Texas City police say they’re investigating fraud allegations over failed recall attempt

TEXAS CITY, Texas (KTRK) — Texas City police announced Wednesday that they’re investigating a petition to recall Mayor Dedrick Jonson for fraud hours after city officials declared the petition invalid.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Texas City mayor won’t resign after recall petition submitted

Of the 1,600 signatures that were reportedly submitted, the city said only 989 were valid. That’s 21 signatures short of the 1,010 needed to trigger a recall election.

The city said that some of the signers weren’t registered voters and that others had incomplete or missing information.

But most alarming are the allegations of fraud, police say they’re investigating.

“TCPD has received sworn affidavits alleging forgery, including at least one confirmed instance where the name, address, and signature of a deceased person appeared among the submitted entries,” the department said in a news release Wednesday.

Eyewitness News submitted a request for copies of the affidavits in question, but hasn’t yet received them.

Earlier this month, ABC13 reported the Texas City Municipal Police Association was accusing the mayor of intimidation — which he denied.

The association said it had verified 871 signatures, while Texas Hometown Solutions said it collected and verified more than 500 signatures.

“I stand by these signatures 100 percent, the ones we turned and verified,” said Bryan Rivera, president of operations at Texas Hometown Solutions.

Rivera said he compared information submitted by petitioners to data from the Texas Secretary of State’s Office.

Eyewitness News asked Rivera if he was aware of any dead people signing the petition.

“I’ve heard the rumor, but I have not seen the proof of this or the person’s name. I haven’t been advised of any of that,” he said.

Mayor Johnson told Eyewitness News Wednesday, “I’m glad citizens spoke through their rejection of the recall… We’re gonna keep moving forward.”

The Texas City Police Department said it’s working with the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office to determine if criminal charges are warranted in connection with the forgery allegations.

“Given the seriousness of these allegations, we are committed to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure the integrity of the electoral process and uphold all applicable laws,” Texas City PD said.

But some critics question whether an outside agency might be more impartial.

“I think the city investigating themselves is just. It’s gonna get greasy and dirty,” Rivera said.

The TCMPA sent a response to Wednesday’s outcome, which read, in part:

“The Texas City Municipal Police Association (TCMPA) board would like to extend its deepest gratitude to the citizens, officers, and community leaders who supported the recent effort to recall Mayor Dedrick Johnson. While the recall initiative fell short by just 21 signatures, we want to be clear: this is a setback, not a defeat.
We are incredibly proud of the courage, unity, and support displayed by those who stood with us not just for the interests of law enforcement, but for the greater good of Texas City. Your voices were heard, and your willingness to step forward in the face of adversity speaks volumes about the character of our community.
While we are disappointed by the outcome, we are not discouraged. The TCMPA remains steadfast in its mission to advocate for transparency, accountability, and respect for the dedicated officers who serve our city, as well as the citizens who call Texas City home. In just six months, the next election cycle begins, and our stance remains unchanged. We are committed to ensuring that leadership reflects the values and integrity our city deserves.
We also acknowledge with concern the multiple reports of blatant acts of retaliation faced by both officers and citizens who simply legally exercised their right to support this democratic process, as well as allegations of the unlawful release of confidential information by city officials that we ensure will be investigated by the Attorney General’s office.”

The city said it would take no further action advancing the petition.

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