On June 10, 2025, the McLendon-Chisholm City Council appointed Rich Dean to fill the NEW Place 6 seat in a move that raises serious questions about transparency, integrity, and the true motives of our City’s leadership. Presented as a legitimate selection process, this appointment appears to be anything but—carefully orchestrated behind closed doors by a select group of insiders determined to consolidate control over our City’s future.
Glaring Transparency Failure
The appointment of Rich Dean was no surprise to those paying close attention, but the lack of public engagement is alarming. No public notice was posted on the City’s website inviting residents to apply for the new council seat. A May 21, 2025, Facebook post advertised openings for the Planning & Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustments, but omitted the council vacancy.
No text alerts* or agenda items in prior meetings hinted at an open nomination process. Instead, when the June 10 agenda was published, three names—Lorna Kipphut, James Parnell, and Rich Dean—were listed in the staff report.
City Council Discretion
While the Home Rule Charter grants the City Council discretion and the June 10 agenda met Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA) requirements, the absence of proactive outreach marks a glaring transparency failure. If this new seat was truly a triumph, why didn’t the council promote it widely to engage the community?
Lorna Kipphut, whose husband serves on the Planning & Zoning Commission and was up for reappointment, faced scrutiny for potential nepotism in past appointment attempts, which may have swayed the council against her. James Parnell, a former council member with a law enforcement background, was quietly overlooked without public acknowledgment. Parnell notably proposed for an inspector general office during charter discussions, a proposal considered but excluded by the Charter Commission. Rich Dean, however, emerged as the chosen candidate, a known supporter of Mayor Bryan McNeal’s previous campaign who was appointed in 2024 to both the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Home Rule Charter Commission. Coincidence? Hardly.
Political Strategy Meeting at Chuy’s
A Strategic Gathering
The appointment of Rich Dean was not a spontaneous act of civic duty but the culmination of a coordinated effort that began months earlier. On January 7, 2025, at 6pm, a group of key players gathered at Chuy’s in Terrell, Texas, to strategize for the upcoming May 3, 2025, General Election. Photos captured by concerned residents show Mayor Bryan McNeal, Council Member Jerry Brewer, Home Rule Charter Commissioners Rich Dean and John Powers, Vice Chair Dennis London, political consultant John Woram, and residents Donald Goodwin and Arik Towry deep in discussion. This wasn’t a casual dinner—it was a calculated meeting to align their political ambitions, held just days before the January 15 filing period for council candidates.
Tactics to Clear the Field
These individuals, many of whom played pivotal roles in pushing the Home Rule Charter, later feigned surprise and offered public support for each other’s campaign announcements online, as if their endorsements were organic. The reality? Their strategy was set in motion at Chuy’s, with political consultant John Woram—known for providing voter data and campaign software to candidates like former Rockwall Mayor Pro Tem and Mayoral Candidate Clarence Jorif. Their goal was to guide their efforts to control the McLendon-Chisholm city council seats. For those who doubt the evidence, the photos are backed by eyewitness accounts, and cell phone data could easily confirm their presence at Chuy’s that evening. Even a lost phone at the gym won’t erase the truth.
Soon after, a former council member, aligned with McNeal and Shari London (Dennis London’s spouse), posted about a council member’s house for sale, hinting at efforts to oust opponents from the dais. Former Council Member Floyd McLendon faced allegedly false assault accusations from McNeal in an October executive session, endured abuse of authority and other disturbing behavior. Read McLendon’s April 2025 Press Release to learn more about McNeal’s alleged misconduct.
Facebook Profile Eric Logan
McNeal and London are allegedly linked to a Facebook profile, Eric Logan, which posted a video on April 28, 2025, in a Facebook group managed by Shari London. On April 30, the profile shared a post alleging police activity at Council Member Michael Easter’s neighborhood, with a screenshot (redacted to protect Easter’s address) showing Dennis London commenting that Easter’s house was “raided” and making an unverified claim about an FBI warrant for a family member. The post, unsupported by local news or law enforcement, fueled speculation of a plot to humiliate Easter into resigning, potentially clearing a seat for an ally like London. McNeal’s comment, stating, “As this is an active investigation, we are unable to comment further,” mimicked official press release language, despite no such release on the City’s website or Facebook page.
Hours before the Eric Logan post a text message from McNeal to former Council Member Floyd McLendon, referenced in a screenshot, mentioned the alleged incident but lacked official details. Neighbors reported seeing a fleet of vehicles and hearing flashbangs, yet no arrests occurred, and nothing was seized, leaving unanswered questions. The absence of a city statement, coupled with the Eric Logan April 30th post removal the next day and London’s shaky charter defense on a political podcast, suggested divisive tactics to silence opposition and stifle debate.
By the following morning, the Eric Logan April 30th post was removed from that Facebook group page.
The Home Rule Charter: A Tool for Control
A Charter for Power
The appointment of Rich Dean cannot be separated from the broader agenda tied to the Home Rule Charter, which passed in the May 3, 2025, General Election. Sold to voters as a means of achieving “local control,” the charter added an at-large council seat, extended election terms, and granted the mayor voting power—changes that conveniently benefit those already in power. Despite claims of transparency, the charter process was marked by poorly attended town halls and a lack of clear communication, leaving many residents unaware of its implications. Public city recordings reveal sparse attendance, often dominated by commission members, with no mailed advertisements and only occasional social media posts to inform residents. While voters approved the charter, sparse outreach and limited awareness may have skewed the outcome, favoring those already in power.
Lip Service to Leadership
At a January 23, 2025, special meeting, Home Rule Charter Chairman Mark Russo emphasized the “importance of leadership” and the need to prevent manipulation of the process, while Mayor McNeal ironically stated, “If you have a council that controls things, I am not okay with that.” Yet, the actions of McNeal and his allies suggest the opposite: a deliberate effort to stack the council with loyalists like Rich Dean, who was appointed to the charter commission and now holds a council seat. Russo himself admitted to past instances of council members calling special meetings to exploit absences and manipulate votes, a tactic McNeal dismissed—despite evidence of his own behind-the-scenes scheming with the Londons, water utilities, and other public officials.
Political Posturing and Pressure Tactics
Silencing Opposition
The path to Dean’s appointment and uncontested races was paved with political pressure applied to previous council members, discouraging them from seeking re-election. Some were manipulated by McNeal’s influence, while others faced external forces that made running again untenable. This was no accident. The same group that met at Chuy’s worked to clear the field, ensuring their preferred candidates faced little opposition. Their public displays of unity and surprise at each other’s candidacies were a façade, designed to mislead voters into believing the process was fair and open. This includes leveraging pro-water utility Facebook group pages to push a coordinated narrative that often skirts fair campaign practices, a tactic that warrants scrutiny by the Texas Ethics Commission or future legislation to curb divisive elections.
External Influences and Hidden Agendas
The involvement of external entities, including a local water utility with a vested interest in city decisions, further muddies the waters. While not directly named here, their aggressive communications with customers—criticizing certain council members and promoting a narrative aligned with McNeal’s agenda—suggest a coordinated effort to shape the council’s composition. These actions raise questions about who truly benefits from the appointment of figures like Rich Dean and whether their loyalty lies with residents or with those pulling the strings.
Adding to the intrigue, an agenda item on negotiating the sale of Sonoma Verde’s water infrastructure—a public improvement district (PID)—revealed more questionable motives. Shari London, with no residence in the public improvement district or expertise in managing a PID, made dubious claims during public comment, arguing the city’s pipes are a liability that could be sold for “spendable cash” for needs like road repairs, while suggesting RCH is best suited to manage these assets. Her remarks, paired with Dennis London prominently displaying an RCH shirt, reek of coordinated advocacy to push a deal that benefits a select few, further eroding trust in the council’s priorities.
Challenging Deception
Rich Dean’s swearing-in on June 10, 2025, included an oath under Article XVI, Section 1 of the Texas Constitution, affirming he had not promised money, favors, or public office to secure his appointment. Yet, circumstantial evidence—Dean’s ties to McNeal and the secretive process—suggests a seat rewarded to a loyal ally, undermining transparency and public input. Photos, witnesses, and the suspicious timing of events paint a picture of a council more interested in consolidating power than serving the public.
McLendon-Chisholm’s 2025 Citizen Satisfaction Survey
Claims of a ‘first-ever” 2025 survey are false, as city records confirm surveys began in 2016 with others following. The 2025 Citizen Satisfaction Survey had the lowest turnout ever—just 226 residents participated out of 6,000+, with 90% married, suggesting likely overlap in responses. With 58% of respondents having no school-aged children, the results are skewed and easily manipulated to paint a rosy picture of McNeal’s tenure. Far from a mandate, this survey exposes a leadership more focused on optics than genuine engagement, using controversies to mask political abuses.
McLendon-Chisholm deserves better. Residents must demand accountability from elected officials, who continue to operate behind a veil of “local control” while undermining the constitutional republic process. The appointment of Rich Dean is not just a single event—it’s a symptom of a deeper issue: a leadership that prioritizes control over community. It’s time to pull back the curtain, question those in power, and ensure our city’s future is shaped by the will of its people, not a select few meeting over tacos at Chuy’s. Subscribe to stay informed on local issues, and share your thoughts by emailing me or commenting below.
*Editor’s Note: If evidence of a text alert regarding the council nomination process surfaces, it will be acknowledged in a future update. As of now, no such alert has been identified. All allegations are supported by documented evidence, including screenshots, photos, and eyewitness accounts, available upon request.
1 comment
Wow, just, wow. Our council has gone beyond uncontrollable.