As part of our commitment to keeping Frisco residents informed and engaged, we sent a candidate questionnaire to all three individuals running for Place 2 on the Frisco City Council. Using the contact information provided on the official candidate website, we reached out to each candidate via email, offering them an opportunity to share their views on issues that matter to our community.
Who took the time to respond? Only one candidate — Burt Thakur — replied to our questionnaire. We appreciate his willingness to engage with the voters and provide thoughtful responses to the questions submitted.
Unfortunately, Tammy Meinershagen and Sai Krishnarajanagar did not respond to our outreach. By choosing not to answer these citizen-submitted questions, they passed on an opportunity to directly address the concerns and interests of the very people they seek to represent. Tammy must be too busy selling her performing arts center and keeping Catchup Daddy in line. As for Sai, we have no idea what he would be up to – maybe getting another ear pierced.
For Whistleblower, being accountable to your constituents matters, and two of the candidates made it very easy for us to say The Whistleblower Team Proudly Endorses Burt Thakur!
**Please note we have not altered the candidates’ responses. If you would like a copy of their questionnaire, email us.**
Occupation and Background: Data Center Commissioning Engineer. I have also worked in power generation in operations. I am a U.S. Navy veteran and I served during 9/11 and was deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I am a graduate of the Naval Nuclear Power School.
Why are you running for the Frisco City Council? I’m running because I love Frisco and our residents. As taxpayers, we deserve careful stewards of our money, with elected leaders who make wise decisions. My infrastructure experience, coupled with established relationships with government leaders will help guide smart growth decisions and accelerate high velocity decisions for all Frisco residents.
Community and Development
What are your top three priorities for Frisco’s growth and development? 1. Lower Property Tax 2. Create Good Paying Jobs 3. Safe Streets – Proactively Fund Police & Fire and fix traffic
How do you plan to balance economic growth with maintaining community character? We must support and foster small business growth – as one small business owner told me, ‘Burt, i wish the city council was as excited about our business as they are about the flashier ones they are getting!’ There’s something to be said about going down main street and seeing ‘mom and pop’ shops and thriving businesses in the Railway district. By poor city planning with road construction, many of these businesses are struggling to get customers and now are having a difficult time making their lease payments. I’ll never forget the first night my wife and I drove through downtown and fell in love with Frisco and envisioned growing old here. We couldn’t believe we found our dream home , and we got to live in a city with a small town feel. I believe in growth – but I believe in sensible growth. I do not believe it is prudent to compete with Dallas or Ft. Worth – if we wanted to live there, we would have purchased a home there! I argue that instead of Universal Studios which will bring 25,000 people a day and disrupt our traffic among other issues or a poorly funded $380 Million Performing Arts Center – how about ensuring basic needs? Many want an animal shelter, a place for mental health help, a building for veterans groups, community center for parents with special needs children, or more recreational and athletic facilities. How about covered parking in school areas for protection from hail? For sensible economic growth, how about businesses which make money – like power plants, high tech manufacturing, data centers, start-up incubators, high tech research?
What is your stance on residential and commercial zoning changes? What I am against is subverting the intent of zoning changes to benefit private interested in city councils. For example, Irving approved a zoning change which paved the way for a casino resort near their stadium site. Ultimately, there are several bills in the Texas legislature which could remove the ability of local governments to control zoning. As this is uncharted territory, I have been researching different methods to potentially ensure we have more control at the local level – and therefor you, the voter, on helping guide zoning.
How will you ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with growth? We must upgrade our infrastructure. This includes water and sewer, substations and power transmission, internet and fiber lines, our roads as well. This is why it is imperative to ensure the basics are met before jumping into capital projects which impact our infrastructure.
Density continues to be a hot discussion for Frisco Residents. Cheney even did a video on Density seven years ago when running for Mayor. He said in that video that the resident’s ultimate concerns was the concept of density and what the ultimate build out population number should be.
At build out, the city’s comprehensive plan allows a maximum capacity of up to 350 thousand residents (building with maximum density). He then said in his campaign video that is not what people move to Frisco for, and he believed that to maintain quality of life, the population target goal should be around 280,000. He continued, we need to build out with world-class level developments with more open space, less multi-family all over the city, and an overall less dense environment. The last two years Cheney has changed his tune and said, “Density is a political dog whistle used at election time for political mailers.” What is your stance on Density? I agree with Mayor Cheney from 7 years ago.
Fiscal Responsibility and Budgeting
What would be your approach to managing the city’s budget while ensuring essential services are maintained? I’d call for a detailed budget analysis to identify inefficiencies and prioritize funding clearly toward essential services such as police and first responder services (safety), essential services, infrastructure, sanitation, and required community programs. I’d implement performance-based budgeting using specific KPIs to evaluate and optimize the effectiveness of expenditures, encouraging modernization and digitization as much as possible to improve efficiency and reduce costs. I’d look for areas where we could utilize AI services to reduce level of effort and costs. Additionally, I’d pursue EDC projects which create large economic possibilities (power plants, high tech manufacturing, data centers etc.), competitive grants, and carefully balanced tax policies to maintain economic attractiveness. To foster transparency and public trust, I’d engage citizens through community-driven budgeting and clear communication. I’d also attempt to engage county, state and federal leaders to discuss what initiatives are funded for collaboration and inclusion into programs if we have qualifying projects and needs
Do you believe Frisco’s current property tax rates are sustainable? Would you support any changes including cuts, increases or adjustments to the current property tax rates? Why or why not? I would try to lower Property Taxes. One method is to increase sales tax through new businesses which also have the potential of generating significant income (as described earlier) – thereby increasing sales tax revenues and reducing reliance on property taxes. We should also determine where we can create cost-saving measures within city operations like streamlining services and adopting efficient technologies, can decrease expenditures. We can also work to determine if we are paying for redundant services or if there are opportunities to combine services while we prioritize essential services. I’ll be advocating for increased county, state and federal funding to supplement local revenues. Another potential way could be through more effective management of unspent or unused bonds (according to our city website we have more than $150 Million). When bond funds remain unused or projects are completed under budget, these surplus funds can be strategically redirected or repurposed to pay down existing bond debt or fund upcoming projects which require new borrowing. The bonds can also be returned if feasible (or possible). Reducing the city’s overall debt obligations or avoiding additional debt issuance lowers annual debt-service payments, directly easing the burden on taxpayers and creating room to decrease property tax rates. Additionally, carefully monitoring bond expenditures and ensuring funds are allocated efficiently prevents unnecessary financial burdens, helping to maintain fiscal responsibility and taxpayer affordability in the long term.
What are your funding priorities for public safety, education, and infrastructure? For public safety – I’d prioritize proactive as opposed to reactive funding and staffing for a well-equipped police and fire department and first responders, investing in advanced training, modern technology, as well as better traffic studies and mitigations for traffic jams so we can maintain response times with the arrival of potentially 25,000 people from Universal Studios. For education, I’d work with the respective governing bodies and trustees to see what help they require and how we in the council can help find support for local schools to ensure adequate resources for modern classrooms, more school resource officers, innovative educational technology, and competitive teacher salaries. Infrastructure funding would target long-term sustainability and growth through investments in road expansions, improved traffic management systems, reliable utilities, and enhanced broadband connectivity—key elements in attracting high-tech employers and supporting future growth.
How would you plan to handle Frisco’s increasing debt and financial obligations? I would adopt a strategy rooted in transparency and fiscal discipline. By carefully prioritizing debt issuance exclusively for critical infrastructure and economic development projects, we can strategically control expenditures and reduce reliance on taxpayer-funded debt. Transparent financial reporting and open communication with the community will ensure residents clearly understand how funds are used and why debt decisions are made, fostering public trust. Simultaneously, leveraging unspent bond funds or surplus reserves to pay down existing debt will directly reduce the property tax burden. Creating an attractive economic environment through competitive taxation policies, targeted incentives, and streamlined permitting processes will draw investments from innovative sectors, generating higher-paying jobs and diversifying the local economy.
In December of 2021, the Mayor, Jeff Cheney had to vote in a rare tie breaker vote in regard to anemployee Health Clinic operated by Premise Health. At the time, city staff shared the results of a survey which collected responses from 684 of 1,239 city employees. Out of those 684, a total of 89.75% said they were likely or somewhat likely” to use the clinic for urgent care needs. Only 64.7% said they were likely to “somewhat use” the clinic as their primary care provider. Estimated expenses in the clinic’s first year total over $1.44 million, according to the proposed five-year budget. Those expenses include salaries, insurance, management/implementation fees and equipment purchases. The clinic’s fifth-year budget is listed at more than $1.31 million. It was projected that the clinic will operate at a loss in its first three years. The estimated cost for the first five years was $6.28 million. At the time there was a concern about how many years it could take to break even on the investment and how many employees would use the option. At the five-year mark if the clinic is still not breaking even would you support closing the Employee Wellness Clinic or continue to operate at a loss? I need to learn more about this issue. From reading the question, I’d like to determine the cost-benefit of this project. I’d like to learn where the money is being spent, and what opportunities exist to make this a profitable business. If there isn’t a way to make it profitable, and there is no need for this clinic, I would like to know what the exit strategies are for this clinic, and if it would be something that an organization like the Veterans Affairs would be interested in operating.
Should the city be in the business or running an Athletic Center, Performing Arts Center, or any other type of business model that mirrors a commercial business which has annual operational costs paid for by tax dollars? I do not like public-private partnerships which use our hard-earned tax dollars for operations and maintenance costs.
Transparency and Accountability
How will you ensure transparency in your decision-making process and open communication between the city council and residents? I’ll make myself available to residents. I’ll hold monthly townhalls, and attempt to visit various groups around our city on a regular basis . In addition, I will ensure my team releases all meeting minutes and I will make it a point to keep a weekly update of what work I performed at the end of the week. I believe it is important to ensure we complete projects which matter to people and, with accountability, you , the voter get a weekly update of the status of the various projects I’ll be working on and executing. This also allows me to solicit help from the members of the community who have good ideas on execution. In addition, many people have expressed their frustration on applying to various boards and being rejected. I don’t know the cause of this, and I’ll investigate – this process should be transparent, and should serve as a potential opportunity for us to raise the bar for serving on a board by having clearly defined requisites and a definable interview process where we can track metrics
Currently only the city council meeting is aired live, however many residents believe they should have access to live meetings for the different boards and commissions as well as well as the published minutes of the meetings should be more detailed as to what was discussed.
A. Do you support more increased public access to city council meetings, boards and commission meetings? Absolutely – we should have transparency and an opportunity to be informed in what various boards/commissions are proposing.
B. What steps would you take to improve access to meetings, meeting minutes and public records? I would introduce a motion to approve all meetings are streamed as well as meeting minutes available to the general public.
What is your definition of conflict of interest? If there is a possibility of favoritism for a company one owns or works for or if there is a significant opportunity to make money from a vote. Basically, if there is a potential abuse of power due to business interests which the politician has with their vote.
Do you support implementing a stricter ethics policy that puts a check on the influence of money in local politics which would require council members to recuse themselves from votes that could benefit donors who contributed more than $1000 or $2500.00 to a political campaign? Yes
Do you believe active members of the city council should be on the front lines advocating as “private citizens” for Propositions on the ballot during local elections? No – as an elected official, one has an enormous influence on the electorate. In essence they are the target of a lobbyist for a cause. While I am a firm believer in our 1st amendment rights , a politician masquerading as a private citizen when it is convenient for them to push an agenda is morally questionable.
Community Services and Quality of Life
What are your plans for enhancing public parks and recreation on Frisco’s East Side of the DNT? I the last city Council Meeting, the Parks and Recreation Open Space Master Plan was discussed. This included Shepherds Glen Park which will increase amenities for residents in east Frisco. Additionally, the Cottonwood Creek Trail Extension will extend the existing trail. Many residents I have spoken to like my idea of seeing if we can build an arboretum. This is something that I’d love to explore as a councilman and determine its feasibility
How do you plan to address traffic congestion across Frisco? I want to see what opportunities exist for smart infrastructure and leveraging AI-driven solutions. This could include integrating intelligent traffic management systems powered by AI algorithms to optimize traffic flow, dynamically manage intersections, and predicting congestion patterns in real-time, significantly reducing wait times and improving commuting efficiency. With Universal Studios bringing potentially 25,000 people a day, or the World Cup, we need to figure out solutions quickly. Expanding road capacity strategically, coupled with smart signaling technologies, could enhance overall traffic management. This would be in addition to the initiatives currently being worked on in city council.
Do you think Frisco has a public transportation need? From what I’ve read in Frisco’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan, it emphasizes enhancing mobility and exploring alternative transportation modes to accommodate future growth. If our population keeps growing at the rate proposed in the plan, I think we would need better public transportation provide mobility options for residents without personal vehicles, and support economic development by connecting workers to employment centers, and also potentially reduce traffic.
How will you engage with and listen to diverse voices of the community? By making myself available. Look, I don’t and won’t know everything. I will attempt to meet many members of our city, and I’ll hold monthly townhalls. I will also attempt to come to many events hosted by our vibrant communities. My office will have an open door policy for the residents of Frisco. Also, once a week, I’ll have coffee at a local business, and I’ll post those times and will broadcast a livestream where I’ll take questions from those who are unable to attend.
Public Safety
What measures will you take to ensure Frisco’s Police and Fire Department remain well-funded? My approach will focus on prioritizing public safety within the city’s budget planning, I want information to flow to the council as well – concerns and issues should never be punitive. I want to ensure Frisco remains one of the safest cities in the country so guaranteeing consistent and adequate resources for staffing, advanced training, and cutting-edge equipment is a top priority of mine. I’ll advocate for strategic fiscal policies that secure dedicated funding streams and explore alternative revenue sources to supplement city resources. Additionally, regular assessments and transparent evaluations of departmental needs including review of surveys will be conducted, ensuring funding allocations and departmental needs align effectively with public safety priorities. By actively communicating with residents about the critical importance of these investments, we will maintain strong community support for sustainable funding, thus safeguarding the high-quality services provided by our first responders.
For years the Frisco Firefighters Association has taken to the citizens input pulpit asking for more staffing (specifically going from a 3 Man Truck to a 4 Man Truck). Turnover has been high recently with Firefighters taking retirement and then going to work for other cities who are more supportive of their First Responders.
Do you support increased staffing and moving to a 4 Person Truck? Yes
What will you do to start repairing the relationship with our first responders to stop the turnover, so they stay here in Frisco, and we don’t lose that much needed experience and wisdom? I will actively engage in open and ongoing dialogue to clearly understand their needs, concerns, and ideas. We can work on improving compensation packages, expanding to national searches for attracting a larger talent pool, benefits, and career advancement opportunities. I want to ensure we are properly investing in comprehensive mental health and wellness programs to ensure their wellbeing. By cultivating a supportive environment built on respect, trust, and consistent communication, we can retain experienced personnel, preserve institutional knowledge, and enhance morale, ensuring that our community benefits from their invaluable expertise and helps to preserve a safe Frisco.
As Frisco continues to grow, do you believe Frisco’s current policies on crime prevention and emergency response are sufficient? Why or why not? While our police, fire and first responders have an incredible program, which is the envy of other mid size cities, there is only an upside in continuous investment in technology, personnel training, new skills as well as determining better community engagement and policies. As these departments see a need for growth opportunities, I want them to know that they will have an advocate for their expert opinions on what needs to be driven in the city council for maintaining Frisco’s safety.
Would you support removing Animal Services “out” from under Public Safety and turning it into its own department? Yes
Residents have been advocating for an animal shelter (instead of the partnership with Collin County) and the city keeps stalling, saying they are open to one with a public-private partnership. Do you believe Frisco should have its own Animal Shelter and Education Center? Do you believe it is a city service, or should it be a public-private partnership? Yes and this should be a city service.
Closing Statements
Is there anything you would like us to know about you that we have not asked? Here’s a fun fact – I’m a Jeopardy! champion, and I appeared on the last televised episode with Alex Trebek before his death.
What is the most important issue facing Frisco, and how do you plan to address it? Frisco residents should vote no on Propositions A, B, and E to protect both their financial interests and democratic rights. Propositions A and B would commit the city to substantial financial obligations—including $160 million in new bonds—for an extravagant performing arts center, potentially burdening taxpayers and risking future property tax increases if projected revenues fall short. With numerous comparable venues nearby, this costly investment is unnecessary and not aligned with recent calls from residents for fiscal prudence. Proposition E, meanwhile, would significantly diminish voter power by allowing the City Council to appoint replacements to vacant seats without voter input, potentially leading to political favoritism and reducing democratic accountability. Voting “no” ensures Frisco maintains responsible financial management and preserves citizens’ fundamental right to directly elect their representatives
Do you have any final messages for the voters? I would love to get your support dear reader. If you like my positions, please make sure you vote. Please tell 10 of your friends to vote for me as well. This election, more than ever, will determine Frisco’s futur. Please vote for Burt Thakur for Frisco City Council, Place 2.
Well folks, it’s that magical time again in Frisco—election season—when the lawn signs bloom like spring wildflowers, the political mailers clog our mailboxes faster than credit card offers, and the campaign coffers overfloweth… with cold, hard cash.
But not just any cash. Oh no, we’re talking about that sweet, sweet nectar of the gods: Developer Donation Dollars—a.k.a. Tammy’s Triple D’s.
Yes, in a stunning twist no one saw coming (except literally anyone who has watched city politics for five minutes), Councilwoman Tammy Meinershagen reported a jaw-dropping $40,833.64 in campaign contributions in just the last three months. That’s a lot of yard signs and catered meet-and-greets. But here’s where it gets juicy: $31,041.44—roughly 76%—came from developers who have current or future projects in the pipeline and paving Frisco one luxury development at a time.
Coincidence? Just your average neighborhood bake sale gone wild? Or maybe developers just have an intense passion for local democracy… the kind of passion usually accompanied by architectural renderings and infrastructure impact studies. Why are these developer titans so invested in our humble city council races? Are they just really, really into zoning meetings? Or could it be they know that in Frisco, if you want to shape the skyline, you’ve got to shape the council first?
Let’s put on our rubber gloves and dig through the money trail, one donation at a time—name, company, and what exactly they’re building in our backyard. Spoiler alert: it’s not a public park. Grab your hard hats, folks. It’s time to follow the bulldozers—and the bucks.
$1000: Todd & Heather Lisle: Todd worked at Forvis Accounting until he retired. According to the Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports each year on the city website, “FORVIS, Certified Public Accountants, has issued unmodified (“clean”) opinions on the City of Frisco’s financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2023. The report of the independent auditors is located at the beginning of the Financial Section.”
$2000 Each: Theresa & Michael Sinacola, James Sinacola and Joseph Sinacola – works on projects every day in Frisco for private developers and the city projects.
$3000: Philip Rose – CrossTie Capital (Frisco Fields Development)
$3000: Fehmi and Elizabeth Karahan – Karahan Companies (Frisco Fields Development)
$5000: Robert Shaw – Columbus Realty Partners (Frisco Fields Development)
$5000: Richard Reupke – Partner and Chief Financial Officer at Columbus Realty Partners since the firms inception in 1999. They own Twelve Cowboys Way Luxury Apartments and are involved in PGA/North Fields developing a Class A Multifamily development in Frisco.
In-Kind (Non-Monetary) Donation:
$9,892.34 Craig Hall – Founder of Hall Group For Kickoff Venue/Food/Beverage
Other donors include:
$500: Jason Denton – Local Businessman and on the Frisco CDC Board
$1500: Answer Azam – Local CPA and Former Candidate For Council
Political Expenditures Made:
$5000: Cynergy-Ink ** We could find no company website for this company, no franchise tax id account in Texas and the address but the address comes back to a home registered to a woman whose social media says she does Graphic Design
$2900: Campaign Management Services for a mobile app and we can not find anything on this company but they appear on several candidate campaign finance reports for campaign services.
And there you have it, folks. Just another heartwarming tale of local democracy, where average citizens like you and me—armed with nothing but a mortgage, three kids, and a dog that eats Legos—are expected to go toe-to-toe with deep-pocketed developers who treat campaign donations like they’re dropping quarters into a casino slot machine that spits out zoning variances.
Some residents are tired of wondering why that five-story mixed-use “village” just popped up where the park used to be, or why our street floods every time someone flushes during a light drizzle—maybe, just maybe—we should follow the money (unless you don’t want to ruin the surprise). I know, I know… who has time to read campaign finance reports when “The Bachelor of Frisco Lakes: Retirement Village” is on? We’ve got real problems—like whether our HOA will fine us for leaving your garbage bin out 14 minutes too long. It leaves us no time to wonder why our city council candidate suddenly got $40,000 from developers who wants to turn a pasture into a “luxury lifestyle hub.” That’s just a coincidence! Pure civic enthusiasm!
But hey, democracy’s working just fine. As long as by “democracy,” you mean a handful of land speculators playing Monopoly with real houses, real traffic, and your real tax dollars. We have shouted it from the rooftops of Frisco homes, trying to warn you that when that same candidate tells you they “can’t be bought,” they’re technically telling the truth—because let’s be honest, at this point they’re on layaway. Just waiting to be delivered after the election.
Back on May 14, 2024, we filed our first PIR related to a performing arts center. We asked for all the studies and documents related to those reports from consulting groups or third parties like Frisco ISD or Hall Group.
On May 24, 2024, we got a tip from an inside source and we released breaking news in a Facebook Post that Craig Hall backed out from the Performing Arts Center at Hall Park. Today we ponder, did he know something about the project, or how the scope of the project was changing that we didn’t at the time? Possibly, but looking back we think he was a smart man for getting out along with Frisco ISD at the time.
On May 30, 2024, we received a letter from the city secretary that, due to confidentiality issues, the City has chosen to seek a ruling from the Attorney General regarding a portion of the responsive documents. We were not surprised! Now we want you to STOP AND THINK ABOUT … what did they not want the public to see it? For a city telling you this FCFA project is the cherry on top of the city, why do they continue to delay and withhold information? As a voter, if that does not concern you, it should!
At the February 7thCity Council Meeting future candidates took to citizens input under Agenda Item 38 (starting at the 2:25:00 mark).
First up, Jared Elad, candidate for City Council Place 4. Elad stated he had been a resident for 11 years, and he first became aware of this project when he learned the city’s partnership with Frisco ISD fell through due to disagreements over the scope of the project. Frisco ISD is moving forward with a 55-million-dollar facility as we speak to serve its students.
Elad stated he was concerned about Frisco residents maintaining and operating this project in perpetuity. He said it had been stated that this project could cost up to $6 million per year to maintain and he asked the council and the city if they had really done their analysis to make sure it won’t go higher than that? He finds it even more concerning that we are in a partnership with Prosper ISD, which limits the location options since it will have to be within Prosper ISD boundaries. He said that boundary limitations will make the project less accessible to most Frisco Residents. Elad asked why the city was unable to reach an agreement with Frisco ISD, and why it could not have been reworked to serve the Frisco residents better. Now we are left with not 1 but 2 Frisco Performing Arts Centers that the Frisco residents will have to support.
Another concern of his was the city signing a letter of intent with Broadway Access – he noted that a letter of intent is not binding. Without a signed agreement, there is no guarantee that this partnership will come to fruition. That could leave Frisco residents with a facility to maintain and a facility that won’t meet its projected potential revenue. Elad went on to say it has been reported that the Dallas Performing Arts Center is struggling financially as we speak, due to the pandemic and the nature of consumers’ habits changing. He looked at the council and asked, “What makes us think we can do better?”
As for the jobs, he said it will only create a minimum number of jobs, other than the construction phase. While he appreciates the other public-private partnerships like The Star and Frisco PGA, he believes this one will go too far with the potential cost burden it will put on Frisco residents. He closed, asking the council to reconsider the priorities for Frisco and to make sure we are fiscally responsible.
Next up was Burt Thakur, candidate for City Council Place 2. He said he absolutely loves the arts, supports the arts, and believes in the power of the arts to change people. He talked about how when he was in the military, he would use the power of books to transform himself in other places, giving his mind some peace. He said the question of whether we like or support the arts is not what is in front of us at this moment.
The question before us today is are we being financially responsible, and do we have the right priorities in line. Are we good stewards of taxpayer dollars? Thakur went on to say that on Friday the proposed number was $360 million, then a few days later the number was adjusted to $340 million. Then he pointed out, if you take the graphic in the presentation, that ads up to $380 million. Why are we being given vague ranges with an 80 million dollar variance for the cost? Where are the specifics?
Thakur brought up his concern regarding the yearly O&M (operational/maintenance) costs potentially facing Frisco residents. Can we justify this when we, as a city, have other pressing needs that are unfunded? He also touched on the Frisco ISD theater and said, with one already in progress, how is there not a way to find a potential to combine the two and mitigate risk? Thakur mentioned how police and fire have all asked for additional staffing, which costs a fraction of the yearly operational costs, yet the city can’t find the money for that. We don’t have a proper animal shelter, nor do we have a building for our Veterans. We need a space for the local VFW and other Veteran organizations to meet. Thakur said he loves the arts, but he believes in responsible governance, and he asked the council to work smarter, take a step back, and make sure we are funding our needs first. Thakur closed with; We owe it to the people of Frisco to prioritize wisely.
Next up Josh Meek, candidate for City Council Place 4. Meek started by voicing his support agenda item 38 & 39. With the amount of time, money and resources invested in this project we need to reach an answer. He then said that answer needs to come from no one else but Frisco citizens. He hopes that the council allows citizens to vote sooner, rather than later because prolonging it could have increased costs.
Meek went on to say Frisco is ultimately a destination location and he thinks that it would be a far, far oversight to not explore the potential we have when it comes to partnering with Broadway. Meek said he has two boys and when Hamilton came out, they looked at traveling halfway across the country to have that experience so why would he not allow this to be in his own backyard. When you start to break it down a big part of what has made us successful is that we have created these areas for people to visit and experience. He believes that this should go to the ballot. He said we have four districts that cover Frisco so while many are asking why we not partnered with Frisco ISD, maybe we should be asking why we have not partnered with the other ISDs and should we more in the future (Lewisville ISD, Little Elm ISD, Prosper ISD). Meek said he is on the CDC Board, and he has had the opportunity to see the benefits we will have from this.
Besides the council meeting we got an email from another candidate, Jerry Spencer, candidate for Frisco City Council Place 4. He wrote; I am opposed to the Arts Center in its current form. I especially do not like taking money from economic development and community development. I want to get away from this sports/tourism obsession and go after emerging technology/medical research, etc., with the sales tax money. Instead of Sport City USA, we need to re-brand ourselves Brain City USA! I have no problem with a REGIONAL Arts Center. Let’s do one with Plano, McKinney, Allen and Denton. It will take some work, but with effort it can be done. Then, we spread the costs over 1 million people, rather than the 235,000 in Frisco. The per capita costs would come way down. In closing, my website will be up in a few days
Lastly, while he is not running now he did run in 2024, we want to recognize that John Redmond spoke at the council meeting in early February. He said, in theory, he liked the idea of the Performing Arts Center. However, he feels we have spent tons of bond for a community theater and spent the last focused on a highly commercial, very large-scale performing arts center. Redmond went on to say he believes these decisions have been made based on the input of a very small select group of people and not based on the voice of Frisco residents.
Whistleblower Opinion Time: While many will say Whistleblower hates the arts, that is simply not true. My son was in community theater since middle school. We had to take him to other cities to do community theater shows. What we support is a community theater venue for our residents and nearby visitors. We don’t support a monstrosity theater built for Broadway shows and concerts. I asked my son the other day what do you think about this Broadway thing in Frisco? He said dad Broadway isn’t just about the performance it is about New York, the lights, the theaters, the city itself creates the experience of Broadway. Seeing Lion King in Dallas or Fort Worth doesn’t elicit the same response as you traveling to New York and encapsulating the entire experience of Broadway. We agree with him!
We appreciate hearing from the candidates because we believe they will be the future of this city. We believe if residents rise and vote for change, we could see different things coming from the council pulpit. One thing never escapes us, why did Frisco ISD and Craig Hall backout? What did they know or what did they see change that they didn’t agree with? We have analyzed this project in every way we can and a few points keep popping up:
1. Frisco has a lot going on right now with the Frisco PGA, Fields build-out, Universal, Toyota Stadium overhaul, downtown revitalization, Grand Park, and more. So many of these things have not been finished, and now we are going to start another project. Are we overextending ourselves and soon to hit a bubble of sorts?
2. Where is the HEART of Frisco? Every city has an area that is the original heartbeat of the city. Where is that for Frisco? We lost the heartbeat of our rich history that dates back to the late 19th century. Initially, a railroad stop, and hub for the railway, we lost that cultural historical heritage instead of building around it and putting it into everything we do. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could take the local railway as our public transportation from downtown up to the PGA for dinner, then over to the theater for dinner?
It could have been awesome, but instead we just set up a museum to hold pictures of our heritage and how many people actually visit that each year. The reason some of these cities the Chamber visited on their “Leadership Travel” were so great is because they built around their history. Instead, Frisco just built over it!
3. The location of PAC being at 380 and the DNT, so it is in Prosper ISD boundaries, which does limit the access to Frisco residents. How could we not have solidified a deal with Craig Hall, who was offering the land as a donation? The land they are proposing we use today for this project was purchased years ago by the city with the intent to sell it one day. Why? They knew it would be worth millions along the 380 / DNT corridor. Taxpayers paid for that land! It was not free to the city! We spent money back then to make money today to help pay off our debt obligations.
4. EDC & CDC: Where did that money come from? Sales Tax! They want you to believe this is not your money, it’s all those tourists who come here. Do you grocery shop here, eat here, buy gas here? If you do, then you are paying for it!
What was it designated for? Community Development and Economic Development – it was not originally intended for a Performing Arts Center. If you read the slide about the Frisco Model vs Venue Management Model you will see the private partners in the sports model operate these partnerships without on-going operational funding from the City. These are partners like the PGA, Omni, The Cowboys all with strong financial backing.
In the Frisco Center For Arts model we have no idea who the Private Operator will be. The financial model is DEPENDENT on overall financial milestones for fundraising. What happens if the economy goes to crap and people are not donating – who covers that cost then? You…and me! It also states the private partner operates with LIITED ON-GOING OPERATIONAL FUNDING from the city. We agree with the candidates why so VAGUE – where is the CERTAINITY? Why are you asking us to vote on so many “What If’s?” Words like dependent, limited, don’t make me feel comfortable.
Lastly, will it deplete the CDC and EDC money for other potential projects? Okay it brings construction jobs here during development – are you in construction? It will have a few salary jobs to run the theater but will the hourly jobs to clean it, be an usher or attendant help you pay for your million-dollar house? What jobs will this bring to Frisco that are viable economic jobs that people can live on in Frisco? None! What happens if we ever faced another Pandemic? During that time a survey showed that the Dallas Arts suffered a $67.7 Million dollar loss. Who will pay for it then?
Mayor Cheney and his protégés Tammy Meinershagen, Bill Woodard, John Keating, and Laura Rummel must have every project be so great, so grand! It’s like they all suck on the same bottle of whiskey every night and pass the blunt until they have the same stories lined up. Time to say enough, otherwise we might be setting ourselves up for some hard times ahead in Frisco. Slow down, smell the roses! Fix the infrastructure and stop lying to citizens. Life would be so much better.
In Frisco, there is a permission process for running for office. What do we mean by permission process? Let us share: if you are interested in running for city council, you need to let Mayor Cheney know, and he will notify his henchwoman, Lorie Medina. Medina will then let you know if you have permission and if you are qualified enough to run for office. Suppose you don’t have the support of Cheney and Medina, otherwise known as the leaders of the established Frisco cabal. In that case, they will make it very difficult for you by turning to their developer friends to fund the campaigns of the “Cabal Approved” candidates.
How do we know this? It is what we have been told by several previous candidates who ran for office against the Medina Machine! If you want to run for office in Frisco, you must have their blessing, and they will give you the “pathway” to the dais of the council. But first, one must pay their dues, of course, or they will be told, “It’s just not your turn yet!”
It makes you wonder why any rational human being would want or try to run for office in Good Ole Frisco! Maybe they believe in things like community service and making a difference. Maybe they think local government should be more than a rubber stamp for developers. Then again, maybe—just maybe—they’re the rare type of person who enjoys the thrill of fighting voter apathy that plagues our elections. Either way, this time around Frisco residents have choices, and it is up to them to get off the couch, stop making excuses, and vote for change. Otherwise, you will once again find yourself asking why your city council makes decisions without your input. Remember, you had a chance to care. You just didn’t. Let’s look at who is running for Place 4! To be fair, we will go in order of their names on the ballot.
First up is Joshua Meek, whose filing application states he is a Real Estate Professional! According to his website, he is “Your Local Real Estate Expert” – just what we need, another Realtor! According to another site, Meek Industries, of which he is the Founder and CEO, they are a diversified holding company with a mission to acquire and grow attractive investments that generate sustainable cash flow. What? It does not list any partners, investments they are involved in, etc.
According to his political website, he has attended 133 Frisco City Council Meetings. Have you ever wondered who is that guy who sometimes wears a baseball hat and sits right behind the podium where everyone speaks to the council – that is Meek. He was appointed to the Frisco Community Development Corporation Board and has been involved in several notable projects. It touts he is a community leader, who over the last 14 years served in a variety of Frisco organizations and community positions including, Frisco Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Visit Frisco Board Member, member of the Frisco Rotary Club, Leadership Frisco class graduate, and Citizens Police and Fire Academy graduate.
What is Meeks Platform? Well, it says he wants “THRIVING PARTNERSHIPS” and touts our success is due to those partnerships with DEVELOPERS, school districts, healthcare systems and higher educational institutions. He goes on to say these partnerships must be PRIORTIZED as we finalize Frisco’s buildout. Truth is he is the young Cheney who is all about development and developers from what we can tell.
Next up he wants to “Pioneer Innovation” and somehow relates that to public safety. He believes that integration of technology and artificial intelligence can further enhance the high-quality performance of Frisco’s first responders. Personally, I don’t think AI can fight a house fire or stop an armed robbery the way our actual first responders can!
Lastly, he wants to “Leverage Economics” and he will continue to lower the tax rate by leveraging the use of sales tax revenue. That way Frisco CDC and EDC are able to create funding sources to help strategically fund parks, projects and attract employers that many other communities. What caught our attention was his comment “By continuing to invest in Frisco as a destination location” but do Frisco Residents want to be a destination location or a community. He also forgot to mention the CDC or EDC will fund a big Performing Arts Center that the cabal wants.
Next up Jared Elad whom we have nicknamed “The Beard” from his yellow signs popping up! His application lists his occupation as a small business owner. According to his website, he came from a modest upbringing in Tennessee and Oklahoma and got a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University.
He began his career as a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch and later worked at Wells Fargo and BB&T/Truist as a Financial Advisor and Vice President. In 2024, he went independent to better serve his clients. Elad is married to Stephanie Elad (FISD Board Member) and has two daughters. Jared currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Villages of Stonelake HOA.
Jared Elad’s website goes on to say he wants to Eliminate excess spending, Lower taxes, Accomplish the budget, and be Dependable to the community. Get it ELAD! He touts we need fiscal responsibility with transparency, and he wants every taxpayer dollar spent efficiently, and wants to cut out wasteful expenses with a focus on projects that bring true value to “FRISCO RESIDENTS.”
Elad’s site also goes on to say he will support Public Safety, and he is dedicated to partnering with Frisco PD and Fire to ensure they have the resources, training, and equipment needed to serve and protect all Frisco residents effectively. He is for Community Friendly Development & Growth that supports economic vitality while not forgetting that it needs to align with the needs, concerns and wants of “FRISCO RESIDENTS.”
Lastly, Jared Elad has some cute pet videos and displays his support for Frisco Pets on his Facebook page. For the pet lovers, he had declared he is for a new pet shelter to ensure the safety and well-being of Frisco pets. As soon as he displayed his support for pets, the first comment came from an infamous Cabel supporter, Jake Petras, who stated he would also love a pet shelter and asked how we would fund it. Funny because we have seen many posts where Petras attacks pet people and the idea of a shelter, so we have to assume the cabal has him at work again being their mouthpiece to put other candidates running on defense or at least try!
Next up we have Jerry Spencer, and his application states he is an investor. He has lived in Texas for 76 years and over 20 years in Frisco. We could not find a website for Spencer, but we did find a Facebook page, but it was also limited to information. We sent a message asking if he had any platform ideas he wanted to share for our article.
Spencer responded that he lives on the east side of the tollway in Plantation. He would like to see Frisco shift the focus from sports, tourism, and being a destination city and broaden our economic base with a much greater emphasis on attracting emerging technology and 21st century industries such as AI, robotics, drone technology, autonomous driving, medical research, etc.
Spencer would like to also put a focus on regional cooperation with our regional partners in both Denton and Collin County. He believes Frisco has a Lone Ranger mentality, and he would like to see us have a regional performing arts center where we pair up with Plano, McKinney and Allen. There are 235,000 people in Frisco, but more than 750,000 in those four cities. The per capita costs of an arts center drop dramatically when spread over four cities. He said working together would be a better solution.
Next, we have Gopala Ponangi, whose occupation is listed as a Business Owner. He has lived in Texas for 24 years and spent 21 of those years in Frisco, Texas. Gopal is married with two daughters and has a pet Shih Tzu named Coco. He is a small business owner with an emphasis in Digital Marketing for Financial Services and Real Estate. If Gopal’s name sounds familiar it should, as he has served on the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees, Place one. His website at the time said, “Education is my passion, and I will strive to give my best to our students and the community.”
According to his website for Place 4 City Council, he says he is proud to be an active member of Frisco, leaving initiatives through nonprofits with a focus on Education, Healthcare and the Fine Arts. His bio states he is the Past Director of the Frisco Economic Development Corporation. He also was a founding Co-Chair of the Mayors Adhoc Committee for the Frisco Indian Affairs which has now taken the shape of the Multicultural Committee under Frisco Boards and Commissions. He touts on his website how he has served on several committees through FISD.
As for his Vision for Frisco, he would like to focus on more local jobs through smart, responsible growth. He would also like to see an improvement in traffic and will work to prioritize smart traffic solutions to keep Frisco moving forward. He is committed to Public Safety and will prioritize funding to ensure our first responders have the necessary resources to protect citizens.
After reviewing Gopal’s website, we had two questions. First if he is passionate about education then why is he running for city council? Second, he states he served on a lot of boards which made us wonder how he had the time? If you investigate his attendance for some of these boards, he boasts about it appears he was absent at 99% of the meetings. If he can’t show up for boards/committees/meetings, etc. then why would we think he will show up for city council meetings and all the duties that come with that role.
Lastly, we haveSangita Datta, and her application states her occupation as a financial specialist, having lived in Frisco for the last 6.5 years. We assume Datta is a Frisco Socialite because we constantly see her at events, and she has helped each of our current council members campaign during election cycles. According to her website, she is committed to making Frisco a better place to live, work, and grow. Her service journey began in Mother Teresa’s house in Kolkata, where she learned the meaning of life, compassion, and giving back to the community.
Datta’s platform includes promoting economic growth and fiscal responsibility through attracting quality jobs and supporting local businesses, using city resources wisely to keep taxes low, and fostering an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive. Secondly, she stands for enhancing a family-friendly community life by investing in parks, playgrounds, and community spaces and supporting initiatives that help working parents maintain Frisco’s reputation as a great city. Hmmm, we have initiatives that maintain our city’s reputation. Do tax dollars pay for that? Datta also wants to ensure safety and preserve Frisco’s unique character. After reading her site, we are not sure how preserving the city’s character affects safety, but hopefully, we have time to learn during the debates.
She believes her experience serving on the City of Frisco Parks & Recreation Board, Ambassador for the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, as Treasurer for the Indian Association of North Texas, and as an Ambassador for the Frisco Inclusion Committee will help her while serving on City Council. Datta also graduated from the Leadership Frisco, Citizens Police Academy and completed the City 101 programs.
That rounds out your choices for Place 4! Meeks reminds us of a young Cheney Real Estate mogul in training. Elad is a marketing genius with “The Beard” and we are excited to learn more about him in the debates. The pet-friendly Frisco will most likely gravitate to Elad because he has openly said he supports an animal shelter. Gopal is the obvious Cabel plant as he “supports the arts” meaning a Performing Arts Center. Proof that Gopal is one of the implants in his kickoff photos with Keating and Pelham.
We would like Gopal to explain his attendance record for previous positions he has held and tell us how it will be different this time. In our opinion, Datta should be madder than a wet hen that those she supported for years are not showing her the same respect she has shown them over the years. We need more clarification regarding her platform, and we are concerned her relationships with the current council means she will stay “inline” with what the Cheney Machine wants. However, we could be wrong, maybe there has been a clear line drawn in the sand of friendship. As for Spencer, we just don’t know enough about the person or platform to offer an opinion. The Whistleblowers want change – however that comes! We want independent individuals who will make their own decisions and not follow the gravy train of the current council members.
Frisco is the home of perfectly manicured lawns, HOA emails no one reads, and a voter turnout rate that could make a ghost town look politically engaged. Every election cycle, a handful of brave souls decide to throw their hats in the ring for city council, only to be met with the resounding enthusiasm of… crickets. Why would anyone subject themselves to this? Good question. Running for office in Frisco is basically signing up to shake hands with people who won’t vote, attend forums that barely fill a Starbucks, and post on social media only to get three likes (one from your mom). And yet, candidates still do it.
Let’s play a game: Ask your friends and neighbors what they know about the upcoming Frisco elections. Chances are, you’ll get a mix of blank stares, mumbled guesses, or the classic “Wait, we have an election?” Well, here’s a crash course: February 14th was the last day to file for a spot on the ballot (so if you were thinking about running, too late—better luck next cycle). The real fun begins with early voting on April 22nd, leading up to the final day to cast your vote on May 4th (not April 3rd, by the way). During this time, our fire stations and schools will be transformed into democracy hubs, filled with voting machines that will see depressingly low foot traffic.
Meanwhile, candidates will be busy breaking the city’s sign ordinance, because let’s be honest, rules only seem to apply to challengers. The city turns a blind eye when incumbents plaster their signs wherever they please, but if a newcomer so much as breathes near the wrong patch of grass, code enforcement swoops in like the fun police. It’s all just part of the charming tradition we call local politics.
Whistleblower is here to educate and let you know about the candidates! For City Council Place 2 we have Burt Thakur, Sai Krishnarajanagar against Tammy Meinershagen. Let’s dive into them!
Burt Thakur, a former Navy Veteran, and a longtime resident of Frisco previously made a run for Congress. Burt Thakur was born in New Delhi and raised by his maternal grandparents. He spent his childhood in India, where his grandfather was responsible for the care of the national forests, tigers, and land management. He moved to New York in the late 1980s and later attended Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania. After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Navy. Burt served as a nuclear reactor operator on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman. He was honorably discharged in 2006, after serving for 6 years. Thakur is an engineer project manager who facilitates the construction process for large data centers. He also appeared on Jeopardy and was interviewed in the Winners Circle.
Thakur recently addressed the Frisco City Council to address the issue of the Performing Arts Center and fiscal responsibility. If passed, the measures would allow the city to use $160 million to build the Frisco Center for the Arts. The center, designed to host Broadway-level shows, is estimated to cost more than $300 million.
Burt Thakur’s website states he has a vision for a Stronger, Safer and Thriving Frisco. Burt is a champion for veterans and their access to care and has helped many veterans get access to their benefits. In Frisco, Burt wants to ensure a space is granted for veterans’ organizations like the VFW and American Legion to share. As his best friend from the military committed suicide, Burt knows first-hand the value that a community and shared space can provide to his brothers and sisters who served. He also states that “integrity” is a commitment to ethical leadership. He states “True leadership is built on honesty, transparency, and accountability. I have always stood for ethical decision-making, responsibility, and staying true to my principles.
Next, we have Sai Krishna who ran in 2020 for council place 3 back in 2020. According to the Dallas Morning News Voter Guide in 2020, Krishna is a Registered Nurse with an associate’s degree in nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a master’s in business administration. He also is an Insurance Provider. During his 2020 race, Krishna had only lived in Frisco for 3.5 years. According to the guide he had not served on city boards or commissions at the time of the 2020 race. We could not find a working website for Krishna, or anything published online about his 2025 run for council.
Lastly, we have Tammy Meinershagen who currently sits on the Frisco City Council in Place 2 and has lived in Frisco for over 20 years. In a recent January 2025, Local Profile highlight Meinershagen was asked what her first impression of Texas was, and she replied “I had such a bad impression of Texas — I really did not want to come. I didn’t want to move to Frisco, and I certainly didn’t want to become a Texan. I expected everyone to be in cowboy boots and hats, and I had heard several stories of racism in Texas that also concerned me. I just didn’t think I’d ever feel at home in Texas. I pushed really hard against it for many, many years.” She went on to say that her opinion has changed because she has realized the diversity Texas offers.
Since being here and getting invested in Frisco, she became the Multicultural Chair for the Greater Frisco’s Council of PTA’s which led her to get involved in The City of Frisco. She helped organize the first multicultural float for the community in 2011 and worked on the Citizens Bond Committee, where she advocated for the arts center. Meinershagen was named the “Spirit of Frisco” by the Frisco Chamber of Commerce and one of CEO MOM Magazine’s Power 15. She is also the first Asian-American to serve on the Frisco City Council, and she made history as the first Korean-American female elected to any City Council in the State of Texas. Meinershagen is also a professionally trained musician and can play the piano and violin.
She is asking for you to “Re-Elect” her but remember we never “ELECTED” her to begin with. Meinershagen was set to run against the incumbent, Shona Huffman, who choose to resign from her current seat and withdraw from the race to focus on recovering from a breast cancer diagnosis. An election was never held and Meinershagen “won by default” meaning we never ELECTED her. This will be her first actual race for City Council. A Community Impact article from Feb 28, 2022, reads, “Tammy Meinershagen to ASSUME Place 2 on Frisco City Council; May election for city to be canceled.” The article states that according to Mayor Jeff Cheney, Meinershagen will FILL THE SEAT and went on to say they are CANCELING the May 7, 2022, election since both races were uncontested.
Meinershagen made headlines recently on Frisco Chronicles when we wrote about her husband’s involvement with Ketchup Caddy. In 2022, her husband Todd Meinershagen AGREED to pay more than $525,000, including interest, for his role in market manipulation related to the company Ketchup Caddy.
Meinershagen is a very prominent supporter of the Frisco Arts and the new Performing Arts Center. She supports the bond being put before voters for a $300+ million-dollar theater that will cost residents anywhere from $5 to $6 million a year to operate of city tax dollars. Meinershagen also supported the controversial Universal Kids Studios project over objections by local homeowners. Remember the “BAIT & SWITCH” that changed at the last minute during the development meeting before the council vote. Meinershagen was one of the loudest supporters on social media selling us the part would only be operating from 10am to 6pm when it is was actually 8/9am to 9/10pm. She also told us rollercoasters would be 40 to 50 feet high, but they are actually able to go up to 100 feet high. She used social media to sell it one way when she knew the whole time they were going to make last minute changes.
Lastly Meinershagen, stepped out front and center against our Frisco Firefighters last year during the election. While they have been asking for more firefighters, she adamantly agrees with the stance of the city leadership that everything is just fine. She claimed she was not representing herself as a council person at the polls but just a regular old resident with a passion for the issue. Residents don’t often spend that much time at the polls holding signs unless it is for a purpose, group or team.
What are your thoughts on Place 2? Will you get out to vote? We will be sending a questionnaire to all three candidates soon with some hard-hitting questions so it will be interesting to see how they respond, or if they even will respond. Next up we dive into Place 4 and the 5 candidates running for that position.
If you live in Frisco, then you should know the name Cameron Kraemer. Kraemer, the former Assistant Fire Chief, was fired after 27+ years with the city. During his time with the Frisco Fire Department, he served as Deputy Chief, Battalion Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, Firefighter and Paramedic. But last year in 2023 Kraemer’s name was the subject of many headlines. Community Impact’s headline read, “Frisco Assistant Fire Chief Kraemer fired after nearly 30 years” and The Dallas Express headline read, “Local Assistant Fire Chief Kraemer Fired.”
Why would the City of Frisco fire such a long-standing employee? Kraemer’s history with the city goes deep, his dad Tom Kraemer, who recently passed away, worked for the city’s communications department for around 19 years. A Facebook post by the Frisco Fire Fighters Association on May 2, 2023 read, “Regrettably, Assistant Chief Kraemer has been terminated by the City of Frisco after 27 years of service, without being given the opportunity to go through the appeals process and contested case hearings,” the post read in part. The post went on to say that Kraemer went on leave in August 2022 for post-traumatic stress disorder. According to the Frisco Fire Fighters Association, Kraemer filed for workers’ compensation for PTSD in December 2022, citing Section 504.019 of the Texas Labor Code. The department denied Kraemer’s claim. He is appealing the decision. The post closed with the following remark, “It is disheartening to witness the dismissal of a Firefighter with significant tenure in this way, particularly in a city that prides itself on its care and regard for its employees.”
At Frisco Chronicles, we felt something smelled like a freshly cooking, Cowboy Cow Pile Patty, smoldering in our Texas 110-degree summer heat. That is a nice way of saying something smelled like ShXt. We started to dig, and we uncovered some dirty back door dealings about the city which we disclosed in our 12 days of Christmas Articles (check the archives). We were curious what would happen next with Kraemer, and we didn’t have to wait long to find out.
Cameron Kraemer took his workers’ compensation case before the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) claiming he was undergoing treatment for long-term post-traumatic stress when the city terminated him and denied his claims for medical coverage. On September 21, 2023, the case went before the TDI in Dallas and the administrative law judge who heard the case ordered the City of Frisco, which is self-insured, to pay Kraemer benefits and any accrued but unpaid income benefits in a lump sum with interest as provided by law.
On October 12, 2023, the Frisco Firefighters Association released a Press Release that was posted to their Facebook page that reads, “The state ruled that Cameron’s injury was compensable under the workers’ compensation law. We are working with the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters to review Cameron’s options for going forward.” Attached to the post was a Press Release and it quotes Matthew Sapp, President of the Frisco Fire Fighters Association, as saying “Cameron Kraemer was undergoing treatment for LINE-OF-DUTY injuries clearly recognized by the state legislature and medical experts, but the City of Frisco CHOSE TO BREAK THE LAW, deny him insurance coverage and terminate him.” The press release noted: The city WASTED TAXPAYER RESOURCES on this case!
The win was also reported across local news and newspapers. The Dallas Morning News headline reads “Frisco Firefighter fired while on medical leave WINS WORKERS’ COMP CASE.” The article noted Kraemer was still undergoing treatment for long-term post-traumatic stress disorder. Kraemer is quoted as saying, “They took away my job, it took away all my benefits, they took away everything, and they wanted me to retire.” Kraemer refused to retire and went through the appeals process. “I’m still young so I’m penalized for retiring before the age of 50 as a first responder. I’m only 46,” he said. “And the reality is I’ve got three teenagers, and they had to walk through this process with us. And the amount of strain and tension and stress and anxiety that it puts on the house, you can’t even quantify it.”
While many don’t believe that PTSD is a real issue, it is! Ask yourself this, if you saw a 45-foot Frisco Fire Truck back up and pin a fellow firefighter against the wall of a city building, then after you had to clean up the blood and bodily fluids at the scene and notify the fellow firefighter’s family, COULD YOU HANDLE IT? The incident, discussed in the DMN articles is what Cameron Kraemer and our fellow Frisco Firefighters see every day! As a holistic person I can only imagine the impact it has on your mind, body, spirit and soul. Do you think Sassy Lauren Safranek, the City HR Director, or any of our fellow city council members have witnessed anything like this or worse? How about seeing it throughout your 27-year career, are you sure you could handle it?
Truthfully, my wife and I could not imagine seeing the devastation and destruction these men and woman in both our Police and Fire departments see daily. You probably think the city did the right thing but of course they didn’t. Instead, they sent their attack boar Bobblehead Bill Woodard on social media to pass out false information on Kraemer’s case and attack our first responders during the most recent election. Why is a city councilman releasing personal details in an ongoing case on social media? We are glad he did because it made our spidey little senses rise and we started investigating and will write about that in our next article.
Where is Cameron Kraemer now? Well, he is still receiving treatment, and his case had to go before the DOJ to determine if he was able to sue the city for his wrongful termination. Yesterday, we learned from sources inside the city that the DOJ ruled Kramer can sue and we are betting he wins big time! Meanwhile Bobblehead Bill Woodard wants you to believe our firefighters are lazy (his words during the May 2024 election), however it is not in their nature to lay down without a fight. Kraemer is going to use the legal process to take a wrecking ball to the city in court, which he should! Infact, the case was filed on 8/2/2024 in Collin Countys 416th District Court under case number 416-05201-2024.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU THE TAXPAYER? That means taxpayers on top of spending money on Performing Arts Centers, downtown revitalization, and the upcoming Grand Park, will also be subject to a BIG TIME CASINO LIKE PAYOUT to Cameron Kraemer and rightfully so! To be direct, the city who lolly gagged around, could have tried to settle this issue but choose to swing their cajónes around and now taxpayers will foot the bill for it. NOW YOU CAN SEE WHY THEY ARE ABOUT TO ANNOUNCE THEY ARE RAISING OUR TAXES!
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