At no time did Chris Fields confirm he received the text as Woodard claims according to actual court document proceedings.
Another Fact, the “Tammy Tapes” came out the first week of May and this text that Bill Woodard claims “implicates the Colberg’s” was sent June 3rd at 10:28 pm a month later after the tapes were already out. Why is the date of the text message important? It aligns with Chris Fields testimony on page 38 of the transcript. Mr. Martin (the petitioner’s attorney) asked Fields at any point after the tapes were released, did you receive a text from “The Colberg’s” regarding those tapes and a whistleblower?” Fields responds, “I don’t remember, but I had a conversation with Erich about it yesterday.”
Again, it was Mr. Martin who implied “The Colberg’s” plural – which is not proof the actual text was from them both. Fields continues Erich Colberg reached out to him the day before to talk about something (not the tapes or the text) and it just came up in conversation. Mr. Martin continued and asked who brought it up and Fields replied, Erich Colberg. Fields reiterated again, “I didn’t even remember that text.”
Mr. Martin then asks Fields why Erich would bring that up and Fields responds, “lots of people made points about what they would and wouldn’t do.” This shows it was the talk of the town, and many were speculating who, what, when, where, etc.
On page 40 of the transcript Mr. Martin handed Mr. Fields a text message document they received in response to a subpoena from Mr. Livingston which is a text exchange between you and Livingston. The document was never entered into evidence by Mr. Martin to the court records.
The questions by Mr. Martin continue around the “Tammy Tapes” but my question is what does the tapes have to do with the Petitioner and her defamation case? It has nothing to do with the trolls who left nasty comments. What is the point of the line of questioning others to enter it into the record? Maybe it was all a setup for them to use later like Bill Woodard did in his blog.
Woodard then writes “Chris confirms he received the same message from “them”, detailing how to use the secret recordings against a sitting council candidate.”
Next up was cross examination by Mr. Harbin, Frisco Chronicles attorney, and he asks Fields if he has any personal knowledge of who the Frisco Chronicles Whistleblower is? Mr. Fields responds, “I have no proof whatsoever. Mr. Harbin continues, “you also testified that there was no personal knowledge that there’s anybody else other than Mr. Douglass that is ..” Fields responds, “I have no knowledge of the inside workings of Whistleblower.” Mr. Harbin continues and asked Fields, “What is the basis of your belief that there are others that are behind Frisco Chronicles…” Fields responded that he didn’t have anything specific, he just always thought it was a group of people. Mr. Harbin then said, “so purely a hunch?” Fields responded 100 percent.
Woodards Personal Opinion
Bill Woodard continues in his article calling out Brittany Colberg as a liar, when it is very possible, she did not know about the text. I cannot speak for them as I don’t know them. As for why Erich Colberg would file to have these text messages removed, my guess is because they have nothing to do with the case of defamation against the Petitioner. If every Frisco resident who texted friends or talked to friends regarding speculation of “who is Frisco Chronicles,” is guilty, then half of Frisco would be in trouble including Bill Woodard.
We have to ask the obvious again, what is the point of the questioning and the text itself? It had nothing to do with the comments the petitioner claims are defamatory. Why did the petitioner’s attorney not ask them if under a fake name, did they leave defamatory comments on a blog related to the petitioner? Why not ask them if they are Frisco Whistleblower? That would have something to do with this whole case.
The even more concerning thing is that the petitioner’s attorney may have had phone calls and conversations with all these witnesses before they came to court. One could say it was to apply pressure or influence what someone might say, the other thought it was simple preparation. You decided!
False Accusations
As we have said before this was never about libel or defamation, it was about outing the me, the Whistleblower, to try and put pressure on me to shut it down. It was to put pressure and discredit innocent residents who like a Frisco Chronicles post or left a comment. It was to embarrass those who came to court or donated to a go fund me for Frisco Chronicles. It was about applying public pressure, because that is what the Frisco Insiders do to shut those who disagree, or don’t like the Cheney status quo.
Woodard needs to be honest and transparent when it’s uncomfortable. Mr. Woodard, would you like to tell us how and where he got a copy of a text message that was not submitted to evidence and therefore is not a part of the court records or transcripts? Woodard needs to be accurate and honest about Fields testimony because he never confirmed anything.
Livingston and Fields turned those over under a subpoena to the petitioner’s attorney. Court does not have them, so who else has a copy of them? Deductive reasoning would tell you that it was given to him by his “friends” meaning the petitioners legal team, or the petitioner herself. Why would they give a blogger a text without any context to put into his blog? It goes to prove this is about the Frisco Insiders or the machine to shutting me down. They are tired of being the headlines or questioned about dealings in this city.
Woodard wrote “This is not speculation. This is actual documentation from court proceedings. The text establishes a direct connection between the secret recordings and both Brittany and Erich Colberg acting together.” https://friscowatchdog.com/…/2026/04/Colberg-Text.pdf
Nothing in the court evidence shows or confirms that the Colberg’s “acted together” on anything. If that is considered evidence to publicly convict someone, then I would argue the fact that Ann Anderson, our new councilwoman, whose campaign page liked Bill’s Blog makes her guilty of working with him and being a part of these false accusations. Or recently re-elected Laura Rummel is guilty of collusion with Bill Woodard because she shared his blog attacking innocent Frisco residents (which she later took down). MYPOINT: THAT IS COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS! A like of a page, a reshare of a post, or a text to a friend is not an admission of guilt on anything.
Mr. Woodard owes the Colberg’s and the readers an apology for misleading them because nothing he published in this specific blog was from actual documentation from court proceedings. His claim is not speculation; it is 1000% pure speculation on his part. Speculation that came out right during early voting in order to possibly upset the apple cart or discredit a candidate.
For legal purposes I must put the following: 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.
I went to her to ask for help with an issue my child that was getting nowhere with the school,…
So whatever became of the $17 million dollars that the city council gave the Mayor to beautify a drainage ditch?
At last count, there are 3 different "spa/massage" businesses in the small office park at the northeast corner of John…
I literally just saw this. Yeah, she used to forward everybody’s emails behind their backs.
You're dropping truth bombs! These mom and pop shops are what should be the least of Karen's worries. If they…