McKinney city council to pick new temporary member after Thornton found to be ineligible
Chris Thornton, who was temporarily appointed to fill La’Shadion Shemwell’s seat on Dec. 1, does not live within District 1, a requirement for the interim position.
Chris Thornton will not be able to serve as interim District 1 city councilman after it was determined he does not live within the district.(Courtesy City of McKinney)
Chris Thornton missed out on serving as the city of McKinney’s temporary District 1 city councilman by 10 feet and 10 inches.
That’s how far Thornton lives outside the district. It disqualifies him from temporarily filling the seat, vacated by former city council member La’Shadion Shemwell who was ousted by city voters in November. Thornton would have served in the role until a May special election.
McKinney Mayor George Fuller said the situation was a result of a legal requirement in the city charter that says councilmembers must live inside the district they serve.
At the meeting, Fuller told Thornton that he knew he believed he was a District 1 resident and had been before redistricting.
City Secretary Empress Drane addressed council members Tuesday night, saying it was her responsibility to confirm the residency of an appointed or elected city council member and that she had made a regrettable mistake. This was not a mistake or error with any harmful intent or any misleading intent. But it was really an honest mistake or oversight, she said.
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