The time leading up to an important election can seem more like a sports or entertainment show.  You have journalists and pundits dissecting each candidate as far as their speech, appearance, or analyzing what they do right or wrong.  In the end, the goal is to find the most authentic candidate that will represent you or be the Stateman or woman for your community.  According to Cambridge, a statesman is a skilled, experienced, and respected political leader or figure, known for being versed in the principles of government and for displaying good judgment. 

Recently, we came across The Art of Manliness which had published an article about the 4 Qualities of a True Stateman.  The first quality is a bedrock of principles, which means a platform or a foundation of firm, unchanging, fundamental truths.  These are things they believe to be the core of their being.  The second is a moral compass, which is rooted in a sense of absolute right and absolute wrong.  The third is vision.  Statesmen must be able to see problems on the horizon and they must be able to come up with solutions that are good for both the short-term and long-term. Lastly is the ability to build a consensus which means they must enlist those they serve within in government to support their initiatives to achieve their vision.

We have long argued that John Keating does not meet the definition of a Stateman.  What are his “Bedrock of Principles,” you know the foundation of what he believes to his core? We started at KeatingForFrisco.com where the landing page is a picture of Keating with his family.  The same family he stepped out on in 2021 with another woman.  Caught red handed, over a holiday weekend in a public community pool with Kristen Grammer in several compromising positions.  Later they returned to her home in the community where he remained for a couple of hours.  It is our understanding from friends who know the Keatings, that Ms. Keating was blindsided by her husband’s behavior, and they have since separated and they are working through the process that leads to divorce.  His website however shows them happily married and implies everything is A-OKAY in Shaddock Creek Estates.   

Then his page has a large blue banner that says “Public Safety is Job #1.  It reads, provides our first responders with the equipment, training, and leadership they need to keep Frisco families safe.”  If this is true, then how could he support City Manager, Wes Pierson when he hired Fire Chief, Lee Glover? At the time Glover had a 90+% no vote of confidence from over 210 firefighters and they made it clear to the council they did not want Glover as the next Fire Chief.  How could he oppose House Bill 471 which protects first responders in Texas and how could he call Firefighters selfish on George Purfoy’s Facebook page?  How could he support a leader who in a 2010/11 report was said to be toxic and the city needed to clean house of management in the department (referring to Mack Borchardt and Lee Glover)?   How is Public Safety #1 when the President of the Frisco Fire Fighters Association in Jan 2023 stood before him at citizens’ input begging for the council to hire more staff and provide them resources to do their job?  How can he support the city and how they have treated Cameron Kraemer a nearly 30-year Frisco Fire Fighter for the city when they fired him for running out of medical leave?  He later won his worker’s comp case. 

Keating is a Veteran of the Army which he makes very present on his page.  We along with many others have complete respect for his service to our country.  We are grateful for him and all the other veterans, but it does not excuse them from things.  If you visit the Army website, they list their values.  One is Integrity, to do what’s right legally and morally.  Stepping out on his family does not display Integrity.  Another is respect and the website says,” And self-respect is a vital ingredient with the Army value of respect, which results from knowing you have put forth your best effort.”  We would say posting pics implying you were naked or using half naked photos flexing in a bathroom for social media or dating apps don’t show much self-respect, nor does it show respect for others who have to see it and can’t unsee it.  Lastly your actions over and over don’t show respect for the citizens who voted for you to hold the position of Councilman Place 1  Again, his LACK OF JUDGEMENT as a leader is questionable.

In 2021 before the “pool party for two,” John Keating posted a few photos for a scavenger hunt to his social media page.  In the first picture, he is holding a sign that reads “Get Naked” and it appears to be covering his groin area.  Now, behind the sign he had boxers on which you can’t tell, but we question his judgment and the others in the picture.  He is standing next to Mayor Cheney, First Lady Dana Cheney, and Councilman Bill Woodard, who appear to either be appalled or laughing at a 60-year-old man pretending to be naked.  You are the LEADER or STATEMAN of FRISCO!  Do you think this is how residents, who voted for you, want to see you?  At the same event, you posted a video jokingly of the Mayor, First Lady, and Councilman Woodard tying up Angelia Pelham, our new councilwoman as they chant tie her to the tracks.  In our opinion – NOT THE BEST JUDGEMENT!

Now after the “BIG Universal Announcement,” Keating heads out on a date, which is fine if he is separated from his wife.  However, if he is not separated well then Houston we have a problem!  Why is Keating choosing to show such a public display of affection at Grandscape, a place where there are families all around for the holidays?  It is called, get a Room!  Again, it is his JUDGEMENT or lack of that we are questioning.  Take your date to Addison, downtown Grapevine, or somewhere in this large metroplex – other than your own backyard to show some respect to your family, to your constituents, and the families around you. 

Mr. Keating, what you display via your website and the truth are very different.  The fact that you continually display questionable or bad judgment, then want to ask voters to again come out to the polls to re-elect you as one of our Statesmen for this city is ridiculous.   One thing is clear, you think very highly of yourself because you are continually without clothes or in compromising positions.  It is great that you are in good shape, fit, and healthy but that does not mean you should post text, or tweet photos of yourself that should probably be on your Only Fans page.  Last we checked you are 60+ years old, so PUT SOME CLOTHES ON AND ASK YOUR DATES TO PUT SOME CLOTHES ON.  You have a choice to make, be a Statesman for Frisco or be a Baller aka Player, and move out of office and into your PRIVATE LIFE.  As of now you consistently show LACK OF JUDGEMENT AND BAD DECISIONS… ONE AFTER ANOTHER.  Whatever you decide, if you want to remain a leader in this city then ACT LIKE IT.  We deserve better!